Torquay, This Day: before Mr. L. B. Bowring (Chairman), and Mr. W. T. Bridges. The commencement of the business was considerably delayed owing to the non-attendance in time of sufficient magistrates. Mr. W. H. Kitson, J.P., sat for the first hour, during which he disposed of a rate defaulting case. In the meantime, the other magistrates were sent for. … John Drew, landlord of the Star Inn, Higher Union Street, was summoned by Capt. Barber, Superintendent of Police, for having, on the 12th of September, permitted his licensed premises to be the habitual resort of reputed prostitutes, and allowing them to remain there longer than was necessary for obtaining reasonable refreshment. Mr. Friend appeared for the defendant, and also for Mr. Pinsent, of Newton Abbot, the owner of the premises. P.C. Brock stated that on the evening of the day named, about seven o’clock, acting under instructions, he went to the defendant’s house in plain clothes. At quarter to eight o’clock three prostitutes came in and were supplied with several glasses of spirits. About nine o’clock one of the prostitutes went from the taproom with a young man to the back of the premises, and a daughter of the defendant went with them to a cottage, where they remained for about ten minutes. The prostitute then returned and she and the other two remained on the premises till eleven o’clock, being frequently supplied with drink in the meantime The names of the prostitutes were Ellen Spry, Lydia Webber, and Fanny Shute. In cross-examination, the witness said Spry was supplied with eight glasses of spirit during the three hours and a quarter hours he was there. He paid for one of the glasses and stayed there the night. Spry solicited him during the evening. P.S. Bright, who visited the house at eight o’clock on the evening in question, proved that the women mentioned were prostitutes. Mr. Friend wished the magistrates to hear the other charges against the defendant before deciding on this, but the Bench did not agree to this course being adopted. Mr. Friend then admitted that the evidence was too strong for him to struggle against, and he left the case in the hands of the magistrates, asking them to be as merciful as they could as to the amount in which the defendant should be mulcted. The Bench inflicted a fine of 40s. and ordered that the license should be endorsed. Superintendent Bowden having stated that the next charge against the defendant was one of permitting drunkenness, Mr. Friend addressed the Bench on behalf of the owner of the premises, saying that, as the defendant would now be disqualified from again holding a license in the district, he would undertake that he should be removed from the house within one day or six. The owner of the house, to whom none of the facts stated had been made known, stood in a very serious position, and he asked them to save him (Mr. Pinsent) from the terrible consequences of his tenant’s delinquency. Mr. Bridges reminded Mr. Friend that Drew had been previously convicted, and his license endorsed and under such circumstances the owner should have been doubly watchful of his tenants. Mr. Friend replied that the previous conviction was more than five years ago. The Chairman admitted this but said the misconduct of the house had been going on for years. Mr. Friend, on behalf of Mr. Pinsent, again offered that before that day week Drew should leave the premises, and a new tenant should be found whom the bench should think of as a fitting person. They were quite ready to do anything that was considered necessary by the authorities for preventing a repetition of the offences. The five other cases against the defendant were then adjourned for a week, in order that notice might be given, according to the section, to the owner of the house to the effect that the license had been endorsed, for the purpose of giving him an opportunity of appealing against the decision in his own interest.
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
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901