May 12, 1904

THOMAS Tolley, of Redditch, an old offender, was brought up in custody charged with begging alms on the 10th inst.

Pc Lea said he saw the prisoner loitering about in Church Road.

He went into the police station and watched the prisoner for about 10 minutes.

He then changed his clothes and on going into the road, prisoner asked him for a penny.

Witness told him who he was, the prisoner said: "I should not have asked if I had known you were a police officer (laughter).

Prisoner said he had one of 'those turns' again (miming a fit) and he did not know what he was doing.

Supt Hayes stated that a good many people had complained of the prisoner begging.

The bench said the prisoner was a regular nuisance and sent him to gaol for 14 days.