Drunkeness (1916)

Post date: Apr 08, 2016 2:13:30 PM

Extract from the South Eastern Gazette of 5th September 1916

A SCENE AT WATERINGBURY.

Alfred John Lavender, labourer, Ham Hill,who wore his National Fencibles badge,

pleaded not guilty to being drunk and disorderly at Wateringhury on the 2nd inst.

P.C. Whibley stated that at 10.40 p.m. on Saturday he was called to the house of a Mr.

Boorman, where he saw both prisoner and Mr. Boorman with their faces covered with

blood. It appeared that the wife of accused was staying at the house, and witness was

requested to eject the man from the premises, which he did with great difficulty. On getting

prisoner, who was drunk, into the road,he commenced using bad language, and was

so violent that he had to be handcuffed and brought to the police station in a conveyance.

P.C. White, who went to the assistance of the other constable, corroborated, describing

accused as “mad .”

Prisoner alleged that he was roughly handled by the police, knocked down, and

had his coat torn. He stated he had served at the war, and was very deaf as the result

of shell shock, which had caused his discharge from the Army. His wife had been

encouraged away from her home by her mother—Mrs. Boorman—and had left him

with the children. He went to Wateringbury to try and get her home again.

Supt. Ford reported two previous convictions. Prisoner was in receipt of a pension

of 22s. weekly from the Army, and had been working for Mr. Mercer at East Malling. The

man having turned his wife out of doors, she went to her home at Wateringbury.

The Bench inflicted a fine of 20s. and 10s. costs, and cautioned prisoner as to his future

conduct. Three weeks were allowed for payment.