Updates

8th March 2014: Folkestone Herald Reports for 1916 Added.

Wonder Tavern 1915 - 1919

Folkestone Herald 16-1-1915

Wednesday, January 13^th: Before Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, Councillor W.J. Harrison, and Col. G.P. Owen.

The transfer of the licence of the Wonder Tavern, Beach Street, to Mr. Charles Henry Fiske, was sanctioned.

Folkestone Express 15-5-1915

Monday, May 10^th: Before G.I. Swoffer, G. Boyd, and W.J. Harrison Esqs., Alderman Dunk, and the Rev. Epworth Thompson.

Charles Manning was charged with assaulting Stephen Edward Gould, barman at the Wonder Tavern. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

Mr. H.J. Myers said he was instructed by the Licensed Victuallers` Association to prosecute, and he was asked to request the Bench to regard that case in a rather serious light. As they were aware, there were a great number of military as well as civilians in the town, and licence holders had a difficult task to perform. They were desirous to assist the police as much as possible. On Saturday evening the landlord wished to keep the public bar as select as possible. On Saturday evening the prisoner went into the house and was supplied with a pint of beer. He was perfectly sober. He remained in the house for about an hour, and after time had been called the assault took place, the prisoner smashing a glass full into Gould`s face. The prisoner was then given in charge and Gould was taken to the Victoria Hospital, where he was detained until Sunday evening. His injuries included a fractured nose and a cut artery. He asked the Magistrates, in consideration of the times in which they were living, to impose a severe penalty to prevent a recurrence of such a dastardly outrage.

Stephen Edward Gould, whose face was covered with bandages, said he was barman to Mr. Fisk, the licence holder of the Wonder Tavers. On Saturday evening the prisoner came into the bar at seven o`clock and called for a pint of beer. He was quite sober, so he was served. He could not say whether the prisoner had any other drink, but he did not serve him with any. When closing time came at eight o`clock he saw the prisoner still in the public bar, and he said “Come along, Charlie. Time. Don`t make a meal of your beer”. Manning answered in an objectionable tone, so he said “Come along, time is time”. The prisoner drunk up what was in his glass, and then got the glass in his hand and deliberately threw it at him, and said “Take that, you ----“. The glass was broken, and Mr. Fisk picked up the pieces off the floor. He was eventually taken to the hospital, where he was detained until five o`clock on Sunday evening. He had three stitches put in his nose, and a vein had been cut, while he had several small cuts over his eyes. He did not strike the defendant, and he did not provoke the assault in any way.

The Clerk: How far off was he when he threw the glass?

Witness: Not above an arm`s length away. In reply to further questions, he said they were both of them on the public side of the counter. He had known the prisoner previously, and about a month ago there had been a little trouble with the prisoner when he was the worse for drink. There had been no ill-blood between them since. All he did on Saturday evening was to ask the prisoner to drink up his beer. Manning was quite sober at eight o`clock, and there was no difference in his demeanour then than when he came in. Prisoner, during the time he was in the house, was chatting with his friends and his wife. He had not been excited or quarrelsome.

Charles Henry Fisk, the licensee of the Wonder Tavern, said he saw the defendant on Saturday night about seven o`clock, when he came into the bar perfectly sober. At eight o`clock Manning was also sober. The barman did not provoke the defendant in any way. The glass was broken by the force of the blow. Prisoner`s wife was with him. He did not serve Manning with any drink. Gould was in charge of the bar.

Prisoner said he spent 2/6 on beer in the house.

Gould, re-called, said he only received threepence from the prisoner all the evening. He was sure he did not serve Manning more than once, but he served the man`s wife with a pint once or twice.

Manning said he did not know anything about it, as he was drunk.

P.C. Holland said he was on duty in Beach Street on Saturday evening about eight o`clock when he was called by Mr. Fisk, who gave Manning into custody for striking his barman. At that time the prisoner was out in the street. He brought the prisoner to the police station, where he was charged with assaulting the man, and made no reply. The man was sober. He certainly appeared to have been drinking, but he was not drunk. Manning spoke to him quite sensibly coming up the High Street. He would not say the prisoner was the worse for drink, but he would say he was sober. He appeared to be a little excited, but he could not say whether it was through drink or not.

