Source: Liverpool Mercury, August 25th 1864. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
Category Archives: Names and Namesakes
1909: Mrs Homer Simpson deserts husband, gets jail time
While the report did not name Mrs Simpson’s offence, the details case suggest it may have been kidnapping or marital desertion:
“Homer Simpson, a prosperous real estate man of Cleveland, Ohio, husband of Mrs Simpson, appeared against the pair. He has been tracking his wife since she deserted him last month, taking with her their eight-year-old son.”
Source: The Daily Ardmoreite, Oklahoma, October 5th 1909. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1866: Gordon Ramsay uses indecent language to newspaperman
This Gordon Ramsay had a well earned reputation for heavy handedness and brutality. During his tenure as provost-marshall of Morant Bay, hundreds of civilians were tortured or executed by troops under Ramsay’s command. Ramsay was later sent to court martial for murder but was eventually acquitted on a technicality.
According to the newspaper report, Ramsay entered its offices objecting to its coverage of his military service:
“He thereupon became violent, both in manner and speech, and used language both offensive and indecent to Mr Robert Jordan… He was ordered out of the place but positively refused to go, and shortly after assaulted Mr Jordan who, in return, struck him with a ruler…”
Ramsay was eventually escorted from the premises but continued his tirade:
“He swears to murder someone in our office. It would, perhaps, not be the first murder that he has committed…”
Source: Morning Journal, Kingston, Jamaica, November 10th 1866. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1896: George Bush in court for his “mania for nudity”
The constables who arrested Bush were alerted to his antics by local children, who had been frightened by a “white ghost”:
“[The] prisoner said ‘It’s been rather hot today and they are after me. I threw my clothes into the Cut. I was only liberated [from prison] this morning.’ Constable JR said that doctors who had examined Bush certified they could find no trace of insanity. The present [charge] made the eighth time he had been charged with being in a state of nudity in railway carriages or public streets… Altogether there were 18 former convictions against the prisoner.”
The magistrate condemned the prisoner for his “mania for nudity”. He was ordered to pay a combined surety of 20 pounds or spend another month in prison.
Source: Reynold’s Newspaper, London, August 23rd 1896. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1893: A Christmas wedding for Wigg and Balls
Source: Ipswich Journal, December 30th 1893. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1854: Jim Saville dodges child sex charge
Source: The Essex Standard and General Advertiser for the Eastern Counties, Colchester, July 21st 1854. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1825: James Bond jailed after falling into bad company
The court heard that Bond once had a profitable job earning 400 pounds a year, until he:
“…became unfortunately connected with some abandoned women, who seduced him from his home.”
Bond then lost his employment and became destitute. He returned to his marital home but later moved in one of his mistresses and attempted to foment a menage a trois with Mrs Bond. He absconded again, leaving his wife and children to starve. The bailiffs later discovered Bond living in a brothel.
The judge condemned Bond’s conduct and sentenced him “as a rogue and a vagabond” to three month’s prison.
Source: London Morning Chronicle, July 20th 1825. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1894: Harry Styles fined for singing discordant songs
The court heard that Styles had attended a butcher’s store in Mealcheapen Street, where he abused the owner and sang:
“…bawdy and discordant songs”.
So offensive was Styles’ noise-making that it drove customers away from the shop. Styles was found guilty and fined one shilling plus costs.
Source: The Shuttle, December 24th 1894. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1827: John Lennon and Jim Morrison found guilty of theft
According to press reports, they did not accept this verdict well:
“No soon as sentenced was passed, Morrison said “To hell with you!” and, when removing them from the dock, Lennon turned about and threw a penny with force towards the Judge. It struck the head of a gentleman who was sitting under the bench… We have seldom witnessed such a degree of depravity as they evinced.”
Source: Morning Post, London, August 17th 1827. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.
1897: Elizabeth Hurley drunk in public; blames “bad husband”
Also dealt with at the same sessions was 12-year-old Alice Candy, who was remanded into the custody of her parents for stealing two shillings – and spending it on candy. Meanwhile, a Mr H. Stephens of Finchley was fined 20 shillings for allowing his fox terrier to roam unmuzzled.
Source: The Standard, London, July 27th 1897. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.