BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS
THURSDAY
Before the Mayor, D. H. W. Askew, Charles Forsyth, P.P. Boston, and R. Boston Esqs., and Miss Henderson.
THIRSTY MAN SENDS GIRL FOR DRINK
James Wilson, hawker, 25 Walkergate, was charged with sending Mary Miller, a girl under 14 years of age, to the Miner’s Arms, Tweedmouth, on 6th June, for beer against the regulations, which are that it is to be sold in a corked and sealed vessel in quantity not less than a reputed pint for consumption off the premises. He pleaded not guilty.
Mary Miller said she was 14 years come November, and on the day in question she was out at the coal heap at Scremerston, when the defendant asked her to get him a pint of beer. He handed her a bottle but she told him she would not be served as she was not the age. He said, “You might have a try as I am very thirsty.” Witness went and got the beer. When she came out she was met by the police. P.C. Lindsay and P.C. Pike, who took the bottle.
P.C. Lindsay gave evidence of stopping the girl. From what the girl said he saw Wilson who admitted sending the girl, but said he did not think he had done wrong.
Defendant said he only asked the girl to call and leave the bottle, to be filled at the “Miners” and he would call as he went past, as it was a difficult matter to get a horse to stop on the hill.
The Superintendent said it was a serious case, for they had the evidence of the girl that she had told Wilson she was not of age. The Bench retired, and on their return the Mayor said children must be protected, but as this was the first case which the Bench had had to deal with of this nature this year they would impose the modified fine of 10s of 7 days.
LICENSE HOLDER’S GOOD RECORD
Janet Cuthbert, licence holder, Miners’ Arms, Tweedmouth, was charged in connection with the above offence with selling the liquor to the said Mary Miller on 6th June. She pleaded guilty.
Mary Miller again gave evidence in a clear and distinct manner, saying she rapped on the door which was shut and, when Mrs Cuthbert opened it, she said, “Please will you give me a pint of beer?” Mrs Cuthbert said “Yes” and, taking the bottle, she filled it and brought it back.
Mrs Cuthbert said the child was speaking the truth, but she had omitted to say that she said “the beer is for a man who is working on the coal heap.” She was quite aware that she should have asked the child her age, but it never struck her at the time. She had no questions to ask the little girl, who had been very truthful as to what had happened.
The Superintendent- I do not wish to press this case as Mrs Cuthbert has conducted her business very respectably in the past, and we have never had complaints. Still, I wish licence holders to be made to exercise more care when selling drink to children.
Before the little girl Miller left the witness box, the Mayor said the Bench wished to congratulate her on the clear and straightforward way she had given her evidence. “You are a clever little girl,” he concluded, and Miss Miller, who had been on the verge of tears, brightened up.
The bench decided to dismiss the case in view of the respectable way the house had been conducted by Mrs Cuthbert, but issued a warning that publicans must exercise greater care in supplying children with intoxicating liquor. The defendant must pay the costs of the Court, 4s, and witness’s expenses, 6s.
BAD SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Sarah Matthews, widow, Tweedmouth, was charged with failing to send her child, James Matthews, aged 13, to school at Tweedmouth on 21st May. She pleaded not guilty.
Mr Barker, Attendance Officer, said the boy between 2nd May and 3rd June, out of a possible attendance of 46 only attended 30 times. He was now 14 years of age, but under the Act he could not be allowed to leave school until the end of the term. Witness had told Mrs Matthews this, but she refused to send the boy.
Mrs Matthews said the boy had been bringing coals from the heap at Scremerston to make a fire to heat the other four children. He had no father and witness had to go out and work, leaving the children at home. Fined 2s 6d.
A MORE SERIOUS CASE
Mary Wilson, married woman, Spittal, was charged with failing to send Mary Swinney, 6 years, and Elizabeth Swinney, 13 years, to school at Spittal on the 3rd June. She did not appear.
Mr Baker said the child Mary between 4th April and 3rd June had made no attendances at school, and in the case of the girl Elizabeth over the same period 35 attendances had only been made out of 88. It was a very bad case.
The Bench considered this the most serious case they had been called upon to deal with for some time, and gave out the warning that future punishment would be more severe.
Fined 10s in each case.
BERWICK-ON-TWEED HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
On Tuesday afternoon the Chairman of the Governing Body (Dr C. G. Maclagan) presented the medals, prizes and certificates for the sessions ending 1919 and 1920 to the pupils of the High School for Girls.
Owing to the limited accommodation of the School Hall, which the pupils themselves practically fill by their numbers, the members of the Governing Body alone were invited. There were present Dr C. G. Maclagan, Mrs Holland, Mrs J. M. Miller, the Rev. P. G. Peacocke, Mr W. J. Dixon, and Mr Brewis, Miss Nancy Jackson, on behalf of the pupils, presented to Miss Tasker a most beautiful bouquet of shell-pink and cream roses as a token of their affection and gratitude.
Dr Maclagan, after distributing the medals, prizes and certificates, addressed the pupils, reminding them that, although all profession now-a- days were open to women (or soon would be), so that the education of girls was every bit as essential as that of boys. The girls who were destined for home life were fulfilling the most important duty of all, and that their education in teaching them to think, was the most valuable preparation for such a future.
Miss Agnes Armstrong moved a vote of thanks to Dr Maclagan for his speech, and this was heartily given. Mr Peacocke congratulated the girls on their rendering of the three songs, and said that the more music there was, the happier the world would be. The songs were: “Folk song, “Now, Robin, Lend me thy bow” (16th Century); part song, “The Angelus”; and “Heroes” (Farmer).
SURRENDERED GERMAN STEAMER
ARRIVES AT BERWICK
SHORT OF COAL AND PROVISIONS
On Friday evening the German steamer “Alsen” (659 tons net register, Capt. Hilderbrandt) from Hamburgh to Leith, where she was to be surrendered under the terms of the Treaty, arrived off Berwick and signalled that she was short of steam coal and provisions and wished to enter the port. The vessel was a large one and some difficulty was experienced in getting her up the river, but she was ultimately berthed in Tweed Dock.
The vessel carried a crew of 22, and had only about half-a ton of coal left when she was docked. The provisions would not have lasted another day. The crew had no money and seemed anxious to be discharged and sent home to their own country. No coal was available to take the ship on to Leith, and it was decided to let her remain at Berwick until the Naval Authorities at Leith decided whether they would make arrangements for her to proceed there, or for the ship to be taken over at Berwick. The crew were allowed ashore from 12 to 5 on Saturday.
The crew of the steamer were allowed to leave for Grimsby on Monday night. There they will be repatriated as early as possible.