Mrs. Manning asked to give evidence on behalf of her husband. She said she was in the house at six o`clock, when she called her husband, who was very, very drunk, out. He was then having a row with a woman. She then said to the barman she thought they had all been in the sun. She was not living with her husband, but went and looked after him wherever he was. Both the woman and her husband were drunk. She got him home and made him have something to eat, after which he got her some coals in. She went back with her husband to the Wonder about seven o`clock, and he was very drunk then. She remained in the house with him until eight o`clock. She had not been with him thirty years but what she knew when he was drunk or sober.

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said in consequence of that statement he thought it was only fair that Inspector Lawrence should be called to give evidence. The woman`s statement was an absolute falsehood.

The Chairman said he quite agreed the Inspector should be called.

Inspector Lawrence said at ten minutes past seven on Saturday evening he was in front of the Wonder Tavern. He looked in the bar, and everything was then quiet. Just afterwards he was in front of the Tavern with P.C. Holland when he saw the prisoner come down Dover Street and go into the Wonder. He was then as sober as he was that morning. It was an absolute lie from beginning to end what the woman said.

The Clerk: Was he drunk or sober?

Inspector Lawrence: He was perfectly sober. The man was as sober as he is now. He walked straight down the road.

The Clerk: Did you see any more of him?

Inspector Lawrence: I did not.

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said there were several convictions against the prisoner, three being last year, twice in 1913, and once in 1912. On the 30^th of April he was fined at Seabrook for being in possession of Government property.

The Chairman said the Magistrates looked upon that as a very serious case. The licensed victuallers had got a very grave duty to perform, and a great task in trying to keep their houses orderly. The Magistrates thought they did try to do that to the best of their ability, and they looked upon that case as a very grave one, and a most unprovoked assault. The prisoner would go to prison for two months with hard labour.

Folkestone Herald 15-5-1915

Local News

A very dangerous attack upon a barman with a glass was described at the Folkestone Police Court on Monday morning, when Charles Manning, a labourer, was charged with assaulting Edward Gould. The case was heard by Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. J. Stainer, Councillor G. Boyd, Councillor W.J. Harrison, Alderman W. Dunk, and the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

Mr. H.J. Myers, who appeared for the prosecution, said he was instructed by the Licensed Victuallers` Association, and he was requested to ask the Bench to regard the case as a very serious one. There was in the town at present a great number of military. At the Wonder Tavern, the landlord, who had been there for some time, desired to assist the police as much as possible and to keep the public bar as select as possible. Mr. Myers outlined the evidence, and said the barman`s injuries were a partly fractured nose and a cut artery, and in addition he lost a quantity of blood. In consideration of the times, he asked the Bench to inflict a severe penalty to prevent a recurrence of such a dastardly outrage.

Ed. Gould, whose face was almost entirely swathed in bandages, said he was employed at the Wonder Tavern as a barman. On Saturday evening, about seven o`clock, prisoner came into the public bar and asked for a pint of beer, with which witness served him. He was sober. The house was busy, and witness could not say whether prisoner had any other drink. At closing time, eight o`clock, accused was still in the bar, and witness said to him “Come along, Charlie. Time. Don`t make a meal of it”. Prisoner said “You are in a ---- hurry, ain`t you?” Witness said “Come along. Time`s time”. Prisoner drank the rest of his beer that he had in the glass, and then deliberately threw the glass at witness, saying “Take that, you ----“. It was a pint glass, and it broke as it was thrown. (Fragments of the glass were produced) Witness went to a doctor, and then to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was detained from that evening until five o`clock the previous afternoon. He described his injuries, and said the blood from the cut artery ran all over his clothes. He did not strike the prisoner at all, or provoke the assault in any way.

By the Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew): Prisoner was about an arm`s length away when he threw the glass; they were both on the public side of the counter. Prisoner was a regular customer, and about a month ago there had been a little trouble with him when he was the worse for drink, but there had been no ill-blood between witness and accused since then. Prisoner was sober at eight o`clock; there was no difference in his demeanour from what it was when he came in.

Charles Henry Fisk, the licensee of the Wonder Tavern, said he saw prisoner about seven o`clock; defendant was perfectly sober. Witness saw him at intervals during the evening until closing time, when he appeared to be quite sober. At eight o`clock he was still sober. Witness noticed what passed between prisoner and the barman. The latter did not provoke the defendant in any way or strike him. It was quite an unprovoked assault. There was no more than a yard between them when the glass was thrown. The glass broke with the impact on the barman`s face. Prisoner`s wife was with him, and was drinking. She was drinking out of her husband`s pint as far as he could see. He did not know whether she was served.

Prisoner said he spent half a crown in the bar between his wife and himself.

