A charge dismissed

Hertfordshire Mercury, 14th April 1906

Transcript

At the Cheshunt Petty Sessions on Wednesday, before T.H.Harrison, G.Paul, and J.A.Hunt, Esqs., Mrs Kate Martin, of Rose Valley, Hoddesdon, was summoned for being drunk at Turnford on the 5th inst.  Mr J.R.Randolph, barrister, defended.

P.C. Lawrence stated that about 4 p.m. on the 5th inst. he saw the defendant walking on the path. She staggered across the road and fell. He lifted her up, but she said ”I am not intoxicated, don’t take me”. She had a cut on her face. He considered that she was intoxicated and took her in charge. At the police station she again denied that she was drunk.

By Mr Randolph : he thought she was drunk because she had to bear on him for support, and her breath smelt strongly of drink.

Mr Randolph expressed surprise that the witness had not said this in his evidence in chief.

P.S. Grover said when the defendant was brought in he sent for a doctor who attended to her injuries and certified that she was drunk.

P.S. Finden gave similar evidence. He said that when he went into the police station defendant got up and put out her hand evidently with the intention of shaking hands with him. She then nearly fell down, and had to be supported by the female attendant.

Mr Randolph said a serious mistake had been made, for the defendant was a respectable woman. She was at present time subject to giddiness, and had actually fallen down once before the Constable saw her.

Dr J.E. Wells, of Hoddesdon, said he knew the defendant, and saw her at 7 p.m. on the day in question. She was not drunk and had no signs of having been so. She was not the kind of woman to take too much drink, and very likely had a fainting fit. Her heart was rather weak.

Arthur Martin, collector of Messrs Christie & Co, and husband of the defendant, said he arranged to meet her at her brother’s house four miles from Hoddesdon at 5 o’clock on the day in question. She was perfectly sober when he left her in the morning, and he had never known her to take too much. He fetched her from the police station and she was quite sober then. She was very excitable.

Louisa Traveller, domestic servant in the employ of the defendant, said she had never known her worst for drink. She had only one glass of ale for lunch on the 5th, and left the house to walk to Turnford.

George Henry Adams, Goffs Oak, said he passed defendant on her way to Turnford. He saw she had fallen down and went to her assistance. He found her dazed but she was not intoxicated.

The Rev. C.W.H. Browne, of Cheshunt, said he saw defendant with the Constable, and thinking she had been hurt, offered his assistance, which she refused. She did not show any sign of intoxication.

Emily Munns, housekeeper of Mr Rogers, defendant’s brother, said she was brought to the house shortly after six. She was quite sober.

The case was dismissed.

 

 

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