Village History
Exemplary Character
Replying to Mr. Sale, witness agreed that accused had been employer! the London Brick Company ever since left school, first at Peterborough and tor the past I’ 2 vears at Calvert. It would he true to say that his character with the Company was exemplary. He served in the Army for five years during the war and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His military character was also exemplary. The police had had nothing against him. At- this stage in the proceedings Mr. Sale intimated that it was his intention submit that the accused was not guilty of the offences with which he was charged and that wished to call witness. The Only Explanation ” This, he submitted, was the only explanation of a man of this character indulging in this extraordinary behaviour. felt confident that they would find that at the time which he entered Mrs. Elliott’s house and at the time at which he entered Mr. Hodges’s house, thought they must assume he did. his mind was so dulled by drink that he did not realize w hat was doing. Mr. Sale went on quote from the records of consideration by the full Court of Criminal Appeal of the subject of drunkenness as excuse for crime, pointing out that emphasis was placed upon the question as to whether the accused was so drunk to be incapable of forming the intent with which was charged, and submitted that the Magistrates should consider whether they could possible say that a man with accused’s record went into the house with intent to steal. Search For Unknown Poles Mr. Sale submitted that the remark suggesting a search of unknown Poles in a house after midnight was surh that only one word could describe the accused’s conduct and that was the word crazy “, suggested that hi* condition that night was produced by drink and that there was not any evidence of felonious intent. After retirement of the Magistrates, the Chairman (Captain (1. Tlobarts) said that they had considered th’ matter carefully and that they considered that ladli eases should for trial. Accused was committed to the Bucks Quarter Sessions on June 30lh. The Magistrates were Captain 0. Roberts (in the chair). Captain Robert Whitney, Mr. R. J. W. Bodenham, Mr. Peter Bell, Mr. A. T. Thorne.
Buckingham Advertiser and Free Press – Saturday 24 May 1952
.
