Thursday, August 11, 2005

100 years ago

The landlord of the Sun Inn, Dean Street, Scarborough, was charged with selling intoxicating liquor, to Arthur Murray, a person under 14, such liquor not being in a corked and sealed vessel, in a quantity not less than one reputed pint, for the consumption off the premises. This was the first prosecution under this Act at Scarborough. Inspector Barker stated that he saw a boy come out of the Sun Inn with half a pint of porter in a jug, and the landlord said: "I did think of asking him his age, but I thought he was over fourteen as the counter was a high one, and his head came over it." The landlord's defence submitted that the person responsible for the mistake was the one who sent the boy for the liquor, knowing his age. Mary Jane Griffin, a visitor staying with Mrs Sedgwick was then charged with having sent Murray to purchase the liquor. Mrs Sedgwick stated that she gave the boy sixpence a week to go errands for her. She had never sent a jug out before, but Mrs Griffin wanted the stout for her supper, and she sent for it without thinking.

50 years ago

Banning of outside aerials on council estates in some local authorities was causing serious concern to the ITA commercial contractors and the retail trade. Whereas an indoor aerial was suitable for BBC television in many instances, it would very rarely prove of any use whatsoever for the reception of Band 3 transmissions from ITA. This meant that by banning outside aerials, the local authorities concerned were banning commercial TV to their tenants. "There will be such pressure from viewers who are unable to receive our transmissions that they will be able to persuade local authorities to change their attitude," said an ITA spokesman.

25 years ago

Grouse-shooting on the Yorkshire moors on the Glorious Twelfth the following day would be cautious, with landowners anxious to preserve stocks. The previous season had been disastrous. The birds were severely affected by the hard winter. Mr John Sheard, agent for the Duke of Devonshire, said that shooting would be light on the moors around Bolton Abbey. Shooting would last for a few days and then finish. "We are anxious to build up the stocks to normal numbers as soon as we can." said Mr Sheard. "We have had a good spring and some good broods but we want to keep these birds as breeding stock." The British Fields Sports Society's spokesman, Mr Donald Dunn, said that quite a few parties would be shooting lightly to maintain breeding stocks. "But there should be a fair season."

Updated: 08:48 Thursday, August 11, 2005