Destructive Casual

William Harvey was charged with wilfully destroying his clothes at the Dover Union.

Arthur Frazer the porter of the Dover Union said the prisoner was admitted to the casual ward on Thursday evening. Upon witness visiting him on the following morning he found that he had destroyed the whole of his clothing. The only reason he gave for tearing up his clothing was that he wanted better. The trousers he was wearing when admitted were certainly bad but his other clothing was as good as that with which he had now been supplied if he had asked for a pair of trousers a pair would have been given him.

The prisoner said the truth was the whole of his clothing was very bad. The Charity Relief Agent met him on the previous day that told him that if he went about in trousers in so bad a condition the police would take him into custody.  Upon the Charity Agent’s recommendation he went to the relief office where he obtained a ticket for the Union.  He did not know that another pair of trousers would be given to him unless he was totally destitute and that was the reason he “tore up.” 

The Mayor told the prisoner that even supposing his trousers being in the condition he described them this was no excuse for his destroying the remainder his clothing that appeared to have been in very good order. These offences had been very frequent of late and it was necessary for the Magistrates to mark their sense of them by severe punishment.

The prisoner would be sentenced to a month’s imprisonment with hard labour.

As the prisoner was being removed he was called back as the Magistrates had reconsidered their decision and told that the term of imprisonment he would have to undergo was three weeks.

1870.