Licensing at Moreton: Irregular Procedure: … Mr. A. W. Alford (Exeter) applied for the transfer of the license of the Kings Arms Inn, Chagford, from Mr. T. Maddicks to Mr. Jenner, a traveller in advertising specialities: Superintendent Carey objected to Mr. Jenner. He said he had been summoned for drunkenness and discharged with a caution and was not a fit and proper person to hold the license. The Chief-Constable Plymouth had written that a man named Frederick Jenner had also been detained in Plymouth Workhouse for a fortnight as a wandering lunatic but he was not sure about the identity. He was a heavy drinker, and often drunk. Mr. Alford: Were you the man who was locked up as a wandering lunatic? Applicant: No. Were you ever a wandering lunatic? No. What happened this time when you were summoned? I went to a dinner at Truro and lost my legs when I got off the train. Mr. Alford said that Mr. Jenner had already gone into the house, and had paid the outgoing tenant £ 250, so had something at stake. The Chairman: You are not a teetotaller? Mr. Jenner: No, I admit, but I never got intoxicated except when at the dinner. I met several other travellers, and we went into the Cathedral Hotel (Laughter): The Cathedral? Yes, a bad name, I admit. Mrs. Jenner said she had been married for six months. Mr. Alford: You never heard he was a wandering lunatic before? Mrs. Jenner: No; I should not have had him if he were (Laughter): The Chairman! Who has the house now? Mr. Alford: Mr. Jenner is in, but Mr. Maddicks is responsible. Mr. Maddicks: I went out five weeks ago. Mr. Alford: You gave him authority to sell as your agent? Mr. Maddicks: Yes. The Chairman: That’s a poor excuse. We have had cases like that before. Mr. Alford: I admit it is a bit irregular, but it is done all over the country. The Chairman: It is wrong. People have been in this house selling without a license. You have anticipated things in the hope of getting transfer — altogether irregular and an offence. Mr. Alford: There was no intention of that kind. The Chairman (to Mr. W. Pinsent, the owner): Have you been a party to this man, Jenner, going in before he had a license? Mr. Pinsent: Yes. It is irregular. Yes, I know. Are you satisfied with him? I was not asked anything about it. It was not done through my agents at all, but between Exeter and Plymouth. The transfer was granted.
[see also Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Wednesday 28th April 1909]
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
GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920