Petty Sessions: Tuesday: Before D. Atkinson (chairman) and G. B. Ellicombe, Esq.. John Hern, landlord of the King’s Arms Inn, Kingsteignton, was granted an additional hour each night of the Fair, 3rd and 4th June. Alleged Furious Driving — Richard Luscombe, a lad in the employ of Mr. Michelmore, draper, was charged with furious driving in Devon square on the 24th April. Mr. Creed defended. This was a case arising out of the recent carriage accident, which resulted fatally to one lady and serious injury to another. Jessie Hancock, elderly lady, said she was in Devon-square about four p.m. on the day in question when she saw two boys riding a truck in front of Western Terrace, going down the hill at furious pace. At the same time, she saw a pony carriage, in which were two ladies, on the road in front of the Lower Terrace. The pony, she thought, was frightened by the noise of the truck and started off. The younger Mrs. Pinsent was driving, and she saw her draw up the reins. The carriage and truck went down the hill together, but she did not think they came into collision. She did not know that the defendant was one of the boys that was in the truck. Geo. Bridgeman, a lad in the employ of Mr. Lamble, said he was with the defendant in the truck on the day in question; they saw the pony going very fast just as they were in front of the Freemasons’ Hall, and pulled directly they saw the accident and went to it. Sergt. Nicholls said he had seen the truck in question. It was guided by a rope to the handle but in his opinion, it was powerless going down a steep hill to put any check upon it. Mr. Creed, for the defence, argued at some length that no case had been made out as to the boys riding furiously within the meaning of the act. The Bench, however, thought the case proved, and after many complaints of similar practices they were determined to put a stop to it as far as they were able by imposing a penalty of 15s in this case, or in default 14 days imprisonment.
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Referenced
GRO0471 Devonport: Jane Coles: 1853 – 1879