1907: The Stamford Mercury of 25 October records the court appearance of Joseph Hodierne of Coventry. Joseph had been summoned for driving a motorcar at a dangerous speed at Wansford on this day. PC King told the court that Hodierne had been driving at a rate of 18mph. The defendant retorted that he had in fact been driving at 8mph! The court believed PC King and Joseph was fined £7 10s plus 3s costs.
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
1914: This Wednesday saw the court sequel to the Westgate riots when twenty-four men were brought before the bench, charged with a variety of offences. The charges included 'causing an affray', 'creating a disturbance of the peace', 'incitement to riot' and damaging windows and property'. In most cases the defendants were bound over, but some were fined and others sent to prison. A few were actually recruited into the army. Mayor Winfrey, one of the magistrates, asked who among the accused was prepared to go to the front. In all, just four said they were prepared to go. Of those who took up the offer of conscription rather than alternative punishment, three would appear to have come through the whole conflict. Just one lost his life when he was killed in action on 3 July 1916. (Peterborough Advertiser; Peterborough & Huntingdon Standard; Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1914-1918,David Gray, 2014)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.