The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1900-05-26 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CKEN SHOUTING " HIUUDEE."  UIIJSING CASE AT THE POLICE COURT.  At the Birkenhead Police Court on 'Yuenday, before Messrs. J. Pennock and Christopher Newhouse, a summoua was beard against Thomas McCracken, a well-known wine and spirit merchant of Liverpool. and residing at " Glengariff," Warren-drive, New Brighton, charging him with having been disorderly on the licensed premises of one Sophia Harbridge, of the Woodside Hotel, and having refused to quit the premises upon being requested so to do. Mr. Jas. Fearuley (the deputy town clerk) conducted the case for the police, and Mr. W. H. Mathison (of Meagre. Thompson, Hughes, and Mathison) watched the proceedings on behalf of the licensee. The defendant did not appear. Inspector Montgomery having proved the service of the summons, Mr. Fearnley said that on the 4th May, about six o'clock in the evening, the defendant entered the Woodside Hotel, and went into the snug or smokoroom behind the bar. There was another customer there. Shortly after, Mr. Rigby Harbridge, the son of the licensee, came into the room, and then the customer who was in when the defendant entered, left. The defendant spoke to him (Harbridge), and Mr. Harbridge answered him. For some reason or other which had not been ascertained, the defendant lost his temper, and said to Mr. Harbridge, "Who are you, and what are you?" Mr. Harbridge took no notice of him, and then McCracken got up, and catching him by the tollar flung him from one slue of the room to the other, saying, "I will d— well make you tell me who you are," or something of that kind. He was seen to do this by Miss Green, who was in charge of the bar at the time. Mies Powell, the manageress, came down from the upper part of the premise. upon hearing the disturbance, and found one or two girls employed in the hotel had got hold of the defendant, who was then standing over Mr. Harbridge in a threatening attitude, and were trying to pull him away. The defendant pushed one of the girls aside. The manageram rang for "Boots," and when he arrived he got hold of McCracken and pulled him out of the smokeroom. Miss Powell had previously asked the defendant several times to leave the premises. "Boots" offered to help him on with his coat, but he declined to be waisted, and went across the lobby into the. coffee-room. He opened the window there,' and went out on to the lawn, shouting, "Murder" and "Police." His cries attracted a crowd, and a policeman came. To him the defendant complained " Boots ' had been trying to strangle him. The constable informed him that he would have to take out a summon., as he had not sew the weault. After further persuasion the defendant left the hotel and went up to the police office. There, again, the defendant warn very violent and abusive, not only to the police, but to the people in charge of the hotel, who were also present. The police inveatigated the matter, and in consequence of their investigations a summons had been been taken out &tablet McCracken. Rigby Harbridge was then called. He said that when he went into the emokeroom on the 4th May, he found defendant there, and some other customer. Witness sat down I SAY !! Now Wens wide. sad commenced to read one of the evening awake people who like well-dressed feet will paper.. McCracken was sitting opposite to only wear Tom STIMULI'S LUXURIOUS 6/6, 8/6, him. The " other customer" left after a and 9/9 Boots.-77, Dsix-sraturr, 8 and 18• few moments had peened, and then the de- Wenr