Witness said he did not know anything about that.

The barman Gould, re-called, said he only served prisoner with one pint. He served prisoner`s wife once or twice with pints.

Prisoner said he did not know anything about the assault; he was drunk.

P.C. Hollands said the landlord gave prisoner into his custody. When charged at the police station accused made no reply. He was sober. He certainly appeared to have been drinking, but he was not drunk, for he spoke to witness quite sensibly coming up the High Street. He appeared to be excited, but witness could not say whether it was drink or excitement.

Prisoner`s wife, giving evidence, said she went into the Wonder Tavern about six o`clock. She found her husband there drunk. He was having a row with a woman, who was also drunk. Her husband was absolutely drunk. She took her husband home and made him have something to eat. That was at seven o`clock. At five minutes past seven she went back to the tavern with her husband. She was not there when the glass was thrown. He was very drunk. She had not lived with him for thirty years not to know when he was drunk or sober.

The Chief Constable said in consequence of the statement made by prisoner`s wife he thought it was only fair to the licensee that Inspector Lawrence should be called. What the woman had said was an absolute falsehood.

Inspector Lawrence said that at ten minutes past seven he was on the corner in front of the Wonder Tavern. He had looked in the tavern just before, and all was quiet in there. As he was standing in front of the tavern he saw prisoner come down Dover Street and go into the tavern. He was alone and was walking straight. What the accused`s wife had said was an absolute lie from beginning to end. Prisoner was perfectly sober. He was as sober as he was now as far as witness could see.

The Chief Constable said there were several convictions against prisoner for drunkenness, assault, begging, and using obscene language, while at Seabrook Police Court last month he was fined for being in possession of Government property.

The Chairman said the Bench looked upon the case as a very serious one. Licensed victuallers had a difficult task to perform in trying to keep their houses orderly, but they did it. There was no doubt that they tried to the best of their ability in Folkestone. The assault was entirely unprovoked. Prisoner would be sentenced to two months` hard labour.

 

Folkestone Express 26-6-1915

Monday, June 21^st: Before Lieut. Col. Fynmore and Colonel Owen.

Courtenay Lewis Williams was charged with wilfully breaking a plate glass window in the Wonder Tavern on Saturday evening. Mr. H.J. Myers prosecuted on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers` Association.

Charles Edward Fisk, the landlord of the Wonder Tavern, said on Saturday the defendant came into the private bar the worse for drink. He refused to serve him, and the prisoner declined to leave the house. He (witness) went to the public side of the bar, and when Williams again refused to go out he ejected him. He bolted the door, and immediately after the glass panel in the door was broken. He went outside the house by the private door, and then saw the prisoner with his hands on the window sash where the glass had been broken. The value of the glass panel was £2 8s. 6d.

Tom Smith, a labourer, said he was in the private bar of the Wonder Tavern about 5.45 on Saturday evening when he saw the prisoner come in. The landlord asked Williams to go out, but the man refused. Eventually the man was ejected, and the door bolted on him. Immediately he saw a shadow come up to the glass panel, which was then broken. The glass fell in the bar, and Williams caught hold of the framework. He could not swear whether the man`s foot, fist or shoulder broke the window.

Prisoner said unfortunately he had too much to drink. He denied that he broke the window wilfully, but it was done when he was being ejected. He put his foot on the door to prevent being thrown out, and it slipped through the glass. He wanted to go straight, and he was sorry it had happened.

Inspector Simpson said there were eleven previous convictions against the prisoner, but none for drunkenness or wilful damage.

Fined 5/-, and ordered to pay the damage, £2 8s. 6d., a fortnight being allowed for payment.

Folkestone Herald 26-6-1915

Monday, June 21^st: Before Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore and Col. G.P. Owen.

Courtenay Lewis Williams was charged with wilfully breaking a plate glass window, value £2 8s. 6d., at the Wonder Tavern, North Street (sic), on Saturday afternoon.

Mr. H.J. Myers appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Folkestone Licensed Victuallers` Association.

Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.

The Bench fined accused 5s., and the cost of the damage, or 14 days`, a fortnight being allowed for payment.

 

Folkestone Express 24-7-1915

Monday, July 5^th: Before E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Col. G.P. Owen, Alderman C. Jenner, and H.C. Kirke Esq.

Annie Matilda Williams, 54, no fixed abode, was charged with having stolen a child`s coat, value 7/-.

