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Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 11 May 1906.
Saturday afternoon amusements on the Vine.
Knocking the police down.
At the Sevenoaks Police Court on Monday morning, before Messrs W. S. J.
Crosby-Hill (in the chair), H. Swaffield and F. Hooker, Percy Wallace, a
youth living in Gordon Road, was charged with being drunk and disorderly
on the Vine, on Saturday afternoon.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
P.C. Green deposed that about 5:30 he was called to the "Vine Tavern" to
eject the defendant, who was drunk and disorderly. Witnessed got him
outside when he became very violent, and it was with difficulty that he
got him to the Police Station.
The Chairman:- Did he give you any trouble?
Witness:- Yes, a great deal of trouble.
Superintendent Taylor said that Mrs. King, landlady of the house, sent
for the police to eject the defendant and another man. She had refused
to serve the defendant, when the other man pulled himself together and
ask for some beer. She did not notice the other was the worse for drink
until he handed the beer to Wallace. Then then used filthy language to
Miss King and her brother.
The Chairman:- Where did you get the drink before you went to this
house?
Defendant:- "Sennock" and the "Rock."
It was explained that young Wallace had had an accident some years ago,
and the father had had trouble with him since. But defendant went
practically mad when he got any drink, and Mr. Wallace have been round
and requested the publicans not to serve his son, giving them the
reason.
The chairman said the bench was sorry to see a respectable young fellow
in such a position. As Superintendent Taylor had said he could have
brought a more serious charges against him, that of assaulting the
constable. They had decided to deal with him leniently. He would have to
pay the costs of the case 6s. 6d. and be bound over, together with his
father, each in £10, to come up for judgement if called upon within
6-months.
Robert Jeffrey, an ex-soldier, was then brought up, charged with being
drunk and disorderly at the same place and date, and furthermore with
assaulting Police Constables Green and Smith, whilst in the execution of
their duty.
Asked to plead, prisoner said he knew nothing about it.
P.C. Smith stated that about 5:30 on Saturday afternoon he was called to
the "Vine Tavern" to eject the prisoner. When P.C. Green and witness
were going to the door of the tavern prisoner hit Green between the eyes
and "laid him out."
As the officer was falling Jeffrey kicked him and then struck witness. A
struggle ensued, and witness had great difficulty and getting the
handcuffs on him. Prisoner bit of piece out of witness's hand with his
teeth, and he had to get the assistance of P.C. Aldridge and P.C.
Sargent to convey him to the Police Station.
The Chairman:- Is that the man who was in company with the last
prisoner?
Witness:- Yes.
On the way to the police station, added witness, prisoner was so violent
that they had to throw him on the ground and take his boots off, as he
kicked them about the legs so much.
P.C. Green, who appeared with a disfigured face, told the bench that on
arriving at the door of the Tavern, prisoner without any warning struck
him a severe blow with his fist in the face, causing him to fall to the
ground. For several seconds he was unconscious. After regaining
consciousness he found blood was streaming down his face, and on getting
to his feet he found P.C. Smith struggling with the prisoner. By that
time P.C. Aldridge and P.C. Sargent arrived to give assistance. Witness
seeing the prisoner Wallace drunk and disorderly closed with him,
apprehended him, and took him to the Police Station. Prisoner blackened
his eye, and as witness was falling kicked him just below the groin,
which made it very painful. He also grazed his hand. He was the most
violent man he had had to deal with since he had been in the police
force. The marks on his face were the results of the blow the prisoner
gave him.
Superintendent Taylor said he understood the prisoner had been
discharged from the army after doing 12 months hard labour for
assaulting an officer.
The bench find the prisoner 2s. 6d. and 7s. costs, with the alternative
of 7 days at Maidstone, for being drunk and for assaulting the police he
was sent to prison for 2 months' hard labour.
The Chairman characterized it as a most cowardly assault.
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