FROM THE ARCHIVES

Saturday, October 4, 1913

CIRENCESTER

Roman Remains. In the course of excavations in Victoria-road this week for sewerage purposes, considerable evidence of the Roman occupation has been brought to light, including a burial urn and a portion of Roman wall.

TETBURY PASSENGER ROBBED

How a country girl arriving at Paddington was victimised by a luggage tout was told at Marylebone Police Court on Saturday when Frederick Landels, aged 19, of Waverley-road, Paddington, was charged with stealing a sovereign from Emily Hughes, a lady’s maid, living at Ozleworth Park, Wotton-Under-Edge.

Mr Maples, solicitor, who prosecuted for the G W Railway Company, said the case was another illustration of the danger of luggage touts to people from the country. The prosecutrix, an innocent minded country girl, was at Praed-street Station on Friday when the prisoner, a luggage tout, stopped her and asked if he could carry her parcels. She consented and inquired the way to the booking office at Paddington Station.

He then suggested he should go and get her ticket for her, and she foolishly agreed and gave him a sovereign, telling him to take a ticket to Tetbury. As he did not return she communicated with the GWR police and later in the day Detective Lane arrested the prisoner at the Marylebone Station.

“Yes I admit I had the sovereign,” he said, “what would you have done if she had given you a sovereign and you hadn’t any boots to your feet? I have bought these boots, had a bath, and something to eat; given a pal 3d, and have 18s, 9 1/2d left.”

Mr Paul Taylor described the railway touts as perfect pests to the public and sentenced the prisoner to 21 days in the second division.

The 18s 9 1/2d was given to the girl.

ARMY AVIATOR AT BURFORD. On Tuesday evening an army bi-plane was seen travelling low over Burford. It went over 30 acres and came to ground in Mr Wakefield’s field close to the main road. The machine was piloted by Lieutenant Wingfield Smith, of the East Surrey Regiment. The aviator continued his journey at 10 o’clock on Wednesday morning towards Oxford amid cheers from the crowd assembled to see the start.