In August 1844, Mrs. Ann Elworthy who kept The Country House Inn in Catherine Street was summoned before the Mayor and Magistrates at the Exeter Guildhall on a charge of having people in her house after hours:
"The case now proceeded, Richard Hamlin, an Inspector of the Watch being called, who said, I was on duty on Tuesday morning last about 20 minutes past 1, in Martin's Lane, when I heard a noise, and proceeding in the direction of the sound, found it came from the Country House Inn, kept by Mrs.Elsworthy.
"I heard there were several people in the house, and came and reported the circumstance to the captain of the night at the station house. I was directed by him to return again to the Country House and observe what passed. I heard beer called for, and gin and water. I heard money rattle and money paid.
"About 2 o'clock the door was opened and six or seven persons came out. One of them pulled off his coat to wrestle, but Mrs Elworthy prevented him. She stopped a few minutes, when all but two went away. These men then went back with Mrs. Elsworthy into the house, and presently afterwards she let these two me out again. They challenged one another to toss for Champaign:- Mrs Elsworthy said that she had no Sham Pain in the house, but had plenty of Real Pain'"
"Then the men went away."
So, it was in Catherine Street, about two in the morning on Tuesday 4th August, 1844, when Ann Elsworthy made her little joke about pain, sham and real. Now it has echoed down one hundred and eighty-one years!
She sounds a formidable lady, preventing her clients from wrestling, keeping an inn, serving beer and gin until two in the morning and making corny jokes.
She did not come to court but sent her solicitor, Mr. Willesford. He was rebuked by the Mayor for her absence and the court then had its pound of flesh fining Mrs. Elsworthy 40s together with 7s. expenses. I like to thing she was able to laugh it off.
The night constable seems not much brighter than Dogberry and his pals in Much Ado. Victorian policepeople invariably proceeded where other humans walked. I think perhaps they still do.
Champaign for champagne is a delightful anglicisation which we seem to have lost.
Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 8th August, 1844.
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