TOO EAGER FOR 'COPY'

Evening Star, Issue 13145, 29 December 1908, Page 6

TOO EAGER FOR 'COPY'

At Bridgwater Police Court., on November 9, Michael Ormcrod Sale, advertising agent wearing a policeman's uniform, Foster John Piunell, and John Green, all of London, were charged with being found on the premises of the Agapemoue, at Spaxton, for an unlawful purpose, and also with assaulting Charles Stolces Reed, secretary of the Abode of Love. Sale pleaded guilty to both charges, and the otliers to the first, charge. Mr Reed :«aid that on Sunday evening bo was called out into the ground of the Agapc~ inone, where he found a number of men. He ai. oaice closed the doors, but he was seized by five or six men. A policeman's helmet, was smashed down over his head, full of Stockholm tar and feathers. Fortunately,, the helmet, was too small to go dowu over his eyes, or his sight might have been destroyed- Tire men held on to him and dragged him over towards the stables. His wife and daughter came and dragged him away. He tried to persuade the men to go nway peaceably, but Sale refused, and a constable was sent for. Sale was detained, but the other men got away. Constable Catley said Sale told him he had come there to tar and feather " Old PigoH," but as bo could not, have Tevenge on him be bad revenge on Mr Reed. At the police station he said they left London at nine o'clock in a motor car, and came down with the full intention "to bash old Pigott." Witnew added that SaJe further stated he was practically representing the London 'Daily Mail,' and if the police would give him certain information it would moan a lot to him. Sale, addressing the magistrates, admitted he came from London for a purpose, and he took the whole responsibility, his object being to show his disapproval of the " beastly place." The otber two prisoners said they had been led into the matter. The Magistrates said they considered (-he case a most 6erious one, and that, it would bo looked upon by most psople as such. It might have led to rioting. Sale was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and the other two prisoners were fined £5 and costs.