Drunken escapade and theft of brass band bell
HERE in our regular nostalgia feature we look back at stories in the Rochdale Observer from years gone by. Following on from last year’s 100 years ago feature, this year, we are turning back the clock to see what was being reported on 80 years ago:
●●GOING to a Party
CLEMENT Whipp (30) of 100 Oldham Road, Ronald Hinchcliffe (32) of 22, York Street and George John Brierly (26) of Lawfold, Yorkshire Street, pleaded guilty to having stolen seven drinking glasses and a brass band bell together of the value of 9s. 111/2d., from the Old Chapel
House Inn, Whitworth Road, the previous night.
Superintendent French said the circumstances suggested “something like an interrupted carousal”. The three men entered the singing-room of the public house and at closing time ordered and were supplied with nine pint bottles of beer.
Apparently they also took away the seven glasses from the bar and a brass bell from the singing-room, for at 11.25pm they were intercepted by a policeman as they were walking down the street laden with the bottles of beer and glasses and tinkling the bell.
On being asked to account for possession of the glasses and the bell, they stated that they intended going to a party and then to return the glasses. The men were employed on night work.
Whipp told the magistrates “It was just a drunken escapade”, but his companions had no explanation to offer. Superintendent French, replying to the Chairman said nothing was recorded against any of the accused, and added that they had been ‘pretty well soaked”. Each was fined 10s.
●●AN Excuse for ‘Supping’ Pints
MARK Rowley (64) of no fixed abode was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Yorkshire Street at 11pm on Wednesday.
PC Dewhirst said the accused was drunk and staggering about the roadway shouting and swearing at people who were passing.
He refused to be quiet, and was taken to the central police station. Rowley admitted having been drunk, and said he did not recollect ever seeing the policeman.
He had had a hard day at the mill, and added: “What with the war and the black-out I started supping pints of beer until I didn’t know where I were”.
In reply to the Chairman, who inquired where Rowley “got that black eye”, the prisoner said he would like to know. He said he thought he had fallen, and did not think the policeman did it, because he was so kind.
Superintendent French said Rowley had been convicted twenty-eight times for drunkenness, the last time being in October. He was fined 20s.
●●A DANGEROUS Practice
STANLEY Wilde (35) of 20, Field Road, Firgrove, did not appear to answer a summons for having ridden a pedal cycle whilst holding on to a lorry without authority.
Superintendent French said the defendant was being drawn up a slight gradient in Albert Royds Street without knowledge of the lorry driver.
These cases had to be brought before the court because of the many accidents which were so caused.
Recently a man was seriously injured in Albert Royds Street as the result of a similar action. The defendant in a letter to the court admitted the offence and mentioned that if it could be arranged for him to be notified of the amount of the fine he would send it on. He was fined 10s.