Thomas Wright, of 8, Beach Street, a refreshment house keeper, said the prisoner came to his shop on the evening of July 15^th, and whilst she was in the kitchen he gave her some tea and cake. She remained there about twenty minutes and then left. Shortly after her departure he missed a child`s coat from a peg on the wall near where she had been sitting. He saw it there while the accused was in the room. On Saturday he accompanied Inspector Lawrence to the Wonder Tavern, and there saw the prisoner. The coat was worth 7/-.

Mrs. L.F. Lynch, of 7, Martello Terrace, Sandgate, said on Friday evening, about 7 o`clock, she met the accused in High Street, Sandgate, and, taking her home, gave her a cup of tea. She appeared to be very distressed, and said she wanted to go to Ashford. The coat produced was wrapped in an apron, and she said she desired to sell it for a few coppers. She asked 8d. for it, and witness gave her 1/-, receiving 4d. change. She said she had had the coat given to her.

The Clerk: And you believed her?

Witness: Oh, yes. I was very sorry for her. Proceeding, she said subsequently the little girl Wright came and identified the coat, and witness handed it to Inspector Lawrence.

Inspector Lawrence said on Saturday he accompanied the first witness to the Wonder Tavern, where he saw the accused in the bar. He called her outside and cautioned her. He said “I am making inquiries about a child`s coat that was stolen from 8, Beach Street. I want you to come to the police station while I make further inquiries”. She replied “I don`t know anything about a coat stolen on Thursday; I only came into the town last night, walking here from London to try and get some hop picking”. When formally charged at the police station she said “To tell the truth, I took it because I was hungry and starving”.

Prisoner elected to have the case dealt with summarily. She declared that she had not stolen the coat, but that she picked it up from the floor thinking it was a blouse.

Mr. Wright, re-called, said he took pity on the woman, and gave her a good meal, including eggs and bacon.

Sentenced to a month`s hard labour.

Folkestone Herald 24-7-1915

Monday, July 19^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Alderman C. Jenner, Col. G.P. Owen, and Mr. H.C. Kirke.

Annie Matilda Williams was charged with stealing a child`s coat, value 7s., from 8, Beach Street, on Thursday, July 15^th.

Thomas Wright, of 8, Beach Street, an eating house keeper, said prisoner came to his shop on July 15^th, between 7 and 8 p.m. Whilst in the kitchen he gave her some tea and cake. She remained about twenty minutes, and then left the house. Shortly after she had left witness missed the coat produced from a peg on the wall near where she had been seated. He had seen it there while she was in the kitchen. On Saturday witness accompanied Inspector Lawrence to the Wonder Tavern. He there saw the prisoner and pointed her out. The value of the coat was 7s.

Mrs. Louisa Frances Lynch, of 7, Martello Terrace, Sandgate, said she met prisoner in High Street, Sandgate, on Friday, about 7 o`clock, with another woman. Witness took her to her house and gave her a cup of tea. She was very distressed, and said she had lost her son. She cried, and said she wanted to get her fare to Ashford. She had the coat produced wrapped up in an apron, and said she would like to sell It for a few coppers. She asked eightpence for it. Witness gave her the money, and ultimately prisoner left in company with another woman. Prisoner said she had had the coat given to her. Witness felt very sorry for her. The same evening, a little girl named Wright came to the house and identified the coat, which later witness handed to Inspector Lawrence.

Inspector Lawrence said that on Saturday he accompanied Mr. Wight to the Wonder Tavern, where he saw the prisoner seated in the bar. Witness called her outside and cautioned her. He told her he was making inquiries about the theft of the coat. She replied, “I don’t know anything about a coat stolen on Thursday. I only came into the town last night. I walked here from London to try and get some hop-picking.” He detained her, and later went to Sandgate, where he received the coat from Mrs. Lynch. When charged, prisoner said, ‘To tell you the truth, I took it, because I was hungry and starving”.

Prisoner said she took the coat from the floor. She was very sorry.

Mr. Wright, re-called, said she came into his place in a distressed condition, and said her son was wounded. He gave her a meal, including eggs and bacon.

Inspector Simpson said she was a stranger to the locality.

Sentence of one month`s hard labour was passed.

Folkestone Express 11-3-1916

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court yesterday (Thursday), before. Lieut. Col. Fynmore and other magistrates, Charles Henry Fisk, the landlord of the Wonder Tavern, was summoned for a breach of the Defence of the Realm Regulations by serving a soldier awaiting embarkation. He pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. Rutley Mowll defended.

