From the Whitstable Times, 16 December, 1944.

Sequel to Public House Scene.

WINDOWS SMASHED BY YOUTHS.

A brawl in a Canterbury public house had a sequel at a special sitting of the Canterbury Magistrates' Court on Monday when three youths, all aged 18, were fined for causing unlawful and malicious damage to plate glass windows at the "Seven Stars," Orange Street, on Saturday evening.

They were Dennis O'Brien, merchant seaman, of 30, Telham Avenue, Newington, Ramsgate; Harry Riley, haulage hand, 56, King's Road. Aylesham, and Alfred Vincent Edwards, M.N. assistant steward, of 117, Cornwallis Avenue, Aylesham.

The case for the prosecution was that at 9.25 p.m. on Saturday defendants went into the "Seven Stars" and had three pints of bitter. After being served they became argumentative and the landlady refused to serve them with any more, giving one of the youths his money back. Asked by the manager, Kenneth Loughlin to leave, the three youths said they would not do so. The police were telephoned and in the meantime defendants were ejected by another customer after a scuffle in the doorway.

Then a soldier, Sergt. Frederick Brackstowe, R.A., heard glass being broken. It was too dark to identify the three men who were smashing the glass with their hands, but he recognised the voices as those of the youths in Court. He pulled one away and then, thinking his intervention useless, went to find a policeman. He did not find one so returned. The three had finished smashing the glass.

Defendants made their way to the High Street traffic lights, accompanied by Sergt. Brackstowe, who reported the matter to P.C. Prentis whom they met as they were turning by the "Foresters' Hall."

Mr. Loughlin gave evidence in Court that the damage amounted to £20 and included the breaking of the glass in the double swing doors, the glass door in the public bar and an eight foot glass door in the dining room.

P.C. Prentis stated that at 9.55 p.m. he went to the "Seven Stars" in consequence of a complaint received at the Police Station. He corroborated the extent of the damage. In consequence of what Sergt Brackstowe told him witness took defendants to the Police Station where O'Brien and Riley were given first aid for cuts to the hands and arms. Riley was then sent to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. When formally charged with the offence all said: "Not guilty."

Giving evidence on his own behalf. O’Brien said someone else in the "Seven Stars" started picking on Riley and Edwards because they came from Aylesham. He started the fight. They decided after a bit to finish their drinks and go. But they were not given time to drink up and were forced into the street. Someone struck him; he lost his tamper and smashed the glass.

Mr. J. A. Godley (Magistrates' Clerk): Anything else?

Defendant: Yes: I’d like to know who hit me.

Defendant said they had been to other public houses; they had had one or two pints at the "Man of Kent" and four—as far as he could remember—at the "Castle." Then they went to the "Foresters' Hall," but came out straight away.

The Chairman: Did you pay to go in?

Defendant: No, that’s why we came out.

Riley said he could not remember having his money back. They were in good order right up to the "Seven Stars." Another man in that public house started an argument with Edwards and himself about miners. The landlord said it was time for them to go home. Somebody struck Edwards. The next he could re-member was being in hospital. He did not remember cutting his hand or breaking the glass until the police told him. They had also had some whiskey.

Edwards corroborated this and said that after someone "took a swipe" at him the next thing he could think of was being out in the street with the others. He heard the glass go but did not remember breaking it.

After retiring, the Bench convicted.

Nothing was known about O'Brien or Edwards but it was stated that Riley had been bound over on three occasions for housebreaking, stealing from a gas meter and stealing pears.

The Chairman (Alderman C. Lefevre) told defendants they were equally guilty. Their behaviour had been not only very foolish but of an intolerable nature. The penalty would be a £3 fine in each case, plus £6/13/4 towards the damage, or two months’ imprisonment. Riley and Edwards were allowed to pay their fines and costs at the rate of £1 per week.

The penalty could have been three months' and/or £20, said the Chairman.

Alderman Lefevre warned all three that they had no need of all that drink at 18. They had not been clever, it had not been good for them and the licensee did not want it.