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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 29 Dec 1915
Page 4 Column 6
TAUNTON BOROUGH POLICE-COURT.
WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor (Councillor A. C. MOLE), Mr. H. J. BADCOCK, Mr. F. W. PENNY, Mr. J. WHITE, Mr. H. Byard SHEPPARD, and Mr. H. E. GIBBONS.
NO REAR LIGHT.
William PIKE, a locomotive-driver, of Bagborough, was summoned for having on the 15th inst. driven a traction-engine at Taunton at 4.55 p.m. without a red light attached to the rear. - Defendant pleaded guilty, and P.S. GILES stated the facts. He said he examined the lamp, and found it did not contain any oil. - Defendant said the lamp was lit when they left Rowbarton, and it was also burning when he was in Station-road. - Deputy-Chief-Constable BROWN said that between October and April locomotives must be lit at sunset. - Fined 5s.
EDUCATIONAL.
Jane BURGE, of High-street, was summoned for neglecting to send her boy regularly to school in compliance with an attendance order. - The case had been adjourned to see if the boy would attend regularly, and Mr. COLLIS now reported that the boy had made every attendance since the adjournment. - Defendant was ordered to pay the costs, 4s, and the lad was ordered to attend regularly or be brought up on a probation order already in force.
CHILDREN'S COURT.
THEFT OF A CYCLE LAMP.
William Thomas THRESHER, a lad, of 2, Govier's-terrace, Staplegrove, was summoned for having on the 17th inst. stolen a bicycle lamp, value 2s 6d, the property of Cecil HARE, schoolboy, of Haine's Hill.
Complainant stated that on Friday, the 17th inst., at 9.10a.m., he left his cycle at the back of Mr. PALMER's School, but he could not say if the lamp was attached. He left his cycle in the drive leading to his house the previous evening, and the lamp was then attached to the cycle. He missed the lamp at 2.5 p.m. on Friday, and gave information to the police. He identified the lamp produced as his property, which he valued at 2s 6d. The oil lamp produced was on his bicycle when he missed his own lamp.
P.C. HILL stated that on Saturday, the 18th inst., he made enquiries respecting the lamp, and went to Mr. HEALE's cycle shop in East Reach, where he was shown the lamp produced, it having been taken there earlier in the morning to be repaired. He again called at the shop at 5.30 p.m., where he saw defendant, who had called at the shop to fetch the lamp. He asked defendant how the lamp came into his possession, and he said, “A boy by the name of BELLAMY gave it to me.” He took defendant to the Police-station, where he was charged with the offence, and, in reply, he said, “I took the lamp from a bicycle which was at the back of Mr. PALMER's School, Wellington-road, and I left an oil lamp in the place of it.”
Defendant, who elected to be dealt with summarily, pleaded guilty.
His father expressed sorrow that his son should have stolen the lamp, and said he could not understand why he had done it. When he brought the lamp home on Friday evening he said he had exchanged it. His employers gave him a good character.
Deputy-Chief-Constable BROWN also said there was nothing known against defendant, whose father also bore a good character.
Dismissed on payment of the costs, 15s.
TUESDAY. - Before Messrs. F. W. PENNY and W. J. VILLAR.
A CHAMBERMAID'S LAPSE.
May WALKER, a chambermaid, of Tavistock, pleaded guilty to having been drunk in North-street on Christmas-day. - P.C. HILL stated that he saw defendant leaning against the window of the Half Moon Hotel, surrounded by a crowd. She was very drunk, had nowhere to go, and no friends to take care of her. Witness took her to the Police-station, where she was locked up. - P.S. SPILLER stated that defendant had been working in the town about two months. She was dismissed from her employment, and he supposed that was the cause of her getting drunk. - The Bench dismissed the case on defendant promising to return to Tavistock, a constable being instructed to see her into the train.