The Demon Drink

Saturday 21st August 1915: The effects of the demon drink have been in evidence at the Luton Borough Sessions this morning. George Darker from Birmingham was charged with stealing a motorcycle worth £20 on June 16th from the Midland Railway Station at Luton. The theft was reported on June 22nd by army officer Lieutenant Neale. Darker was arrested on Friday at Bedwell near Coventry and the motorcycle was recovered from Handsworth, near Birmingham. Darker appeared distressed, claiming “it was only through drink” that he did it, and saying he would like to get back into the Army where he had been a farrier’s sergeant. He was remanded in custody until tomorrow as a witness was needed from Birmingham.

In a second case James Dolling was charged with being found drunk on August 17th. P.C. Framton had found him lying at the foot of a passage in Ivy Road, where he lived at number 67, helplessly drunk. The policeman helped him up and took him to the rear of his house. He was fined ten shillings after expressing his regret at his behaviour. He told the Court “I was a teetotaller for seven years, and got a little too much beer during the holidays, and it got the better of me.”

Source: Luton Times 27 August 1915