CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS,

TOWN HALL, CHIPPING NORTON, AUG. 9.

Before B.J. Whippy, Esq., and the Revs. T. Harris and W.E.D. Carter.

William Prattley, of Ascot, was charged by Joseph Lakin, with being drunk and riotous on the 26th day of July, at Leafield. Committed to gaol for 7 days.

CHIPPING NORTON.

DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS

Before B.J. Whippy, Esq., and the Revs. T. Harris, J.H. Worsley, and R.S. Baker.

William Pratley, of Ascott, was charged by P.C. Frewin with being drunk and riotous in the public street of Leafield on the 25th of November last. Fined 10s. and costs. Paid.

CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS,

Town Hall, Chipping-Norton, Jan. 10.

Before B.J. Whippy, Esq., H. Grisewood, Esq., and the Revs. T. Harris, W.E.D. Carter, and J.H. Worsley.

John Timms, jun., of Ascott, labourer, was charged by William Prattley, with assaulting him on the 27th ult., at Shipton. - Fined 10s., including costs.

WITNEY.

PETTY SESSIONS.

chadlington division.- Chipping-Norton, Aug. 8.

Before B.J. Whippy and H. Grisewood, Esqrs., and the Revds. T. Harris, W.E.D. Carter, J.H. Worsley, and R.L. Baker.

William Pratley, of Ascott, labourer, was charged by Daniel Coombs, innkeeper, of Shipton, with having assaulted him on the 3rd instant; convicted in penalty and costs 2l. 11s. 6d.; in default, committed to gaol for six weeks' hard labour.

CHIPPING NORTON.

BOROUGH POLICE COURT - June 6.

Before the Mayor (A.L. Rawlingson, Esq.) and Ex-Mayor (J. Farwell, Esq.)

William Pratley, of Ascott, labourer, was charged with being drunk in Town's End, Chipping Norton, on the 21st May, and while so drunk was guilty of riotous or disorderly behaviour.

Superintendent Lakin deposed: On Wednesday evening, the 21st May last, about 5.20, I saw defendant being led out of the Oxford House, by his brother Eli Pratley. He was quite drunk. When in the street he commenced holloaing "Hurrah for the Union; stick to the Union, you ______." The shouting was loud.

P.C. Bowell stated.- On the 21st ult. I was on duty near the Oxford House, when I saw a number of people outside; defendant was amongst them. He was very drunk, holloaing and shouting "Stick to the Union; let's have the women out; fetch out the women." His brother had hold of his arm, trying to get him away. I requested defendant to go away, but he refused. I saw him as far as the King's Arms.

Richard Weave, carrier, of Ascott said : On the 21st ult. I picked William Pratley up on the Burford Road. He rode on a barrel of beer behind my cart. It was about quarter past six. I think he was not drunk. I reached Ascott soon after seven.

Eli Pratley, of Ascott, stated: On the 21st of May I went into the Oxford House. I saw William Pratley there, and asked him whether he would go home; he said he was quite ready, and we came out of the house together. I laid hold of his arm and brought him away. He only spoke for me to hear; he might have said "Stick to the Union." Defendant was very quiet, and said nothing to anybody. We went into the King's Arms, and came out the back way, when a constable ordered him home. I am quite sure he did not make any noise when he came out of the Oxford House. I did not hear him say "Fetch the women out."

Fined, with costs, 17s.

Prod. By J. Eggleton, secd. By I. Castle that the Scty. Be instructed to get professional assistance in the case of William Pratley, Ascott.

[Footnote:]

An account of this case appeared in Labourers' Union Chronicle, 23^rd August, 1873, in the following terms: 'On Wednesday, 13^th, we had the unpleasant duty of attending at the Petty Sessions, Chipping Norton...on account of a petty squabble at Ascott, on the 24^th July,...William Pratley was summoned to appear for an alleged assault upon P.C. Yeals. The prosecution was conducted by Mr. Williams, solicitor, of Chipping Norton; Mr. Stone, barrister, of London, appeared for the defendant. Evidence was given by an old man and two boys that Pratley kicked the constable; while, on the contrary, two men gave evidence that Pratley was not near enough to kick the constable. Mr. J. Leggett and Mr. Godden gave evidence as to the origin of the disturbance.' The magistrates then retired but as they 'did not agree in their opinion, the case (was) dismissed.' Union support was clearly a great help to members in cases of this kind.

CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS.

December 15th.

Before the Rev. T. Harris (chairman), Rev. W.E.D. Carter, R.S.B. Davis, Esq., and Captain Waller.

Drunk and Disorderly at Ascott.

William Pratley, labourer, Ascott-under-Wychwood, was charged by the police with being drunk and disorderly at Ascott on November 26th.

Mr. Jessop, landlord of the "Churchill Arms", stated that at 10.30 on the night in question, defendant came to his house in a very drunken state, and refused to go away. He then put him out of the house, and when defendant got on the highway he made use of the most disgusting language, and was very noisy.

Defendant, who pleaded guilty, stated that he had been a teetotaller for 2 years until the morning in question. His daughter had brought trouble into his house, and a word or two ensued at home. He went to his work as usual, and at breakfast time his wife sent him a bottle of homemade sloe wine, which he drank later in the day he sent for another bottle, at which he supped until leaving work. The wine had such an effect on him that it made him nearly mad, and he did not know what he was doing. He was very sorry for what had happened, and assured the Bench that it would not occur again.

The Bench cautioned the defendant, and ordered him to pay 8s. 6d. costs.