Police court life

SINGING SOLDIER At the Scarborough Police Court, Morrison Stapleford, miner, said to have been staying at a common lodging house in Scarborough, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in St Thomas Street. The offence was admitted. PC Shepherd had seen the man very drunk, and defendant was singing and shouting at the top of his voice. He was making, said the chief, an awful noise (laughter). He was singing, but he was also shouting. Prisoner said he was trying to sing. Scarborough was the best place he had come to some years ago, and he had some of his best friends here. He had met some military comrades on Saturday and got too much beer. He was very glad the policeman had locked him up, as he might have got into worse hands. They (the police) had been very kind to him. He had been fifteen months in France with a miners’ battalion and he was 50 years of age. He came home because of dysentery. He had a little money, and if the magistrates imposed a fine he would pay, he would try to leave drink alone, stick to his work, and be more careful in future. Asked what work he had done he said he had been engaged on public works, munitions, and latterly on farm work for Mr Jackson of Cayton. He was fined 5s.