Irritated by a Communist meeting at east London, FT, aged 60, a retired railway official of Kings Langley, tipped the platform over.

This was stated at Clerkenwell Police Court yesterday when he pleaded not guilty to a charge of insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.

FT said that the meeting was being addressed in a fiery manner by a man whom he presumed was called a Communist.

“I have a son who is in Flanders, if he is alive, and another son also in the Forces. To listen to a young man inciting other young fellows to disobey the King’s commands and refuse to go to the assistance of the men in Flanders made my blood boil.” he declared.

“I went down the road to find some white feathers but could not find any. Therefore I went behind him and I admitted I lifted his stand at the back a few inches and the law of gravity precipitated him in front of his audience.”

Announcing that the defendant would be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months, the Magistrate (Mr Brodrick) pointed out this would enable him to raise the matter elsewhere by means of an appeal.

[From the Watford Observer of June 7, 1940]

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