Fine for Char-a-Bang Driver

This wonderful story appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 22^nd July 1916.

Char-a-Bang Driver Fined

Richard John Noakes, the driver of a motor char-a-bang was summoned for obstructing the roadway in Burlington Road on the 12^th inst., with a char-a-bang he had driven over from Hastings.

Mr. H. H. Coles appeared for the defendant and admitted the offence.

The police evidence was that the vehicle was standing in one position for three hours. The defendant, who had driven a party from Hastings told the constable that he failed to find a garage and thought there would be no harm leaving the vehicle where he did.

Mr. Coles urged in mitigation that it was to a large extent a by-road, in which there was little traffic.

A fine of 10s. was imposed.

Hawking on the Seafront

This report from the Eastbourne Gazette from 25th July 1917, concerns the unfortunate case of a lad who 'Hawked' neswpapers on the seafront.

I was glad to see that good sense prevailed and he was 'let off' with a caution.

"Children’s Court

Frederick Brown, 14, of Cavendish Place who stated that he was employed by Mr Abel, newsagent, was summoned for hawking newspapers on the parade on July 16.

Parade Inspector Dann deposed to being on the central parade when his attention was attracted by a boy shouting “London papers”. He went to the to the top of the parade and saw defendant, who admitted that he was aware that he was doing wrong and added, “I have done it before.”

The Chief Constable remarked that the boy took charge of the stand on the Front and that he knew all about the by-law.

Defendant said he only did it to oblige the gentleman.

With a magisterial caution the case was dismissed."

Dangerous Motoring on the Seafront.

I love this article from the Eastbourne Chronicle dated Saturday July 22nd 1916. The Dangerous driver was driving his two-seater car at the speed of 35 miles per hour along Eastbourne Seafront.

The Chief Inspector tried to stop him by putting up his hand but it took him over 100 yards to stop the car and then he sped off. How times have changed!!!

"Dangerous Motoring on the Front.

Lieutenant Gordon M. Mew, said to be a wounded officer staying at a convalescent home in Brighton, was summoned for driving a motor car at a dangerous speed on the Grand Parade on the 11th. Defendant did not appear, and no communication had been received from him.

Parade Inspector Dann said at about 1.45 on the day in question a small two-seater car passed him at the Grand Hotel. In it were the defendant and a lady. The car was going at a pace which he estimated at from 35 to 40 miles an hour. The Chief Inspector who was with the witness, put up his hand, but at such a pace was the car going that it covered another hundred yards before it stopped. Without waiting for witness to come up, defendant drove off again and finally stopped at the Landsdowne Hotel. Witness proceeded thither and saw the defendant, of who he asked,

“What was your object in driving so fast?”

Defendant replied, “None really.”

Witness pointed out that the speed was 35 miles an hour, and witness told him it was too fast and he would be reported. In reply, to a question witness told him that if summoned he would either appear or send a letter.

Evidence of the service of the summons having been given, a penalty of £2 was imposed."

A Soldier before the Courts

This article appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 25th July 1917.
The soldier obviously thought he was hard done by, but the magistrate was more concerned about his ‘state of mine.’

"The Justice of a Soldier

"William Riley, on remand, was charged with being an absentee. He was a private in the Canadian regiment, and had been stationed at Seaford.

Police-constable Morris said he saw the prisoner, who was unshaven, and asked him if he had a pass, to which he replied, “I am a discharged soldier; I don’t want a pass.” He did not believe the prisoner whom he arrested. He had a dandy brush and two curry combs in his possession at the time.

The Chief Constable (Major Teale) said he had not been able to find out anything about the prisoner and requested a further remand for another week.

Prisoner – “Can I have the justice of a soldier?”

The Magistrates Clerk (Mr. E.O Langham) – “Certainly.”

Prisoner – “Then can I smoke in my cell? I am entitled to a smoke. A burglar gets a smoke.”

The Mayor said a remand would be granted, and prisoner must obey the police regulations. It was ordered that his state of mind should be enquired into."

Boarding House Keeper Fined

This story on the home front is about keeping a Register of Aliens. The lady in question, although guilty was given a very lenient fine.

The Mayor must have had some sympathy with her, but the frustration is obviously with the Chief Constable who sent out forms for them to be thrown away!

It appeared in the Eastbourne Gazette on 25th July 1917:

“Boarding House Keeper Fined

Sarah Hill, boarding house keeper, of Marine Parade, was summoned for failing to keep a register of aliens staying at her house on July 12.

Inspector Cunnington gave evidence to the effect that two Belgians subjects were staying at defendant’s house was unable to produce an alien’s register recording the fact.

Defendant said she understood that it was not necessary to register foreign visitors when the customary forms had been filled in and submitted to the police by the aliens themselves.

The Chief Constable mentioned that he received three or four hundred forms a week which were not properly filled in. He also remarked that forms of instruction sent by the police to the boarding house keepers were sometimes relegated to the dustbins.

The Mayor emphasised the necessity for boarding house keepers and others to comply with the regulations and pointed out that defendant had rendered herself liable to a penalty of £100 by the breach. The Bench however, proposed to take a lenient view and imposed a fine of 15 shillings.”