Original image on Facebook
Buntingford
Petty Sessions
Friday Last - Before Sir R. Romer (in the chair), Major Heaton Ellis, H. Shepherd Cross, E Pigg, S.P. Woollatt, and F.C. Porter, Esqs.
John Geo[rge] Skipp, labourer, Buntingford (against whom there are 53 previous convictions), was brought up in custody on a charge of being drunk and disorderly and assaulting P.C. Bell while in the execution of his duty on April 23rd, 1910, at 3.30p.m. [??] on Layston Bridge, Buntingford.
P.C. Bell gave evidence, and stated that at 3am on Saturday morning, April 23rd, he with P.C.'s Gravestock and Hunt was on duty on Layston Bridge, when the defendent came over and went in the direction of the Railway Station, and when he came to the Adam and Eve public house, he began knocking at the door until he awoke the inmates. The landlady looking out of the upstairs window, asked what he wanted, Skipp replied "I want to come in," and the landlady replied "You will not come in here." Skipp then began to pull down a barber's pole that was over one of the windows.
He was told to let it alone and replied "Shan't." He then came back to the bridge and began to abuse witness, who advised him to clear off, and walked towards him, when he struck witness on the chest, and kicked him on the leg, and in the struggle grazed some skin off his right thumb. Seeing he was drunk and would not go away, witness then took him in to custody, and with the assitance to P.C. Gravestock took him to the Police Station, where he was charged and detained. He was the same day brought before F.C. Porter, Esq. at 6.30 p.m., and remanded to the cells until Monday the 25th, when he was brought before Sir R. Romer and remanded to St Albans Gaol until next Bench day, Friday 6th May.
P.C. Gravestock, Cottered, gave corroborative evidence.
The Bench convicted on both charges, and for drunk and disorderly he was sentenced to one calendar month hard labour, and for assulted P.C. Bell to two calendar months hard labour, the sentences to run consecutively.
Wm [William] Edward Manning, labourer, High Street, Buntingford, appeared to bail to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderl on the public highway at Bunctingford on April 22nd.
P.C. Hunt, Hare Street, proved the case, the defendant being fined 6s. 6d. including costs.
Geo[rge] Wallis, bricklayer, Baldock Lane, Buntingford, appeared to bail charged with stealing 8 hen's eggs, value 1s, the property of Harry [Dalzell?] Piper, at Judge Farm, Great Hormead, on April 27th.
P.C. Hunt, Hare Street, proved the case.
The defendant against whom there was nothing known, and who felt his position keenly, was spoken to by the Chairman, who said it was a despicable thing to do, but the Bench did not want to make a criminal of him, and would deal with him leniently. They would deal with him under the First Offender's Act, and would bing him over in the sum of £5 for 6 months to come up for judgement if called upon.
Mrs Lucy Kingsley, Cottered, applied for a new off licence (through the death of her husband) at Cottered.
The Bench could not grant it as she could produce Probate of the Will, nor Letters of Administration, but granted a Protection Order until next transfer day, 17th June, 1910.
