A WELL-known Worcester cycle dealer was in court this week a century ago for speeding in his automobile. He was alleged to have been travelling at more than 12 miles an hour!

The Journal carried a report of the court case under the heading "A Bad Judge of Speed".

"Mr James Bladder, cycle dealer of Sidbury, Worcester was summonsed for driving a motor car over 12 miles an hour at Kempsey. P.C. Jenkins said that Mr Bladder was coming from the direction of Tewkesbury at the rate of 16 miles an hour. The car pulled up in about 30 yards.

"Harry Scott, farmer of Kempsey, William Scott, blacksmith of Kempsey, and Thomas Farmer, a farmer of Kempsey, all gave evidence corroborating that of PC Jenkins.

"Mr Bladder claimed his motor car was only geared to a little over 12 miles an hour at full speed. Moreover, the 12 mph speed limit was now generally ignored. There was no traffic on the road and therefore no risk. According to the time it took him to come from Upton-on-Severn to Kempsey, his motor car was travelling at a little over 11 miles an hour.

"At this stage in the case, the Magistrates expressed the opinion that the case was of a trifling character and dismissed it on payment of costs."

There was an equally amusing case at the same court that day, under the Journal heading: "A Plum-stone Chase."

"Alfred Hughes, Arthur Goddard. Thomas Whittaker, Edward Dobbs and Samuel Randle, all of Worcester, were charged with stealing between 30 and 40 lbs of Victoria plums at Fernhill Heath on Sunday, the property of Sarah Henney, of the Live and Let Live beer-house.

"The defendants went to Mrs Henney's on Saturday night and took lodgings, intending to have a day's fishing the following day. They got up about five o'clock and got over the fence into the garden and took the plums. When Mrs Henney came down, she noticed a number of plum stones and, on going into the garden, saw that a quantity of plums had been stolen from the trees.

"P.C. Hemming was sent for and traced plum stones for nearly a mile to where the defendants were fishing. They all pleaded guilty and were each fined 10 shillings, plus one shilling to cover the cost of the plums."

Certainly not so funny was the behaviour of another defendant in the dock later in the day. Under the heading, "Poaching - Scene in Court," the Journal reported: "Francis Higgins of Blackfriars and Frederick Wasley of Quay Street, labourers, were charged with coming from land in the possession of game unlawfully obtained.

"P.C. Evans said the two men, carrying a tin box, were going down the side of the river near the Waterworks and, as soon as they saw him, they dropped the box which contained rabbit nets, a hare and four rabbits. The constable knew the two men and later arrested them.

"The defendants, stated to be well known poachers, were each fined £1 or 14 days prison in default. Wasley said he would go down, but before he left the court he threatened to knock P.C. Evans' brains out the next time he met him in the street.

''Defendant was therefore promptly placed back in the dock and charged with threatening the officer. The Mayor, Alderman Holland said Wasley had been guilty of gross contempt of court, and the Bench decided to bind him over in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months.

"Defendant said he could not find sureties for that amount so he was therefore sent to prison for another month."