Soldier on leave behaving drunkenly on South Street

13 November 1915

Transcript

South Street, Bishop's Stortford

At the Police Court on Tuesday before Captain L A Routledge, Charles Hudgell, a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment (at present home on leave from the Front) was brought up in custody charged with being drunk and disorderly in South Street the previous day.

The defendant pleaded not guilty saying “I was walking down the street when a policeman came and pushed me”. PC E Bradbury deposed that about 5.20 p.m. he was on duty in South Street when the Defendant came along rolling from one side of the pavement to another. The witness told him to go home but he refused. The language he used was “dreadful”. Defendant was further charged with assaulting the Constable while in the execution of his duty at the same time and place.

Supt Foster : Did you see that man strike the policeman?

Witness : Yes.

Defendant : You are very false to stand there and say that.

Proceeding with his evidence, PC Bradbury said that when he spoke to the defendant he struck him a severe blow on the left side of the face and also kicked him on the left leg. Witness then closed with him and with the assistance of two Military Policemen brought him to the police station.  Defendant used filthy language all the way up the street.

Defendant :  Show me the bruise and what did you do to me when I got here.  Did you hit me?

Witness : No

Defendant : Can you stand in that box and tell that!

Witness : Yes!

Defendant : You are a very false man.

 

Pte Hubert of the RAMC said that on the previous day about 5.30 he saw defendant standing on the pathway in South Street using bad language. A Policeman came along and witness told the defendant to move along or he would get into trouble.  Defendant did not seem to understand what witness said and when the Policeman afterwards spoke to him he became violent and used more bad language. Witness afterwards gave what assistance he could to the Police (he having his right arm up) after which two Military Policemen came up and took defendant to the Police Station.

Supt Foster: Did you see that man strike the policeman ?

Witness : Yes.

Defendant : You are very false to stand there and say that.

Supt Foster said he would ask for a remand until Thursday in order that he might communicate with the defendant’s regiment. The defendant was remanded and on Thursday was again brought up before E B Barnard Esq (Chairman) and other Magistrates, when evidence was given by Pte R Little of the Military Police.

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