Some history on Southend-on-Sea in the county of Essex

Essex | Southend-on-Sea

© Crown Copyright. Reproduced with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland under the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

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"At the adjourned Quarter Session, held in the Shire Hall, Chelmsford, on Wednesday, Edward Fleming [32], labourer, Southend, was indicted for indecently assaulting and ill-treating Louisa Jordan, an elderly hawker, at Southend, on July 20th. Mr. Phillips appeared to prosecute, and prisoner pleased not guilty. The evidence given for the prosecution detailed how prosecutrix, prisoner and his father visited two public-houses, where they had drinks, and to all three going up the three-foot passage at the rear of the shop, in Queen's Road. There prisoner's father scaled the wall, leaving prosecutrix and prisoner together, and it was here that the alleged assault took place. Prisoner screamed, a police whistle was blown, and a crowd of persons were drawn to the spot. A man named Archer and a Marine scaled the wall, and in a shed prisoner and an elderly man were found, preparatory to going to sleep. Upon getting into the passage, prisoner was taken into custody by Sergeant Taylor and P.C. pole. On prosecutrix's throat there were finger marks of a recent impression. In answer to Mr. Phillips, prosecutrix said she had some drink, but was sober enough to know what she was doing. Prisoner had nothing to say other than what he said before the magistrate that he tried to help prosecutrix over the walk and she slipped. A verdict of "Guilty" was returned, and prisoner was described by Sergeant Taylor as a "pest" and nuisance to Southend, who got his living by begging. Prisoner was sentenced to nine months' hard labour, for which he expressed thanks."
"Indecent At Southend"
Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser
August 5th 1909 Page 5