Notable Events In Week Twentysix

Hertfordshire Police Historical Society

This Week In History

Friday 29th June 1900

Luton Times and Advertiser
At the Herts Quarter Sessions, William Nobel (33), and Ernest Edgar Waller (27), members the Hertfordshire Constabulary, pleaded not guilty to an indictment for stealing two fowls, the property of Walter William Wise, of Offley, on May 2nd. Mr. Grubbe appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Earle defended Waller. —Mr. Grubbe, in opening the case, said the person from whom these fowls were stolen was Mr. Wise, the landlord the Green Man public house the little village of Offley, and the prisoner Waller was the policeman at Offley, and Noble was the policeman at King’s Walden. After hearing the case, the Chairman said the Bench had taken into consideration that the prisoners had already been six weeks in prison, but still the case was such a serious one, that everyone on the Bench felt that a severe sentence should be passed, and the sentence of the Court was that both of them be imprisoned with hard labour for nine months.

Thursday 24th June 1939

Northern Whig
RECTOR’S SERIOUS INJURIES. May Never Be Able to Give Evidence. Rev. Harry Boughey Walton, rector of Hardwicke, near Aylesbury, in connection with whose injuries a young Guardsman is charged, is, in the words of a doctor at Watford Police Court yesterday, unlikely ever to be able to give evidence.” The witness. Dr. Diana Jean Beck, of the Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, answering an inquiry of the clerk, said “He has almost a complete lack of understanding”. It was the result of his injuries, she said. Lawrence M’Lean Maywood (19), of the Ist Battalion Scots Guards, Victoria Barracks, Windsor, was charged on remand with the attempted murder of the rector and with assaulting and robbing him of £5 at Chorleywood on May 23. Mr. W. A. L. Raeburn appeared for Maywood and Mr. Derek Curtis Bennett watched the case for an “interested party”. A Guards lieutenant sat in the well of the court taking notes. Detective-Superintendent Reeves, the Hertfordshire Constabulary, stated that when charged with both offences Maywood pleaded self-defence.

June 1938

Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser
BURNHAM-ON-SEA
A sentence of three years’ penal servitude was passed on Arthur Brackett, an ex-police constable, of no fixed abode, when he pleaded guilty to stealing a cheque, forging a cheque for the payment of £l6. Uttering the cheque with intent to defraud and breaking and entering and stealing jewellery to the value of £7O. 10s and £l7 in money.
Mr. Herrick Collins, prosecuting, said Brackett was employed by Mr. S. N. Rlsley. of the White House, Burnham-on-Sea. and before leaving took a cheque from a book. Later he returned to the house and stole jewellery. PC Crocker said Brackett was for short time a police constable in the Hertfordshire Constabulary, from which was discharged with gratuity. There were 18 previous convictions against him. including several for offences of a similar nature and one of three years’ penal servitude for stealing a car.

1861

Dunfermline Press
The Fall-Preventing Reins.
Mr A. English, one of the Inspectors of Hertfordshire Constabulary, has patented a most ingenious invention, the object of which is to prevent horses in harness from falling. A horse which could scarcely go a hundred yards without stumbling has been driven for many miles over very bad road without exhibiting any tendency to its accustomed vice, by means of set of reins. The reins commence under the belly of the horse, with a loop which receives the saddle girth and tug girth; they then pass on either side the chest to the round of the hame, where they pass through a loop, then through the eye of the hame and the ring of the saddle, and over the dash-board into the box or bottom of the chaise, where they are made fast over the axle by two straps. The obvious effect of the reins thus disposed is to brace up the horse and throw the whole weight of its forequarters upon the axles, thus making it impossible for the animal to fall.

Saturday 21st June 1879

DRUNK AND ASSAULT ON THE POLICE. James Balding was charged with being drunk and assaulting the police in the execution of their duty, at Watford, on the 11th June. Police Constable Jennings stated : On the evening of Wednesday, the 11th inst., about 7 o’clock, I was at the Police Station, when the prisoner and a woman came to the station. The woman complained of the prisoner’s conduct, and said that he had threatened her life. I told her they had better go away quietly. The prisoner began to be very abusive to the woman in my presence, and threatened her. saying, ”I will do for the **** before I have done with her.” The woman than went away, and I asked the prisoner to go; but he became very abusive. I told him that I should lock him up. and he said, “You old ****, I’ll murder you before I’ve done with you.” I then took hold of him to lock him up. when he kicked my leg, struck me on the breast, and nearly knocked me backwards. He bit a piece out of the sleeve of my coat. Superintendent Isgate and Police Constable Bourne came my assistance, but we were obliged to tie his legs and arms before we could get him into the cell. Police Constable Bourne corroborated. Several convictions against the prisoner were stated, and was said to be a most violent and dangerous character. The Chairman told the defendant that the Bench were determined to protect the police, and this was the second time had assaulted them in the execution of their duty. He would be imprisoned for two months, with hard labour, which was a light sentence under the circumstances.

Thomas Carroll, 48, charged with being drunk, at Watford, on the 16th June. Police Constable Bourne stated that on Monday night, about 8.30, he was sent to Watford Union Workhouse, in company with Police Constable Jennings. When they arrived there the defendant, who had been fighting, had gone. They however found him further along the road, and Mr. Snowing was endeavouring to keep him off his premises. Defendant was drunk and rather violent at first. They took him into custody. Police constable Jennings stated that saw defendant at beer houses earlier in the evening. He was drunk and used bad language. went out of the town, and was afterwards found as stated. Defendant said that all he wanted was “fairation.” He was a jockey by profession; but was down in the world. He knew Mr. Snowing. He had ridden all over England, France, and Belgium. He had ridden for Mr. Palmer, and the Earl of Stamford and Warrington. He was in ill-health, and on Monday night was badly treated by a navvy. Police Sergeant Clark said that it was expected this was untrue. Fined 2s. 6d.; costs I3s. 6d. In default, seven days hard labour.

George Humphrey was charged with riding asleep on his cart, at Watford, on 3rd June. William Stedman stated : I am baker at Sarratt. I was going home from Watford, on Tuesday, the 3rd June in a pony and cart. As I was passing the Hagden Lane toll gate, about half-past 6, the woman there called to me and I pulled up in the gateway. Defendant was behind me about 20 or 30 yards with a horse and cart laden with dung. His cart came up and ran against my cart. He was lying asleep on the fore-ladder. The defendant’s horse almost stopped, but when I called out he woke up but did not speak, only made the horse go on again, his cart knocking against mine. I know the defendant. Emma Halliday, the toll-gate keeper, said that she saw a persons a cart wheel run against Stedman’s. He called out, but no one answered. No attempt was made with the rein to stop the horse. Defendant: I did not know whose cart it was. Defendant said that there was no cart standing at the turnpike gate when he went through. Mr. Stedman overtook him 300 yards below the gate. He called Joseph Jaggers, a carter in the employment of the same master. Mr. James Bellamy, who said that passed through the gate in charge of horse and cart, in front of defendant. They were close together. Defendant was on the fore ladder of the cart. He did not see Mr. Stedman’s cart there. Mr. Stedman’s cart passed them after they had got through the gate 300 or 400 yards, and Stedman called out to him. Defendant did not run against a cart at the gate. Mrs. Halliday recalled that several carts laden with manure went through the gate about the same time. The Chairman said that the ease was not brought before the Bench with sufficient clearness to warrant a conviction; it would therefore dismissed. Mr. Stedman paid the costs.