Prohibited Hours

On Saturday, John Oxley, licensed victualler, Bolton-on-Dearne, and Richard Crowcroft, licensed victualler, Conisbrough, were charged with having their houses open during prohibited hours; and Luke Cumm, of Mexborough, was charged with being on Oxley’s premises during prohibited hours.

The evidence against Oxley was that his front door was found open at half-past eleven on Sunday morning, and there were forty-six persons inside the house. All had come over three miles except two, and the latter were within fifty yards of that distance. In Crowcroft’s case seventeen men were found in the house.

For the defence, Mr. Hall said that, notwithstanding the recent decision, the magistrates had a discretionary power. The question was whether those men were there for the purpose of getting drink, or having gone for a walk required refreshment.

The magistrates dismissed the cases, thinking that the defendants believed the men to be bona fide travellers.