TOPIC:

….John Charles Lyons, a magistrate of the County Westmeath, Ireland, and late of Ledeston House, Mullingar, County Westmeath, was summoned for drunkenness on the licensed premises known as the Stag Inn [Haverfordwest] on the 20th April. The defendant is one of the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry and has been recently invalided home from South Africa. He denied the offence.
….P.C. Owens deposed that, about 10.45 p.m., on the 20th, he, in company of P.C. 66, saw the defendant going through Bridge Street in a very drunken state, staggering about from one side of the road to the other. Defendant entered the Stag Inn through the side door. Five minutes later witness entered and saw him sitting down on a bench in the room on the left hand side. He called the landlady's attention to him. She said that someone had come in there and called for a pint of "shandygaff," but she did not know who it was for. Witness asked Lyons if the pint of beer on the table was his and he said it was. Witness then asked him who served him and he said one of the ladies behind the bar, and he had paid for it. Lyons was in a very drunken state.
….P.C. Reginald Duck (66) corroborated.
….Mr J. W. Hammond swore that he saw defendant passing by Gloucester Terrace shortly after 11 o'clock. Defendant was evidently drunk.
….Defendant: I was not.
….Mr J. H. Ibbott deposed that he saw defendant about 10 minutes past 11 o'clock outside the Stag Inn with two constables and a number of other people. Defendant was talking quite rationally to the policemen and walked away down the street perfectly straight.
….Mr Lyons deposed on oath that he was not drunk.
….James Mayberry, of the Stag Inn, was summoned for permitting drunkenness on his licenced premises.
….P.C. Owens and P.C. Duck repeated their evidence.
….Mr W. J. Jones, solicitor for the defence, addressed the Bench. The result of the case against Lyons was perfectly immaterial as far as his client was concerned. There was no evidence of guilty knowledge on the part of the license holder or of the person in charge.
….Miss Florence Mayberry, sister of the landlord, deposed that she and her two sisters were in charge of the licensed premises on the 20th April. She did not see Mr Lyons until she went into the room and saw the policeman there. Mr Lyons had gone into the room without her seeing him. Witness told the policeman that Mr Lyons had not been served, and the policeman said "we're not talking to you." Witness did not think that Mr Lyons was drunk.
….In reply to Supt. Francis, witness said her brother lived at 65, George Street, Pont Llewellyn, and had not lived on the premises since Christmas week.
….Mr Lyons swore he went in the front door and not the side door. He had not been supplied with drink of any kind, either shandygaff or water. The beer, which the policeman saw on the table, belonged to some other man and he was not going to pay for it or drink it.
….Supt. Francis: What did you go into the Stag Inn for?
….Mr Lyons: Simply to smoke a cigarette the same as I go into any other house. (Laughter).
….The Mayor said the magistrates had decided to fine Lyons 2s 6d without costs, but they did not consider the case against Mayberry proved and dismissed it. They wished to remind Mr Mayberry that the license had been granted him on the express condition that he should live on the premises. ….In a second summons John Charles Lyons was summoned for drunkenness and disorderly conduct in Castle Terrace on the 21st April. George Woolcock, Church Street, was summoned for a like offence on the same date and at the same place.
….Mr Lyons: I deny it. Two of these Welsh fellows knocked me down.
….Mr David Roberts deposed that, on the night in question, he saw Lyons a little below Castle Terrace. A fight had apparently taken place just before for Lyons was somewhat excited and his overcoat was on the ground. Lyons was commonly known as "Mac," and about 10 o'clock witness's family had called out to him that "Mac" was fighting down below. Witness went out and saw three men on the road. Woolcock and another man were struggling together, the former evidently wanting to get away from the other. Witness heard Mr Hammond say "better go on, Woolcock, let him alone," but Woolcock took no notice of it, and witness said, "You'll be locked up unless you go on." Witness did not take very much notice Lyons and could not say whether he was drunk.
….Mr J. W. Hammond deposed that he was passing down North Street about five minutes past ten and heard a noise about Rock House. He met Lyons coming up the middle of road. Woolcock and Harry John were on the pavement. John was leading Woolcock by the arm and trying to get him alone. Lyons was muttering indistinctly to himself and this evidently annoyed Woolcock, who broke away from John and commenced sparring at Lyons, but they had scarcely exchanged any blows before they both rolled to the ground. Lyons was evidently very drunk. Woolcock was not quite so bad, but also much the worse for drink.
….P.S. Parry deposed that he saw Lyons shortly afterwards in the Falcon, and Lyons was drunk.
….Mr Lyons gave evidence on oath. He was knocked down by two men coming up the hill. He had a big weighty coat on, which would make any one stagger. Besides he was not used to walking; he was used to riding.
….Andrew J. McEvoy swore he saw Lyons pass through Gloucester Terrace about 10 o'clock. Lyons appeared perfectly sober and was going quietly along.
….George Woolcock denied being drunk. Lyons called him and John "Pembrokeshire pigs" and struck him with a stick three blows on the head. He then shoved Lyons down. He never had any beer that day or spirits; he had not even seen beer. Lyons was drunk.
….To Supt. Francis, Woolcock said he had been with John nearly the whole day and John had had no drink in his presence.
….Supt. Francis: You must have shut your eyes while he was drinking, because I saw him after the row standing up against the wall and he was so drunk that he was not able to speak to me.
….The Mayor said there was not sufficient evidence to prove that Lyons was drunk and disorderly. The Bench believed that he was drunk, but, as they could not separate the charges, they would dismiss the case. Woolcock would be fined 5s without costs.

Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 1st May 1901
…."That member of the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry, whose proper name is Mr John Charles Lyons, but who is familiarly known as "Mac" in Haverfordwest, thinks he is an ill-used man. He has been fined for drunkenness and for using obscene language in the public street. He considers this persecution and alleges that he is being victimised because he is an Irishman, and the police are Welshmen. This is a curiously distorted mode of reasoning, and the allegation is one which, as everyone knows, is absolutely without foundation. Mr Lyons, who was not so long ago an Irish landowner on a large scale, should be the last to complain of his treatment in the Haverfordwest Petty Sessions Court. The Bench strained every point in his favour and imposed the most lenient fines possible, whilst the police gave their evidence against him without the least vindictiveness. But then Mr Lyons not only complain of inequality of justice; he does not like Welsh law. He says it's absolutely different from Irish law, and, as he is one of the Great Unpaid for the County of Westmeath, he ought to know. However, if he feels inclined, he can easily avoid all personal acquaintance with its administration."

Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 5th June 1901
….John Charles Lyons, of the Falcon Inn, was summoned for using obscene language in North Street on the 25th June.
….Defendant first inquired what sort of language it was, but then pleaded guilty.
….P.C. Evans handed in a copy of the language used in writing.
….The defendant read it and admitted having used the language. He said he was annoyed constantly by children. About 40 of them come up the lane every day screeching and they would set anyone mad. He was very sorry for using such language, but he was in bed having a rest, and the noise provoked him.
….Supt. Francis said a gentleman came to court that day to support the charge. Children were no worse there than anywhere else and the defendant was constantly using this terrible language, to such an extent that it was intolerable and most shameful.
….The Mayor said it was only that day month the defendant was fined 10s and costs. He would now be fined £2 and costs, 7s 6d.
….Supt. Francis asked for immediate payment.
….Defendant said he would pay in a week, and that time was granted him.

Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 3rd July 1901
….John Charles Lyons, Falcon Inn, a trooper discharged lately from the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry, was summoned for drunkenness.
….Supt. Francis swore that about 20 minutes to 8 on the Tuesday evening previous he saw defendant going up Holloway drunk. Defendant was talking and using obscene language towards the stones on the road. Defendant's language was very bad towards witness. Defendant reeled against the wall and had a terrible fall, which apparently sobered him, and after that defendant called witness "Mr Francis." Defendant was certainly very ill and now promised to amend. Defendant begged to be excused from attending that day and asked that a small fine might be inflicted.
….Mr James Thomas said the man was very much to be pitied.
….The case was adjourned for a month to give the defendant an opportunity of fulfilling his promise to amend his ways.

Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 31st July 1901
….John Charles Lyons, of the "Falcon Inn," was summoned for using obscene language in Holloway on the 28th August. There were also two adjourned charges of drunkenness against the defendant, who did not appear.
….Supt. Francis said defendant told him on Friday that he was going to Ireland on the following day to shoot.
….P.S. Parry said he had seen the defendant in town that morning.
….P.C. Warlow proved the charge of obscene language, adding that a woman complained to him that it was awful.
….Evidence had been given at previous sessions in connection with the charges of drunkenness.
….Defendant was fined 10s and 10s 6d costs for drunkenness on the 25th July; 5s and 8s 6d costs for a like offence on the 17th August, and 20s and 7s 6d costs for the obscene language - £3 1s 6d in all - with the usual alternative.
….The Mayor said if defendant was again convicted of like offences, his punishment would be one of imprisonment and not of fine.
….The court adjourned.
Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 11th September 1901


Lyons was presumably related to another John Charles Lyons, of Ledeston, Mullingar

"The antiquary and author John Charles Lyons was born in 1792 in Ledeston, on the shores of Lough Ennell. He was an authority on local topography, gardening, and mechanics. In 1837, he constructed a printing press at Ledeston, which he used to print some of his books. These included On the Management of Orchidaeceous Plants (1843), The Book of Surveys and Distribution of the Estates in the County of Westmeath Forfeited in the Year 1641 (1852), An Historical Sketch of the Family of D’Arcy from the Norman Conquest to the Year 1853 (1853), and An Historical Notice of the Family of Lyons, and its Connexions (1853). Lyons served as High Sheriff of Westmeath in 1816, while captain of the Westmeath Militia, and he was Chief Magistrate of Mullingar from 1817 to 1837 He was also a benefactor of All Saints, contributing a generous sum to help fund renovations in the church in the 1860s. Lyons died in 1874 and was buried in All Saints. The semi-chapel behind the pulpit is popularly known as the Lyons Den and contains a memorial to Lyons."
mullingarunionofparishes.net/index.php/c...worthy-parishioners/

A very interesting set of accounts. It is difficult from the first to determine what exactly happened that night.

….Lyons continued to make court appearances for drunkenness and using obscene language through to at least December 1907.

…."The death occurred on Thursday evening week [27.8.1908] of Mr. John Charles Lyons, who had for a number of years resided in Haverfordwest. The deceased, who was 47 years of age, was an Irishman, being highly connected, and an Irish magistrate. He served as a trooper with the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry in South Africa, and had the distinction of having his horse shot under him by the Boers. He was a clever horseman, and lover of all kinds of field sports. Deceased was interred in St. Thomas' Churchyard on Monday morning. His wife, son, and several friends came over from Ireland to attend the funeral."

The Pembrokeshire Herald, Friday 4th September 1908


….From the index to UK wills, 1931:
LYONS John Charles Geoffrey Pilkington of Ledeston Mullingar county Westmeath died 13 September 1930 Probate London 9 April to Cecil Joseph Farrell esquire.
Effects £754 13s. 9d. in England.

….Possibly John Charles Lyons' son?

I don't think it would be unsafe to assume it was fuelled by alcohol.

djb wrote: A very interesting set of accounts. It is difficult from the first to determine what exactly happened that night.

Frank Kelley wrote: I don't think it would be unsafe to assume it was fuelled by alcohol.

It would be interesting to know why he was invalided home, and whether that might have had an effect on how much he was drinking, but I can't find any mention of his being sent home, or of arriving in Haverfordwest.

Often it was simply a bout of enteric or just being worn out and unfit for further service, the way WO128 is indexed makes things time consuming, you need to know his number that is used within those papers, it is not always the number that appears on the medal roll and not always the number that was used upon enlistment.
There is a likely candidate in WO100, a JC Lyons, they are three different numbers shown for him, if you then use those same numbers in WO128, you end up looking at three differing individuals.

BereniceUK wrote:

Frank Kelley wrote: I don't think it would be unsafe to assume it was fuelled by alcohol.

It would be interesting to know why he was invalided home, and whether that might have had an effect on how much he was drinking, but I can't find any mention of his being sent home, or of arriving in Haverfordwest.