Damages for False Imprisonment: Yesterday, at the Clerkenwell County Court, James Walter Pinsent, a district manager of the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society, 40 Queen Margaret’s Grove, Mildmay Park, sued William Thomas Sharpe, carpenter and joiner of Collingson Street, Southwark Bridge Road, to recover £10, damages for false imprisonment: The plaintiff’s case was that on May 24th he was in Petherton-street, Gray’s-Inn-road, canvassing. As he was talking to some women in the street, he saw a man run past, and another in pursuit. Plaintiff saw that it was a case of watch snatching. After a few minutes, defendant returned, and plaintiff said to him, “What have you lost?” Defendant replied. “I have lost my watch chain, but I know the man who has got it.” As he said this, he looked hard at the plaintiff. Defendant repeated, still looking fixedly at the plaintiff, “They’ve got my chain but not my watch, and I know the man wot’s took it.” Plaintiff then walked to the Holborn Town Hall to get a bus, and the defendant followed and gave him into custody. He was taken to the Clerkenwell Police – station, where the inspector warned the defendant was undertaking great responsibility in charging the plaintiff. The defendant, however, said he would take the responsibility, and persisted with the charge. Plaintiff was detained at the station for nearly four hours, and then admitted to bail. Next day the Magistrate dismissed the charge. Defendant did not appear and was not legally represented. Judge Meadows-White gave judgment for the amount claimed, with costs.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0462 Tiverton: James Walter Pinsent: 1861 – 1948