Gipsy Dan Boswell

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                                              Belper News Friday 5 January 1917


                                                       Good Morning Mother


 A young hawker. Named Harry Lee was charged at Chesterfield borough Police Court, with being an Absentee under the Reserve Act.
P.C. Barlow said he was in the Rodney Ground when he saw the Prisoner under a tent. On being challenged as to why he was not in the Army. Prisoner replied that he was only sixteen and a half years of age. He was unable to produce a certificate and admitted that he had not attested. Witness had known the Prisoner for several years and there was no difference in his appearance.
The Chairman. Mr. Theo. Pearson. He looks an old fashioned customer for 17.The Chief Constable, yes, his beard has developed nicely whilst he as been in custody. The Chairman intimated that Lee would be handed over to an escort, whereupon prisoner asked who was going to look after is Mother and two Sisters.
The Chairman said they would be taken care of.
Prisoner then called out to a Woman in the body of the court.

                                           "Good Morning Mother"

                                               and She replied ..........."Good Morning Lad"

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                                              Western times Saturday 29 july 1916
 



At Honiton Police Court a gipsy named Ambrose Smith was charged with being an Absentee from his Majesty's Reserve.—P.C. Bawden arrested Smith during the Fair.—  he was handed over to a military escort.

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                                                     Surry mirror April 10 1917



                                                          The gipsy nuisance.



The Sanitary Inspector reported that during the past four weeks a large amount of time had been taken up in turning gipsies off the roadside in various parts of the district, and he would be glad of a little more assistance from the police. With regard to the former complaint it was stated that the police had replied that the person who made the complaint was a special constable, and he should take the matter up in his own hand. The Chairman and other members dissented from this view. The statement was made that some of these men were  able-bodied and of military age. and it was the duty of the police to take action in the matter. Mr. Bennett said in fairness to the police it should be stated that the special constables had been called out at Merstham, and for three hours raided the vans and searched the wood, but found no men of military age. The Sanitary Inspector said he had seen able-bodied men several times at Ricketts Wood. It was resolved to write to the police  and ask them to take further action in the matter.

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                                                      16 January 1917 surrey mirror



                                                            Supposed Deserters.


 Frank Smith and John King, two rough looking young men, were charged on suspicion of being deserters from the Army. -Smith pleaded guilty, and King not guilty.—P.S. Boshier deposed that at 11 a.m. on January 13th he went with P.C. Forehead to Broomlands Farm. Limpsfield, where he saw a number of field workers and gipsies. He questioned the man Smith, who gave the name of "George Mills," and asked why he was not in the Army. He produced a registration card and classification certificate in that name, which, showed that he was totally unfit for service. He found, however, that the man had been recently vaccinated, and told him he disbelieved his statement, and that he should arrest him on suspicion of being a deserter. Smith then said his real name was Frank Smith, and that he was a rifleman of the Kings Royal Rifles, and had deserted at Sheerness about two months ago. The other man gave the name "John King," and produced a similar classification form to the effect that he to was medically unfit for service. Witness said he did not believe him, and that he had reason to think the certificate did not belong to him. King then said that it belonged to his stepbrother, who was doing time," and that his own name was Charles Nye," that he belonged to the King’s Royal Rifles and deserted at Sheerness. Witness searched the records and failed to find any statement corresponding to their description of deserters during the past year.—Supt. West applied for a remand for a week for enquiries to be made of the military authorities, and this was granted, the defendants being kept in custody.

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                                                Hull Daily mail Tuesday  23may 1916



                                                         This Morning at Goole




 Riley Smith, who was described as a gipsy, was charged with failing to produce a National Registration card when requested. P.C. tordoff stated that, on Saturday at a gipsy camp in Old Goole, where he saw prisoner and he asked him to produce his registration card. He said he had not got one, and had not been registered. Prisoner admitted the offence. In answer to the magistrates Supt. Horton  said the man was a gipsy. Prisoner: You can call me a traveller, but not a gipsy, because ain't one.

The Chairman Mr A. Blyth " Oh,  very well, a commercial traveller"
 
 
                                            Prisoner   " Yes. sir; that's it".

 He added that the obtaining of a registration card was a job he knew nothing about. It was stated that the man gave his age as 47. but on an official from the recruiting office said they were not quite clear that this was his correct age. Prisoner assured them that it was, and said he would produce a certificate. The Chairman pointed out to the prisoner that the offence was a serious one. but As that was the first case of its kind to come before them the prisoner would be fined £1 or in default. 14 days.

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                                     Sussex Agricultural  Express Friday 14 June 1918 extract



                                                             Cases Dismissed



                                                         At Battle Petty Sessions


                                                     Mr C.J.Ebden.Colonel Papillon.


Tom Lee, on remand was charged with stealing a bag containing 72 small rabbit nets, one long drift net two pairs of men's boots and other property of George Dengate of Westfield. Tom Lee lived in a Caravan on a encampment at Boldslow nearly three miles from Dengate cottage.

The Bench Dismissed the Case

Prisoner was further charged with being an Absentee under the Military service act. Prisoner said he was quite willing to go and do is bit for the Army.
Remanded until the next day.

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                                  Lancashire Evening Post Wednesday 29 November 1916


                                                        GIPSY AS A DESERTER.


 To-day,at Preston. Theophilus Young a gipsy, was charged with being a deserter under the Military Service Act. The evidence showed that last night W.O. Wilson arrested Young as the latter was partaking in a pint of beer in a Preston public-house. At the police station Young admitted that he had not registered. He was a van dweller, who  moved from yard to yard and town to town.—Prisoner said he had been ill with rheumatism for three months.—The Bench imposed a fine of 40s., and ordered prisoner to be handed over to the military authorities.

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                                     Yorkshire Evening Post Thursday 5 September 1918





                                                    V.C.'S BROTHER ABSENTEE.



 Hull, to-day, Thos. Cunningham, general dealer, brother of "Private Jack Cunningham", V.C., of the East Yorkshire Regt., was handed over to the military as an Absentee. He was arrested in a public house. Thomas had been called up, but was given day's leave in order to see his brother, the V.C., who was wounded recently, and is in Hull.

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                                  Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough Tuesday 17 April 1917



                                                     ABSENTEE IN A CUPBOARD


Daniel Cunningham 18 Hawker, of Hull, was at Epworth charged with being an Absentee under the Military Service Act. Police Constable Hallam said he visited some vans in Owston Ferry on Saturday, and in James Cunningham's van he found prisoner fastened in a cupboard under a bed. He made him come out, and asked him did he have any reason for not being in the Army. He replied that he had not. Prisoner admitted he would be 19 in July next, and was remanded to await a Military Escort.