P.S. Sales said at 7.20 on the 1^st inst. he, in company with P.C. Kennett, visited the Wonder Tavern. In the bar facing the Queen`s Square there were a number of soldiers. One soldier was drinking beer out of a pint glass. He questioned the man, and from what he told him he called the defendant, who was behind the bar. Witness said to him “This man is an Imperial soldier, and he tells me he is staying at the rest camp for the purpose of embarking”, He replied “How are we to know? He has no equipment on”. He told him he would report him, and the defendant said “They ought not to let these men out. We have quite enough trouble to deal with the Canadians”. The soldier had the badge of the Scottish Rifles in his cap, but there was nothing to lead anyone to think that he was an Imperial soldier except the badge.

P.C. Kennett corroborated.

Mr. Rutley Mowll said that was an extremely difficult thing for the licensee. It was the desire of every licensee to comply with such orders as the military thought it was advisable to make for the well-being of H.M. Forces. Of course, strictly speaking, the Order was an absolute prohibition. If they were going to deal with that matter strictly, then strictly speaking, the question of knowledge on the part of the licensee did not enter into the case. There was no evidence before the Court that the name of the soldier on the summons was that of a soldier at Folkestone for the purpose of embarkation. It was true that the man might have said so, but it was doubtful whether the landlord heard him say so. The soldier might even have come from the front, or from any training ground in England for all they knew, It was incumbent on the prosecution to prove their case. There must be definite and distinct evidence, not that the man said he was there for embarkation, but that he was there for that purpose. There was certainly no evidence as to that.

The Chairman said the evidence did not warrant a conviction. The Magistrates quite agreed with Mr. Mowll that the Order was really an absolute prohibition, so that the licence holders must be very careful indeed. The case would be dismissed.

Folkestone Herald 11-3-1916

Thursday, March 9^th: Before Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Mr. J.J. Giles, and Mr. H. Kirke.

Charles Henry Fisk, of the Wonder Tavern, was summoned for selling beer to Private T. Smith, of the 2^nd Scottish Rifles, whilst he was waiting to embark for France. Mr. Mowll defended.

Sergt. Sales said at 7.20 p.m. on the 1^st inst., in company with P.C. Kennett, he visited the Wonder Tavern. After questioning a soldier who was drinking beer, he said to defendant “This man is an Imperial soldier, and he tells me he is staying here for the purpose of embarking for France. You served him with liquor”. Defendant replied “Yes. How are we to know these men are going across? He has no equipment on”.

Cross-examined, witness said apart from the Canadian soldier, there was a number of Imperial soldiers deployed in the town.

P.C. Kennett corroborated.

Mr. Mowll said it was an extremely difficult order, which was an absolute prohibition, for a licensee to comply with. There had been no evidence that Smith was a soldier at Folkestone for the purpose of embarkation.

The Chairman said the Magistrates felt the evidence did not justify a conviction. They quite agreed with Mr. Mowll there was an absolute prohibition, so licensees must be very careful indeed. The case would be dismissed.

Folkestone Express 18-11-1916

Tuesday, September 14^th: Before Alderman Spurgen and other Magistrates.

William Isaac Hudd and Pte. Fredk. Graves were summoned for a breach of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, the former for supplying a pint of beer to a member of H.M. Forces who was undergoing hospital treatment, and the latter for wilfully procuring the beer. Mr. H.J. Myers appeared for Hudd and pleaded Not Guilty. Graves admitted the infraction.

Corporal Wilson, C.M.P., said on Nov. 1^st he visited the Wonder Tavern with Corporal Jones, of the Imperials. In the bar they saw Private Graves, before whom was a pint glass more than half full of beer. He noticed that this man was wearing the hospital blue uniform, and placed him under arrest. The soldier drank the beer in witness`s presence. Hudd, when spoken to, said it was none of witness`s business. He (witness) was not at the time wearing his police badge. After he told him he was a military policeman, Hudd threatened to kick him out of the house.

By Mr. Myers (for Hudd): The bar of the Wonder Tavern was not rather dark. There were about eight persons in the bar at the time. Anyone standing three yards from graves could have seen that he was a hospital patient, because the blue uniform was showing at the wrist and the neck. Graves did not say that Hudd was not to blame. Graves was doing duty at the hospital.

Corporal Richard Jones, of the Military Police, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. He said he had no difficulty whatever in seeing that Graves was wearing a hospital uniform.

