Month: June 2023

Off to the Nick For a Seven Pence Trick

Two local men were charged at court with 6 offences of obtaining the sum of 7d from each of 6 residents in the Castle Hill area, by means of a trick. The men were employed by a local coal dealer to deliver to each respective customer, two cwts of coal. They were given a list of the customers which gave full particulars of the load and the price to be charged.

The two men, Cyril Lewis Winter of Birches Cottages, Leek Wootton and Charles Alfred Cox of Guy Road, Kenilworth, charged customers 7/6d, the charge of which should have been 6/11d, an overcharge of 7d. The accused asked for 80 other offences to be taken into consideration, and it was stated that 19 of the people overcharged, were old-age pensioners, of which 16 were widows and 26 were over the age of 60 years. All were working-class people.

The bench had little sympathy with the accused men. According, Mr. F. Lee, chairman, sentenced each of them to 3 months in prison on all 6 counts. The sentences would run concurrently, luckily for the men.

Dairyman Who Sold Too Much Milk

Kenneth Gee of the Bungalows, Grounds farm was before the bench on the none payment of a £360 fine. This was imposed on him last September for selling milk in excess of the quantity allowed by law.

Gee stated that all his assets were tied-up in the dairy business in which he was in partnership with his brother. He was receiving £15-a-month in wages and the 4.5 acres of agricuitural land which he owned was secured against a bank overdraft. He offered to pay £10 a month and the bench commented that, as he had already paid back £100, it would take over two years to clear the balance.

After a short retirement, the magistrates ordered Mr. Gee to pay £20 per month or in default, three months imprisonment. (A bit harsh)

The Army Isn’t for Him

In March, James Morris of Rouncil Lane, was summoned to court on charges of desertion from the army. He was remanded in custody by the bench, to await a miltary escort. When arrested, he stated, ‘I am a deserter, I don’t like the army’.

Randall Road from the ‘Middle Ages’

In a letter, Harold Williams of 39, Randall Road, wrote that he had withheld his rate payments due to the lack of attention to his road. Although houses had been occupied for the past 15 years or so, as yet, no surface had been laid down, on either the road or footpath. When summoned to court for non-payment of his rates, he offered to pay 10s a week. He added that stop-cocks are without lids, bringing danger to children or adults when out after dark. In addition, after the slightest of showers, the road is flooded, sufficent enough for even a toddler to be drowned. He also stressed that the condition of this road is worse than ones in ‘Middle Ages’, at a time when garbage was thrown into the streets. The rate-collector said that the state of the road was not the issue here. An application for distress was granted by the court.

Magistrates (JP’s)

Mrs. G. M. Mills, (OBE), Park House, Park Hill, Kenilworth (chair)

Mrs. J. M. Avery, Whitegates, Rounds Hill, Kenilworth.

Colonel R. J. Cash, (CB CBE MC TD), Walcote, Blackdown.

Mr. E. L. Claridge, Valley Fields, Offchurch.

Mr. M. H. Green, The Pleasance Farm, Chase Lane, Kenilworth.

Mr. W. S. Hattrell, Sherbourne Priors, Sherbourne.

Mr. A. D. Huckvale, The Quest, 8, Priory Road, Kenilworth.

Mr. W. M. Maddocks, Beechwood, Kenilworth Road, Coventry.

Mr. S. H. Newsome, The Great Gatehouse, Castle Green, Kenilworth.

Mrs. C. H. Smalley, Stockcroft, Malthouse Lane, Kenilworth.

Mrs. Swift, 5, Hyde Road, Kenilworth.

Major H. R. Watling, (CBE), Clinton House, 78, High Street, Kenilworth.

Mr. Frank Weetman, East Chase Farm, Chase Lane, Kenilworth.

CLERK OF THE MAGISTRATES; Mr. E. W. Backman, 1, Regent Grove, Leamington Spa.

Magistrates (JP’s)

Mr. F. W. H. Lee, Lewberry Close, Ashow. (chairman)

Mr. E. K. Bourne, Wood Farm, Bubbenhall.

Mrs. G. M. Mills, Mount Vernon, 101, Northumerland Road, Leamington Spa.

Mr. S. H. Newsome, Elmdene, Windy Arbour, Kenilworth.

Mrs. C. H. Smalley, “Stockcroft”, Malthouse Lane, Kenilworth.

Major H. R. Watling, (OBE), Clinton House, 78, High Street, Kenilworth.

Mr. Frank Weetman, East Chase Farm, Chase Lane, Kenilworth.

CLERK OF THE MAGISTRATES; Mr E. W. Backham, 36, High Street, Warwick.

Driver Refused to Dodge the Issue of his ‘Wobbling Car’

The solicitor defending a Kenilworth man, declared to the Magistrates: “He says he was fairly treated by the police and did not want me to be clever, he has also refused to allow me to look into this and seek out loop-holes in the prosecution’s case“. William Eric Barnes, of Castle Hill, was charged with drunken driving and careless driving.

