From the proceedings of the magistrates at the Exeter Guildhall as reported by the Exeter Flying Post of 7th May, 1845:
"Solomon, who was a wise man, said 'Correct thy son' but what the doctrine in this respect would be in the present day, it is not very easy to say. This, however, is clear, that it is a dangerous and very expensive matter to chastise the son of any other body, however bad their conduct may be; and this James Stubbings found in the present instance.
"Stubbings is the civil driver of an omnibus to and from the railway station, and on the 26th of April,while thus engaged, near the Old London Inn, came in contact with a donkey cart driven by a lad named George Norman, who not appearing to be attending to what was going on, and there being a danger that the pole of the larger vehicle would play 'Old Harry' with, or perhaps smash the smaller, Stubbings called to him.
"Instead,, however, of civilly replying to this, and doing that which was necessary to the safety of all, he (Norman) as he admitted called the other a d****d fool for his interference, and placing the fingers of one of his hands in a certain position, he applied the tip of one thumb to his nose, and in a well known and offensive manner endeavoured to draw ridicule on Stubbings.
"Naturally resenting this, as soon as he was enabled he quitted the box, and administered to the youth a few smart cuts with the whip. This, however, was stated by John Sparks, the beadle, who saw the latter part of the transaction only, to have been done in an unmerciful manner. While Westcott, a fly driver, who also saw it, as well as the offensive action of Norman - observed nothing above a just and proper punishment. - This appeared certain, that Norman exhibited marks of punishment, the skin of his legs being broken, when he came to the Guildhall to prefer his complaint. -
"The Bench deliberated, but were not unanimous in the judgement pronounced, which was the infliction of a fine of 5s. and expences, on Stubbings. Norman's character, not appearing to stand very high with the Bench, and Dr. Barham observing, "I think it served him very right.""
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The Old London Inn: was on the corner where Paris Street meets Sidwell Street. It was later to be known as the Bude Hotel and was subsequently demolished to allow for road widening.
Old Harry: is an ancient euphemism for the the Devil and no one seems to know why. It seems to me it might simply be a bad pun on the Old English verbs to harry and to harrow in the sense of to devestate but no one else seems to think so.
Thumbing the nose: is still a well-known, offensive gesture although deemed much less offensive now than in 1845. Most sources trace it back only to the 18th century and I always thought that Shakespeare's biting the thumb at someone (famously in Romeo and Juliet) would seem to be much the same thing (as my old English master, the celebrated Alan Durband, maintained) but this thumbing has been well researched back to Adam and this seems not to be the case.
John Sparks the beadle: was the junior beadle of the Exeter Corporation of the Poor. As such, I suppose, the equivalent of Dicken's beadle, Mr Bumble in Oliver Twist, which naturally prejudices one against him, but here his seems the voice of reason. The poor boy had, it would seem, come freshly-bleeding, to the Guildhall.
The Bench were not unanimous: It was unusual for the Exeter Bench to be divided but here Dr. Barham clearly voted for the control of rebellious youth and the Mayor, Edward Woolmer, for the word of the law. No doubt the Mayor was in the right and these days we not do not lacerate the limbs of insolent young people. We now, however, dare not speak a harsh word to them however bad their conduct may be, indeed we are cautioned by the police not so to do. In today's Exeter, where I observe the bad behaviour of some, in particular, Exeter College 'students', with no-one able to exercise any authority over them whatsoever, I think the pendulum might have swung a little too far.
Any other body for anybody else is delightful.