Corporal Robinson, C.M.P., said he was standing outside the Wonder Tavern, and when Graves came out witness noticed that he was a hospital patient. Graves had taken off his puttees in the bar.

Corporal George Marshall, of the West Cliff Hospital, formally proved that Graves was a patient there on November 1^st.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Myers at once called for Mr. Hudd, manager of the Wonder Tavern, who said on November 1^st he was on duty in the bar, which was shaded by the bridges of the railway. The counter was 4ft. high. Graves came in and called for a drink, but witness noticed nothing whatever about him. He was wearing an overcoat and had puttees on, and witness saw no trace of blue uniform. Witness always took particular notice of soldiers, because he knew it was an offence to serve a hospital patient. When the first Corporal came in and spoke about the matter, witness asked how was he to know Graves was a hospital patient when he (the Corporal) had to ask for his pass. Witness went on to deny that he threatened to kick the Corporal out the bar.

Re-examined, witness said the man disguised himself.

Graves also went into the box. He said that was the first occasion he had been in the house. He put his overcoat collar well up, and he turned up the sleeves of his blue coat. It was impossible for the man behind the bar to see his blue uniform. He put puttees on to make sure of his uniform being hid.

Private Milne, R.D.C., said he went into the bar, being preceded by Graves, who went up to the counter. He did not notice anything about Graves, who was dressed like an ordinary soldier. There was nothing to show that the man was a hospital patient.

Jeremiah Shea, 52, Beach Street, said he was in the bar on November 1^st between two and a quarter past two, when he saw Graves come in, and he could not see anything to suggest that the man was a hospital patient.

Cross-examined, witness said he really did not know the number of the house where he resided. It might be that the street was Radnor Street, and not Beach Street.

Elizabeth Comboy, a charwoman at the Wonder Tavern, gave similar evidence.

The Chairman said Graves had pleaded Guilty, and he would be fined 20/-. He hoped he would not do that sort of thing again. The case against Hudd would be dismissed on payment of the costs (5/-). The Magistrates hoped it would be a warning to him an the other licence holders to keep a sharp lookout.

Folkestone Herald 18-11-1916

Tuesday, November 14^th: Before Alderman Spurgen and other Magistrates.

Wm. Isaac Hudd, manager of the Wonder Tavern, was summoned under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, for supplying drink to a wounded soldier, and Fredk. Graves, a Canadian soldier, for procuring the commission of the act. Hudd, who pleaded Not Guilty, was represented by Mr. H.J. Myers. Graves pleaded Guilty.

Corpl. Wilson, Military Police, said he and Corpl. Jones visited the Wonder Tavern on November 1^st and he saw Graves standing at the bar with a glass of beer before him. As he was wearing hospital uniform, witness took him into custody. He saw Graves drink some of the beer. Hudd was serving in the bar, and on witness speaking to him about serving the man with beer, he said “Yes, but it`s none of your business”. Hudd threatened to kick him out of the place.

By Mr. Myers: The bar was not particularly dark at the time, and he could not say the counter was higher than was usual with bar counters. Graves wore a khaki overcoat with the collar turned partly up. He thought anyone could have seen Graves was a hospital patient. Grave did not tell him that he muffled himself up and put puttees on to get a drink, and that Hudd was not to blame.

Corpl. Jones, M.P., corroborated

Corpl. Robertson stated that he saw defendant Graves leave the tavern, and could see at once that he was a hospital patient.

Corpl. Marshall, of the west Cliff Hospital, said Graves was a hospital patient at the time in question.

Defendant Hudd, on oath, said the room was shaded by the bridges of the railway, and the bar was very high. Graves was dressed in an overcoat buttoned up to the neck, and was wearing puttees. When the Corporal asked fro Graves`s pass, the soldier said “I have no pass. I am a hospital patient”. Graves added that he had muffled himself up to get a drink, and that witness was not in any way to blame, as it could not be known he was a hospital patient.

By the Chief Constable: He served Graves with a pint of beer. Witness could see nothing of the blue uniform at all.

Graves said he put his overcoat and puttees on, and turned the cuffs of his blue tunic so that they would not protrude. It would be impossible for any person behind the bar to see he was in blue uniform.

Pte. Milne, of the Royal Defence Corps, stated that he was in the bar when Graves was. He could not see that graves was a hospital patient.

Jeremiah Shea, Radnor Street gave similar evidence, as did Elizabeth Comboy, a charwoman employed at the Wonder Tavern.

Graves was fined 20s., the case against Hudd being dismissed on payment of costs.