He pleaded guilty on both counts and was fined a total of £30. He was disqualified for a year and his licence endorsed. “By his mental attitude to the offence, Barnes had tortured himself”, said his solicitor. Prosecuting, Inspector Albert Cox, said the defendant had stopped his car on Gibbett Hill and the car behind him was forced to stop. Then Barnes rolled backwards into the car. Just as one of the passenger’s in the car behind went to walk up to Barnes’s car, he drove off. The other car then followed him and during the journey Barnes ‘wobbled’ and swerved his car all over the road. Barnes eventually stoped when he reached the Virgins & Castle public house. The other car stopped and the driver went up to Barnes’s car and opened the driver’s door, at which point the defendant almost fell out into the road. He was later examined by a police surgeon and certified unfit to drive. In other words he was drunk as a judge.

When charged, Barnes said: “I have heard all this on the films but I did not know it could happen to me in real life“. Defending him, his solicitor said the incident had occurred after a Christmas luncheon party on December 21st. Barnes had been drinking spirits and before he went home in the evening he had three pints of beer. His solicitor added; “Mr Barnes has made a firm resolution that he will not take any drink whenever he drives in the future”. (We’ll drink to that!)

Parents Did Not Approve of Marriage

In the hope that the two parties can resolve their differences and need not come back to court, the magistrates adjourned the case for three months of the application by 18-year-old Margeret Storey, of Dudley Road to marry Ernest Cairns of Coventry.

The girl’s parents objected to the intended marriage until their daughter was older and the couple had saved enough money to buy a house.

Miss Storey said she had known her fiance for about two and a half years. We have not looked for anywhere to live yet because it is not much use until we get consent to marry, I am earning £7 a week and we have got about £50 worth of ‘bottom drawer’ stuff as well as about £130 in the bank. If we get married we will live in Coventry and save up to buy a house.

She is willing to promise the magistrates that she would not get married untill she and her fiance have found adequate rooms. We are going to be married in a Roman Catholic Church and I want to be received into the church before we go ahead.

Failed to Register as an ‘Alien’

It was emphasised by Mrs G. Mills (chair) of the court about the importance of foreigners employed in this country conforming to the registration regulations. A fine of £1 was imposed on a German girl living with a family in Common Lane, under an Au Pair agreement.

She had failed to register as an ‘Alien’. Through a member of the family with whom she is staying, the girl pleaded quilty to failing to notify a change of address to a registration officer within 72 hours of re-locating. Inspector S. J. Wall said the offence came to light as a result of a communication from Bolton police, the town where she had lived prior to coming to Kenilworth. When she had called at Kenilworth Police Station the officer told to return with all her documents but she did not come back.

Mrs Mills, said only a small fine would be imposed, but the girl must understand how neccessary it is to register with the police when changing her address.

Betwixt and Between

Milkman Harold Payne, of Clarkes Avenue, now knows the feelings a lump of pastry experiences when it is moved twixt rolling pin and boards. In April, he was standing between two vehicles and while still upright was rolled one way – then the other. This was Mr Payne’s experience that was described in court.

The incident occured in Worcester Road where Mr Payne had stopped his milk float to deliver some pinta’s. When he was walking alongside, a car driven by the defendant, Harold Sillifant, attempted to overtake. The vehicles were so close that the car pinned Mr Payne against the side of his float and he was rotated between the vehicles. When Mr Payne yelled out, Sillfant, it was alleged, went into reverse causing the milkman to be rolled back again to where he had started from. On the ‘return trip’, Mr Payne did more than hoot, he thumpt on Sillifant’s car as well as shouting: “For God’s sake, stop”.

Inspector Albert Cox, said that so tightly was Mr Payne squeezed that his body left an impression on the side of his vehicle. He was lucky not to have any serious injuries.

Sillifant, of Worcester Road, was charged with driving ‘without due care and attention’ and was fined £5 with £1-16 in costs plus an endorsement on his licence.

List of Magistrates (JP’s)

Mr. E. L. Claridge, Valley Fields, Offchurch (Chairman)

Mrs. G. M. Mills. (OBE), Park House, Park Hill, Kenilworth.

Mrs. J. M. Avery, Cherry Tree House, Leamington Hastings.

Mr. W. V. Curtis, Long Meadows, Burton Green.

Mr. C. J. Forsyth, Cryfield House Farm, Gibbert Hill, Coventry.

Mr. M. H. L. Green, Lyndhurst, Kelsey Lane, Balsall Common.

Mr. R. R. Hall, 38, Heathcote Road, Whitnash.

Mr. W. S. Hattrell, Sherbourne Priors, Sherbourne.

The Right Honourable Lord Leigh, Stoneleigh Abbey.

Mr. W. M, Maddocks, Beechwood, Kenilworth Road, Coventry.

Mr. T. K. Meredith, Woodcote Lodge, Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth.

Mr S. H. Newsome, Kenilworth Road, Coventry.

Mrs. C. H. Smalley, Stockcroft, Malthouse Lane, Kenilworth.

