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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 27 May 1939
Page 11 Column 6
POLICE FOUND DEFENDANT A JOB
TRIBUTE AT WELLINGTON COURT
FOWL STEALING CHARGE
A defendant at Wellington Police-court, yesterday, paid tribute to a police sergeant who had found him a job after he had committed larceny.
Defendant was Sidney J. BINDING, labourer, of Round Oake Cottages, Nynehead, and he pleaded guilty to stealing three fowls, value 18s.
Fred PARSONS, market gardener, of Gas-street, Wellington, stated that on Saturday, April 29th, at 8.30 p.m., he shut up 20 cross-bred Rhode Island Red fowls at Poole Crossways. The following morning at 9, the fowls were out of the pen and there was a pool of blood and a belt from an overcoat on the ground. Three fowls were missing.
P.C. BROOKS said he had seen accused the previous week wearing a coat of the same material as the belt and went straight to his home. He at first denied all knowledge of the offence. At request he produced his overcoat. Witness found that the lining had been ripped open and at the bottom were some feathers.
FOWL FOUND IN OVEN.
The constable stated that he recovered one fowl from the oven, a second from a side-board, and the third, which was in water, from the scullery. Accused made a statement in which he said, “I plead guilty to taking the fowls. I had a couple of pints of cider given me, if not I don't think I should have done it. I am sorry it happened. My kiddies have not the food that I should like to have given them had I been in work. I must have done it for them.”
BINDING told the Bench that he thought being out of work made him commit the offence When he was first unemployed he was receiving 36s a week benefit. “When I was put on the means test they dropped it to 34s, and not satisfied with that, dropped it to 31s 6d. I went to Taunton before the Committee, but they did not see their way clear to do anything for me. After I had committed this offence I went to Taunton, and they gave me a 7s ticket for groceries. They could help me after this trouble. I do not, however, think I would have committed the offence if I had not had cider. I throw myself on the mercy of the Court, and I will also take my oath that I will sign the pledge.” He added that his three children were aged four, two and seven months.
Accused said he would like to thank P.S. ALLEN, who had now got him a job on the reservoir. Before that he obtained a post on the railway at Taunton, but required two inner tubes for his bicycle so that he could ride to work. He went to the unemployment officials at Taunton for help, but it was refused.
The Chairman: Isn't there a shortage of agricultural labourers in this district.
Supt. FRY: He has a job now.
PREVIOUS CONVICTION.
Supt. FRY said there was one previous conviction for larceny against BINDING. At Wells Assizes on May 27th, 1925, he was convicted of three offences, breaking and entering a shop at Watchet and stealing meat, breaking and entering a corn shop and stealing five bags of potatoes, and the third offence was of stealing five ducks. He was then bound over for 12 months.
The Chairman: We should be loath to send you to jail because of your young family, but you deserve to go to jail.
Defendant was bound over in his own recognisances for two years. He was ordered to pay 20s costs and given three months in which to pay.
<NOTES: Sidney James BINDING son of Robert BINDING and Selina SULLY, married Lilian May CRIDLAND and Emily or Emma Jane HITCHCOCK>