THE ESCAPED GERMAN PRISONERS
HOW A CAR WAS STOPPED
SPLENDID MARKSMANSHIP
MUST HAVE BEEN A READER OF SEXTON BLAKE
At Spilsby Petty Sessions on Monday last, Albert G. Dyke, managing director of R. M. Wright and Co., Ltd., automobile engineers, Lincoln, was summoned for driving a motor car and failing to stop and answer questions when required to do by soldiers on patrol duty in accordance with Regulations 52 and 53 of the Defence Of the Realm Regulations. He was also summoned for driving without rear red light at the same time and place.
Defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Supt. Marshall produced the order of the Competent Military Authority authorising the proceedings.
Cyclist Harry Hainstock, Northern Cyclists Battalion, stated that on Sept. 20th he was one of a patrol on Burgh Road, about two miles out of Skegness.
Skegness Road, the approximate area where the soldiers were on patrol
They were keeping a look out for escaped German prisoners and had orders to stop all vehicles and search all farms in the district. At 8.15 p.m. a motor car came along travelling from Skegness to Burgh. There were four patrols on the road and there would be about 250 yards. between the first and last patrol. Witness was the one nearest to Burgh and he stepped into the roadway with his rifle and bayonet at the charge and shouted loudly
to defendant to stop.
Defendant did not stop so he wheeled round and fired and hit the left back wheel. The car went on a little further and then stopped. He could not get any satisfactory statement as to the ownership of the car or why he did not stop when challenged. Defendant was too flabbergasted to say anything much except that he never heard them. It was a moonlight night and there were two big headlights on the car, but no rear light when witness got up. Witness
went back to headquarters and reloaded.
He aimed low at the left hand side of the car.
Cyclist Leslie Waters said he was the first patrol and stood on guard in the middle of the road and shouted loudly to the driver to stop, but the car kept on and he had to jump out of road.
Cyclist Millett said he was the second patrol and he too jumped into the middle of the road and shouted to the driver to stop, but without effect. He then heard the report of a rifle and saw smoke. It was moonlight, and defendant could have seen him had he taken precautions. There was a red light at the rear when they helped defendant to change the wheel, but there was not one when the car passed.
Defendant, on oath, said he was driving from Skegness to Lincoln at 8.30 p.m. It was fairly moonlight, with a mist rising from the ground. About two miles out of Skegness he heard a noise on the road in the nature of a conversation, such as shouts, of “stop.” He did not see that they were soldiers and so did not stop immediately, but within 50 yards or so his daughter, who was in the car, said “They were soldiers. I saw their bayonets glitter in the moonlight.” He, was in the act of pulling up when he heard a report and exclaimed: “Why, they’ve fired.” The car was stationary when two soldiers came to the door. He opened it and said ” What do you want? ”
The first witness said “Why didn’t you stop?” He told him he didn’t hear him and suggested they should give a better signal, such as a light and he should have seen that. He asked them what more they wanted to know and the soldier said ” We are on the look out for German Prisoners and want to see all is right in the car.” He then asked if they wanted to know any more and the patrol said “No.” No reference was made to lights at all. He got started again and 50 yards further on found a tyre was down. They had started to change, the wheel when soldiers rode up again. One said “Have we damaged the car, sir? ” and he told them they could see what had been done. They assisted him and he asked where the man was who fired the shot, as he wanted to compliment him on his marksmanship.
The Chairman: Yes, never mind about that. The shot was very successful we know, and stopped the car at once.
As to the rear lamp, defendant said he lit all three lamps himself at Skegness and they were all burning till the car got to Lincoln. The rear light never out. The screen of the car was covered with mist and that was the reason he did not see they were soldiers. He was quite aware of the regulations and was most desirous of assisting the authorities in every way.
After a brief retirement, the Chairman announced that the summons as to the rear light would be dismissed, but with regard to the other charge defendant would be convicted and fined £10 and 7s. 6d. costs. That was the unanimous decision of the Justices.
Source: Skegness Mablethorpe and Alford News 17th October 1917
Skegness Magazine 