Charged with being on enclosed premises

Hertfordshire Mercury, 17th March 1906

Transcript

At Cheshunt Petty Sessions on Wednesday, William Harmer, of Hoddesdon, was charged with being on enclosed premises supposed for an unlawful purpose on the 3rd inst.  P.C. Hunt stated that at 2.40 a.m. he was near the Boar’s Head, Hoddesdon and he heard footsteps in the public-house yard.  He looked into the yard and heard a scuttling noise in the stable.  He went to the stable and found the prisoner in a manger covered with sacks.  He asked him what he was doing there, and prisoner replied that he was doing nothing and that the landlord had given him permission to be there.

Witness noticed that his boots were wet and mouldy.  Fowls were kept on the premises, and there were tools and other property in the stable.

The sacks which prisoner had covered himself were his own property.

By the Clerk : Prisoner had no fixed abode and slept anywhere.  By prisoner : He was not asleep when witness went to him. He was awake and spoke at once.  Prisoner declared that witness had not heard his footsteps as he had been asleep for some time.  He was not there for any harm PC Carter corroborated.  The landlord of the house said prisoner had never asked for permission to sleep on the premises and consequently had not been given it.

The Rev. F. Papprill, Hoddesdon, said he was anxious that the Bench should give this man a chance of earning a honest living.  He had promised to go to the Salvation Army Colony, and he (the speaker) hoped the Bench would allow him to go.  There was no chance of him earning a honest living in Hoddesdon, and if he remained there he would undoubtedly be charged again.

Supt Duke said the prisoner had been sent away before, but soon returned to Hoddesdon.  Mr Papprill said he was willing to look after the man until the ”Army” took charge of him.  The Chairman said that being so, and seeing that Harmer had been in custody for ten days, he would sentence him to only one day’s imprisonment.  Prisoner said he would be sure to go to the colony.

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