Mrs. Swift, 5, Hyde Road, Kenilworth,

Mr. J. Watts, Park Hill, Kenilworth.

Mr. C. E. Webster, 214, Warwick Road, Kenilworth.

Mr. Frank Weetman, East Chase Farm, Chase Lane, Kenilworth.

CLERK OF THE MAGISTRATES: Mr. E. W. Backham, 1, Regent Grove, Leamington Spa.

Jimmy Hill’s Offside Move Failed

Coventry City’s manager, Jimmy Hill who lives at 137, Whitemoor Road, explained to the court, how he pulled into an offside postion in an attempt to avoid a road accident. Whilst driving his car along Dalehouse Lane, Mr Hill was involved in a collision with Peter Stubbs of Finham Crescent, who was in court charged with driving without due care and attention. Mr Hill had brought the case to court, not the police. He was hoping the defendant would be shown the ‘red card’.

The crash occurred at the junction of Dalehouse Lane and Common Lane. Mr Hill said; “I saw a car driving towards the end of Common Lane and at that time I was 30 to 40 yards away from the ‘T’ junction. I expected the car to stop because I was on the main road and had the right-of-way, as I got nearer I realised the car wasn’t going to stop”. He added that he pulled towards the offside in order to go round the car but after braking I skidded and we collided.

In court, Mr Stubbs said that as he approached the junction he slowed right down and noticed a car coming from the right, about 100 yards away. His intention was to turn right. “I started to move off, I got about a quarter of the across the road when I realised the car was coming faster than I thought”. To get into the correct position on the road, Mr Stubbs accelerated. He said that the other vehicle was travelling towards him in the centre of the road. He contended that he had driven on to his correct side of the road when the car hit him and there should have been room for Mr Hill’s car to pass behind him.

The magistrates did not play ball and the case was dismissed, Mr Stubb’s defence was too strong for Mr HIll.

Bought Tuck With What He Took

A 13 year-old boy contented at the juvenile court that his employer was under paying him. He was charged with stealing money from a milk delivery firm where he was a part-time employee. Inspector Albert Cox said the boy worked for the milk firm and accompanied his employer on his rounds.

After making deliveries on November 29th, the boy returned to base with his employer and whilst counted the takings he slipped five £1 notes into his pocket. In the evening he went to Leamington and treated his friends to a ‘slap-up’ meal. Non of other boys asked him where he had got the money from. On November 18th, while making deliveries, he slipped thirty bob (£1-10s) from the takings into his pocket. He also admitted stealing on two other occasions, totalling £2-5s, which he squandered in cafe’s and on a book.

In court, the boy, who was put on probation for two years, said his employer sometimes never paid him and when he did it was only 5 shillings instead of the apparently agreed 15 shillings.

Mrs. L. Smalley, presiding, told the boy that he should pay more attention to his schooling rather than getting money and spending it in cafe’s. He was ordered to pay a total of 30 shillings in court fees.

Court Had a ‘Bone To Pick’ with Lorry Driver

Parked in Warwick Road on September 16th last year was a lorry loaded with a pile of bones. It aroused the attention of P. C. Fernie who discovered that the vehicle was not covered by an excise licence nor a category ‘C’ licence, for which this size of lorry required. The owner of the lorry, Henry Hales of Coventry, was charged with the two offences. He pleaded guilty and was fined £4. He was told to ensure that in future he must get the necessary licences for his vehicle and not to be so bone-idle.

Ice Cream Man in a Hurry to Sell Ices

For exceeding the speed limit in his ice-cream van, the man, Raymond Oughton of Coventry was fined an ice cool £7 and had his licence endorsed. His speed on the Birmingham Road was stated to be between 52 and 56 m.p.h. The ‘rocketman’ pleaded guilty.

Jacked Up Job after White Line Troubles

A Somerset lorry driver who, on November 12th last, was stopped by a police officer for crossing a continuous white line on the Coventry Road. He told the constable; “That’s it, I’ll pack up my job and go on the National Assistance”.

It looks like Thomas Lawrence did keep his promise, as he informed the court by letter, that he has been un-employed since December 14th. He was fined £7 for his troubles.

Couldn’t Wait A Few More Days to have Some Booze

“I have been drinking for the past 12 mouths, so I suppose this will cost me a ‘fiver’, said a Leamington teenager after he had been asked by a policeman if he was old enough to drink.

Ronald Fripp’s prediction came true at court as he was indeed fined a ‘fiver’ for drinking whilst under age.

A police officer had made a routine call at the “White Lion” public house in Radford Semele, on December 13th. He asked Fripp if he was 18. The youth at first said he was but later admitted he was only 17. His 18th birthday was only eight days away.

In court, Fripp said, “I just went in for a game of darts and looked upon myself as being 18“. For buying drinks for Fripp, John Roche of Leamington, was also fined a ‘fiver’. Their attitude while being questioned in the pub was described as being ‘flippant’ and ‘arrogant’. The bench were not impressed.