History of Dover

William Tully a little and deprived of the use of his legs, was wheeled into court on a go-cart charged with obstructing the thoroughfare in New Street in a state of drunkenness. P.C. Campany said he found the defendant in New Street on the previous evening. He was in a state of drunkenness lying on the footway. Witness told him to go on but he refused and said he was “travelling Jack” and did not care a ----- for anybody.

Superintendent Coram said the defendant was a great nuisance even in his sober moments as he was in the habit of exciting compassion by exhibiting his wasted legs on the marine walks, which great annoyance was occasioned. The magistrates said that however the unfortunate physical infirmities of the defendant might excite the compassionate feelings of the benevolent his drunkenness could not be tolerated. He was unwilling however to send him to prison but would dismiss him on his promising to get out of town forthwith.

The defendant submitted that it was very wet (it was raining) to commence a journey especially with his restricted means of locomotion, but the magistrate who reminded him that his present circumstances were occasioned by having become “very wet” himself remained inflexible to his determination and the defendant ultimately wheeled himself away promising that he would commence his journey to the neighbouring town of Folkestone before the day was out. (1860)