ESCAPADE OF AIRMEN

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 230, 29 September 1926, Page 6

ESCAPADE OF AIRMEN

"JOKE THAT WENT WRONG." THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED. Two dight-lieutenants in the Royal Air Fprce, Frederick James Powell and Thomas Alfred Thornton, were charged before Sir Chartres Biron, at a London Police Couvt leceidy with stealing a brush and comb from the Hotel Cecil. Evidence was given by an inquiry clerk to. the effect that the defendants entered the hotel shortly after 11 o'clock on tlie previous evening, saying they wanted a drink. Upon being toki that it was too late late they went into a cloak-rooin and wero afterwavds walking toward th© restauraut when, in consequence of something he had been told, the witness stopped them, and found in Powell' s pocket a bush and comb which he liad taken from the cloakroom. Referring to thc comb, Thornton said, "Yes. I put it in his pocket, and he afterwards added. "This is a joke gone wTong. caused through being a quarter of an hour late for a drink." The witness expressed the opmion that both men liad been drinking and were apparentlv "out for game." Pow'ell told the magistrate that he had been to a music-hali with a party of, friends, and afterwards drove Thornton to tl.e Hotel Oecil with the intention of having a drink. The hall porter said it wast too late, and he thought it would be a good joke to get a brush and present it to the porter as a token of appreciation of his courtesy. (Laughter). On the way out he was seized and searched and the brush taken from his pocket. Thornton : That is exactly what occurred. It was merely a joke. 1 stuck the comb in his pocket. Addressing the defendants, Sir Chartres Biron said: "I am satisfied there was 110 larceny, but really if grown people • will heliave in this imbecile manner I am not surpris^d that they should he given in charge. [ should think the explanation of your conduct is that you each had had rather too much drink. You will be discharged. "