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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 7 November 1863.
A Good Hand at the Bottle.
At the Greenwich Police Court, on Saturday, John George, and Maria, his wife,
of High Bridge Wharf, Greenwich, appeared in answer to a summons, charging them
with assaulting Adam Bell, of Bridge Street, Greenwich.
The complainant, (whose face was very much scratched) said that on the Sunday
morning previous, he engaged the male defendant, whose occupation is to take
care of a number of small boats, to row him to the "Three Crowns" public house,
which is situate, the complainant informed his worship, on the riverside, having
a land entrance.
Mr. Traill:- But why did you not go to the land entrance, as you call it?.
Witness:- Because it was about half past 12 o'clock in the morning, and the
house would not be open to 1 o'clock.
Mr. Traill:- Well, go on with your story.
Complainant continued:- The defendant "pushed" me safely round, and I tapped
at the window. The door was shortly opened, and we went in. While drinking in
front of the bar, a dispute arose concerning a window which had been broken at
the back of the my the premises. I said I was sure it was not myself that had
broken it, when the defendant took hold of me and said he would punch my head,
which he no sooner said then did. I was knocked down, and whilst laying on the
floor, the female defendant scratched my face with her fingernails.
Mr. Traill:- But do you not think that all this might have been prevented if
you had not gone to the public house during prohibited hours? I suppose he would
tipsy, pray what did you drinks?
Witness:- Only two drops of rum.
Mr. Traill:- Two drops or two quantities which?
Witness:- Well, I had two half quarters of rum.
Mr. Traill:- And do you not consider that enough to make any man tipsy?
Witness:- Certainly not.
Mr. Traill:- Well, you seem to be a very good hand at the bottle. (laugher).
Witness continued - we were parted by our friends, and I then left the house,
having lost a breast pin, and my coat torn in the fight. In the afternoon I went
to the public house, at about half past four o'clock.
Mr. Traill:- What again? Pray how did you get to the house this time, was it
by land or sea service?
Witness:- The tide being down, sir, I walked around on the shingle, and saw
the landlord, who told me I could take summonses out against the parties who had
assorted me in the morning.
Mr. Massey, who appeared for the complainant, was about calling a witness to
collaborate his evidence, but Mr. Traill said he should dismiss the summons, the
complainant having, in his opinion, brought everything upon himself in going to
a public house during prohibited hours. The Inspector would probably want the
complaint's evidence, which he should certainly order to be reported to him, so
that the landlord might be summoned.
Mr. Traill desired complainant to step into the witness box again, and upon
his complying, asked him how great a distance it was between his own residents
and the "Three Crowns?"
Complainant answered about a quarter of a mile.
Mr. Traill:- Then in that instance you could not possibly be a traveller. I
can do nothing in the matter, this summons will stand open for the present.
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