Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 31 July 1891
Alleged Breach Of The Licensing Act At Conisborough.
Hard Swearing.
Christopher Noble, miner, Conisborough, was charged with having been drunk at the Station Inn, Conisborough, and Thomas Senescall, the landlord, was charged with having permitted drunkenness on his licensed premises.
Noble pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s. and 6d. costs.
The case against the landlord was then proceeded with
Sergeant Ambler deposed that ice visited the Inn at half-put ten on the night in question. He found the man Noble in the dram shop “mad drunk.” It was stated that the man went about half past nine o’clock to the house, that he went there drunk and that he struck one of the waiters. The man was using very bad language.
P.c. Drury gave corroborative testimony.
The defendant Noble was called to give evidence. He said he went to the Alma Inn, about half past four on the day named and had a pint of beer. He had another pint at the Eagle and Child Inn, and two pints at the Star Inn. He afterwards visited the Castle Inn and then the Station Inn. He had three quarts altogether and some whiskey was ordered too.
Fanny Richardson ordered one lot of drink and himself the rest. The landlord accused him of having broken a glass.
Cross examined, he denied that he said he would give 10s. if they let him go. He denied that he was ordered out of the house ten minutes after he entered. He could not really say what he did there as he was so drunk. (Laughter.)
George Woodburn, miner, said he was in the Station Inn at 7-30 p.m. on the night in question. Noble and three or four more went in half past nine. Mrs Richardson paid for the first quart of drink, and Noble for two quarts and also for some whiskey. They left the house at a quarter to ten.
Davis Richardson said be a bricklayer living in New Conisborough. He met Noble between nine and nine-fifteen o’clock on the night named. They went into the Station Inn. He saw his wife (Richardson) pay for the first quart and Noble for the rest, and the waiter served them.
Cross-examined : Noble was very drunk and left at a quarter-to-ten.
Fanny Richardson, wife of the previous witness, said Noble was drunk. She paid for one quart as had been stated, and Noble paid for the rest.
Cross-examined : Noble was so drunk that the road would hardly hold him. (Laughter.)
Richard Grindel, glassblower, Conisborough, said he saw Noble in the Station lnn. He left him at five minutes to ten. The damage which had been spoken of was done by Joseph Spence and he paid threepence for it.
Cross-examined There was nothing to prevent the man going out of the house if he had wanted.
Joseph Spence, glass-blower, said he went to the house about 9.40. Noble was in and he had a quart ;he was also ordering whiskey.
Cross-examined: I only saw him have one quart.
Emma Noble said one went for her husband and found him at the Station Inn. He was very drunk. Senescall was kicking him.
Sophia Senescall said she went into the room were Noble was when the glass was broken. She heard her husband say that Noble was to go out and was to have nothing filled.
Noble paid Is. for the damage done to the glass and she returned him 9d. He used some beastly language. A waiter got him out. The face of the waiter was bleeding. Noble said he would pay 10s. and all the damages if they would let him go.
William Proctor, a waiter at the Station lnn, said he did not fill the defendant anything to drink. Noble struck him with a chair, and he (the waiter) struck him back.
Cross-examined: Noble came in about nine o’clock and he was sitting in the kitchen all the time. I was serving in the kitchen and in the best room. I put him out of the house three times. Richardson and Noble were in the same room. Noble called for a quart of beer. Mrs. Richardson did not pay for a quart. and Noble did not pay for whiskey. Noble was ordered out. A glass was broken.
James Glenner, miner, said he was in the same room as Noble. Noble had nothing to drink in the house. Spence knocked the glass off. Noble paid for it. Witness was in the kitchen. There was no “bother” in the kitchen.
William Smith, miner, deposed to a like effect that Noble was in the kitchen and that no drink was supplied.
The Chairman said there was no doubt on the minds of the magistrates that Noble was exceedingly drunk, but there was a doubt as to whether he was supplying with drink at the Station Inn. The case against the landlord was therefore dismissed.