The Petticoat Men Read Online Free PDF Page A

They had chignons on (LAUGHTER IN COURT) and their arms naked and their necks bare. The gentleman called a cab and both ladies got into it. They drove to the Strand Theatre. I got into another cab and followed them. They got to the theatre where they met Mundell and another gentleman in the lobby. I still followed them. I saw them take their seats in the box.’
    ‘But who’s these people laughing in court?’ I asked, puzzled, ‘how did they straightway know about it, before it got in the newspapers even?’
    ‘Ha! London gossip is faster than the newspapers,’ said Ma in that dry voice she uses sometimes.
‘The “ladies” came out of the box alone and had some refreshment. One of them went into the ladies’ cloakroom and asked to have her dress pinned up. They were shortly afterwards removed to the station.’
    ‘Was it for going into the ladies’ cloakroom?’ I said to Billy.
    ‘I bet five shillings we soon see editorials written about that cloakroom: The Women of England In Danger,’ said Billy.
    ‘From Freddie and Ernest?’ said Ma. ‘Dont be ridiculous.’
Defence (Mr Abrams): ‘On behalf of the prisoners, sir, I contend that the case of felony is not made out. Unless it is shown they were out for unlawful purpose, I submit that no such offence has been committed by them. They are young men, and no doubt did this intending it as a lark.’
    ‘What?’ said Ma.
    ‘Lark,’ said Billy.
    ‘What?’ said Ma again, not understanding, or maybe not hearing, or maybe just still shocked.
    ‘ Lark! ’ shouted Billy.
    ‘Course it was,’ said Ma.
Magistrate Mr Flowers (with severity): ‘It is a lark then that they have been carrying on evidently for a very long time. I have, however, a doubt with respect to Mr Hugh Mundell. He may have been deceived by the appearances of the others, and the evidence does not show that he has previously been connected with them. I should have been deceived myself! But that, in my mind, makes the case all the worse for those dressed up.’
Mr Abrams: ‘It was only a stupid act of folly.’
Mr Flowers said he was not sure of that yet.
After some further evidence Mr Flowers remanded the prisoners but allowed Mundell to be liberated on his own recognisances of £100. Mr Flowers refused, however, to accept bail for Boulton and Park.
    ‘Oh bloody hell!’ said Ma. ‘Ernest and Freddie in prison!’
Mr Abrams later in the day asked Mr Flowers if the prisoners might be allowed to change their dresses before being removed in the van. They had already sent for their attire.
    ‘So that’s why Mr Gibbings came and smashed the lock,’ I said, ‘to take them their proper clothes.’
    ‘And maybe take away his own things promptly,’ said Billy, quite quiet.
Mr Flowers said, certainly.
Mr Barnaby (chief clerk), after the lapse of an hour or so, said that the crowd in the street had greatly increased and Mr Superintendent Thomson thought it would be better to remove the prisoners as quickly as possible although the required male clothing had not yet arrived.
    ‘That’s because of having to smash down the lock that rude policeman had put on the door,’ I said to Billy, angry, thinking of people laughing and ogling and shouting at Ernest, and especially thinking of Freddie. I could imagine Ernest waving back and enjoying the attention and looking from under his eyelashes the way he did, but I thought Freddie would be shamed.
Mr Flowers consented to this, and the filthy fellows were then and there removed in the van to the House of Detention.
    There was this sudden appalled silence in our parlour.
    ‘And that’s the end of Reynolds News ,’ said Billy, folding it up.
    Without a word Ma poured more port into our glasses and shook her head, looking at the red colour in her glass. I suppose she was thinking about agreeing to let them have a room for a few days every now and then to dress for acting parts if they had an engagement – Ma used to be a theatre wardrobe mistress,