Summons under the Lighting Order

At Hatfield Petty Sessions on Monday, Mrs Macintosh Jowitt, of Anothoth, Nast Hyde, was summoned under the Lighting Order for failing to obscure the lights at her residence on the night of November 10.  Miss Jowitt appeared on behalf of her mother.  PS Olding stated that at 9.30 p.m. the defendant’s house, which adjoins the Roman Catholic Church, was brilliantly lit up.  One window facing Roe Green was very bright and in another window facing the St Albans Road the wind was blowing the blind to and fro, causing a flash of light to be emitted repeatedly which would show for a considerable distance.  On going to the house he saw a lady whom he took to be Mrs Jowitt, and drew her attention to her bright lights, and she said she was not aware they were so bright.  She said she did not want to do anything wrong, and hoped that the witness would not let it go any further.

The defendant had previously been cautioned by another constable.  Supt Sullivan said there had been a number of complaints about the lights in this particular house.  PC Langdon said he saw bright lights at the house on November 6.  Miss Jowitt said that when the Constable complained before there was only a crack down the side of the window, and she immediately covered that up.  The family had only been tenants of the house since July, but the house had got a bad name because the previous tenants were Germans.  Every blind in the house was dark green, and if they had been told that the light was not screened enough they would have altered them at once.  The windows had been properly darkened now, for after the Inspector called the other evening she at once had dark curtains put up.  The Chairman said it was not a very serious case, but they were bound to fine the defendant 10s..  The lady said ‘Thank you’, and smilingly paid the money.