Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 2
Permitting drunkenness at Conisborough.
Henry Hirst, landlord of the Fox Inn, Conisborough, was charged with permitting drunkenness in his house on the 29 March.
Sgt Morley deposed that on the 20th at 7.40 p.m. He visited the Fox Inn, Conisborough, kept by defendant, and in the house found James Duckett and Joe Thompson drunk. Asked for the landlord and he was not in. He then asked for the land lady, called her attention to the state of Duckett and Thompson, and told her she had better get them out. She said Duckett appeared to be the worst of any of them. Saw Thompson come out a minute or two afterwards.
About 9.50 p.m. the same night he again visited the house along with PCs Garnet and Munro. In the front room. He found about 12 persons, among them being Henry Day and Frederick Day, both drunk. Most of the others present were under the influence of drink. He then visited the kitchen and found about 12 more persons. One man named James Curtis, was very drunk and without a coat. In the bar he found James Stacey and James Duckett both drunk. Nine or 10 others were in the room.
He then called for the landlord, and directed his attention to the drunken state of the five men named, and the other company.
Told him it was no use him (witness) speaking to him about having drunken persons in his house. He said the Days had not been long in his house and he wanted them out. He said Duckett was a lodger and he had ordered that he had nothing but
ginger beer to drink, and as for the others he said he had been calling his wife for filling them so much drink. He had been in the garden until eight o’clock.
Told him he should stay at home and look after his house, particularly on a Saturday night. He followed witness and the constables to the door, and said he hoped they would be nothing more about it. He (witness) told him he never saw a house in a more drunken state in his life, and he in reply blamed his wife.
PC Munro and Garnett, corroborated the evidence of the last witness.
Mr Hall then addressed the bench for the defence.
Anne Hirst deposed that she was the wife of Henry Hurst, and was at home when the police came in. At that time there were several persons in. The person Morley pointed out as drunk was Thompson, and he told her she had better get him out. Thompson offered to go to Dr Hill’s to prove whether he was drunk or not. He also said Duckett was drunk, and she told him that he was not drunk and that he was a lodger. Saw the Days but they were not drunk. Witness was then cross-examined by Mr Inspector Beevers.
Henry Hirst deposed been asked by the police to turn Duckett out, and he refused to turn him out as he was not drunk, and he was a lodger. The Days were not drunk he did not consider.
Joseph Ross deposed that he was at home on the night in question, when the Days came to see, and they were perfectly sober.
John Street deposed that he was at the public house about 7.40 and saw the Days there, but they were sober.
Charles Clarke said he saw the days on the night in question at 845 and they were sober.
Mr Inspector Beevers, said the defendant had not been previously convicted, but it was one of the worst conducted houses in the district.
Sgt Morley deposed that the house had been conducted very badly. He had cautioned him several times, and he had only had the house about 12 months. It was a regular resort of poachers and thieves.
Fined 40 shillings and costs 23 shillings 6d, the license not to be endorsed, being the first offence.