Beaten With Fried Potatoes.

At Dover Police Court on Friday before the Mayor (Mr Walter Emden) in the Chair, Mr J. L. Bradley and Mr F. W. Prescott, John David Beatty labourer, of Adrian Street was summoned for assault by George Winifrith of the “King Alfred” Portland Place. Defendant pleaded not guilty.

Complainant said defendant came into his house on Saturday February 12th and called for “two of ale.” As he was of the opinion that defendant had had sufficient drink he refused to serve him. Defendant thereupon threw a paper with some fried potatoes at witness and they struck him in the face. Defendant complained that he was summoned for “assaulting and beating” prosecutor. How could he beat him if he did not touch him?

The Clerk Yes you can you could beat him with a stick, in this case you beat him with fried potatoes. (Laughter.)

Complainant called his son who corroborated his evidence.

Defendant read a statement in defence to the Magistrates. He said he went into complainant’s house on the 7th inst. called for a drink and laid three pence on the counter. Complainant’s son was in the bar and complainant himself was in a room at the side of the bar. Complainant came out and put three pence in his right hand pocket but refused to serve witness with any drink. On the 12th Feb. witness again went back into the King Alfred and as soon as he got inside the door complainant said “You will get no ——– beer here tonight” As a matter of fact witness wanted some ginger ale but complainant refused to serve him.
He said if complainant did not serve him he should expose him by telling people how he induced soldiers to break out of barracks and served them beer. When complainant refused to allow him to have any drink defendant lost his temper and slammed his fried potatoes on the counter and some of them might have hit complainant.

The Chief Constable proved two charges against defendant. On May 14th he was brought up on a charge of drunkenness but dismissed. On December 24th he was taken in custody on a charge of stealing a bushel basket and some onions but the Bench took a lenient view of the case and bound defendant over in the sum of £5 to be of good behaviour and come up for judgement if called upon.

The Magistrates retired for a few minutes and on their return the Mayor said that they had come to the conclusion that the assault was committed. They were exceedingly sorry to find that defendant although he had been treated by the Bench quite recently in an extremely lenient manner did not seem to regard the fact that he was bound on his honour to be on good behaviour. He seemed to think that as soon as he had been dealt with he was free to go on making further trouble.

As they did not intend to encourage that sort of thing the Magistrates who bound defendant over would have the facts of the present case put before them and as far as the Bench that day were concerned he would go to prison for 14 days.

1910.