WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

ILLEGAL FISHING

William Speck , G.W.R. employee of 16 Cricklade Street, old Swindon, was summoned for fishing in the Wilts and Berks Canal at Stratton on August 13th. Mr. W.J. Ainsworth, secretary to the company spoke to seeing defendant and another man with six rods, fishing in the canal at an early hour.When challenged for their licenses they produced one or two old ones.They said they were going to get a license going back-an old excuse.-Fined 5s and 9s 6d costs; and allowed a month for payment.

George Smith laborer, of 26, Albert Street Old Swindon, was summoned for a similar offence at the same time and place-William Clark, a canal employe, said he saw Smith fishing with five rods about 6am.He bought a ticket later in the day.-Mr. Ainsworth spoke to seeing Smith and the defendant in the previous case fishing together.-Defendant said he had no wish to defraud the company; he intended to get a ticket later in the day.-Fined 5s and 13s costs, to be paid within a month.

BATHING IN THE CANAL

George Vizard, of 10 Oriel Street, New Swindon, was summoned by Mr. Ainsworth for bathing in the canal on September 19th.- Defendant admitted the offence but said he was a stranger in the town, and was ignorant of the fact that bathing was prohibited.-A lad named Plumley spoke to seeing defendant in the canal near Dunsford's Wharf.He swam across, cought hold of a boat moored at the spot, and said to witness "come on we'll have a pretty game today." A woman was passing, and defendant also called to her.John Plumley stated that he saw defendant and another man dressing on the bank.-George Evens, Wharfinger, gave similar evidence, and said both men refused to give him their addresses.-Defendant denied that it was he who was in the boat.The man who was with him entered the water first and got stuck in the mud, and he (defendant) tried to help him out.The statement that he spoke to the boy Plumley and the woman was incorrect. He had never been before a bench before, and had always tried to keep respectable.He was only earning 16s a week and had a widowed mother to keep.-he was fined £1.6s including costs, and allowed a month for payment-Defendant left the court remarking that he had lost his good character, which he had always tried to retain.

MISCHIEVOUS BOYS

A small boy named Stephen Hurst, living at Thomas Street, New Swindon, was summoned for throwing rubbish into the canal on September 24th.-John Ferris, one of the company's carpenters, said a number of boys were throwing stones and clay into the water, and when they saw him they ran away- a girl named Ellen Hazel identified the boys as one of those who were throwing rubbish into the canal.-Mr. Ainsworth said the nuisance was so great that a constant watch had to be kept .Sometimes when the locks were cleaned out 30 or 40 tons of stuff were found at the bottom-The Bench said the canal must be protected. They adjourned the case for a month, and ordered the parents to pay 10s to the Secretary in the meantime.

Swindon Evening Aadvertiser 18 Oct 1892