Hampshire Telegraph and Post,
Friday, March 20, 1942
Page 9
DOGS IN ALLOTMENTS
Edwin Gregg, of 88, Village Road and Mrs Florence Clarke, 86, Village Road, were each fined £1, inclunding costs, for allowing their dogs to stray on the allotments in the Avenue,
George Scutt of Jellicoe Avenue, said he saw Gregg's dog running over the Allotments on January 24, and Mrs. Clarke's dogs on the following day. Cosiderable damage was being done to crops on the allotments by dogs.
Gregg was also ordered to pay 7s. 6d. fo not having a licence for his dog, and Mrs. Clarke had to pay 15s. for not having licences for her two dogs.
P.C. Derrick gave evidence in these cases.
The Evening News,
3, Friday, November 13, 1942
Page 8
Collecting Without a Licence
"Let this be a warning to you not to make house-to-house collection without a licence," said Colonel R. F. A. Sloane-Stanley at Gosport Magistrates' Court to-day, when dis-missing Edwin Victor Gregg of 88, Village Road, Alverstoke, on payment of the costs, 4s. The magistrates considered that the case had been proved.
Hampshire Telegraph and Post,
Friday, November 27, 1942
Page 19
Corrupt Practices Charge
Charged with corrupt practices while acting as clerk of the works for Gosport Education Committee, Edwin Gregg, of Village Road, Alverstoke, was at Gosport Magistrates' Court on Friday remanded on bail for a week.
The charge was that between March 1, 1939, and May 10, 1940 he accepted £226 at the rate of £4 per week from the contractor, James Percival Hounsell, for forbearing to supervise properly work being carried out at Elson School.
Inspector T. McDonagh gave formal evidenve of arrest, and bail was allowed in the sum of £50.
West Sussex Gazette & South of England Advertiser:
December 3, 1942
Page 3
ALLEGATION OF BRIBERY AT GOSPORT
Charges Against Contractor and Clerk Dismissed
Allegations of bribery were made at Gosport Magistrates' Court on Friday, when James Percival Hounsell, builder and contractor, Rival Lodge, West Harting, was charged with paying Edwin Victor Gregg, Village-road, Alverstoke, £226 between March 1 1939, and May 10 1940, at the rate of £4 a week, to forbear, as clerk of works for Gosport Education Authority, to supervise property work in connection with construction of Elson junior school. Gregg was charged with receiving the money for that purpose
Mr. Scott Henderson, for Hounsell, raised an objection to the charge on the ground that, if the payment of one £4 was an offence, it was not legal to lump 50 offences together, and this objection was supported by Mr. A. C. Kingswell for Gregg. Mr. G. H. King, for the prosecution, submitted that it was all one offence, but the bench upheld the objection, and the charge was amended to cover the week ended March 30, 1939, and one amount of £4.
Inspector T. McDonagh stated that on August 24, 1940, he told Gregg it was alledged that he was instrumental in the dismissal of a foreman named Kennett, who was employed by Hounsell, that he had suggested that Hounsell should pay him £4 a week, and that he had received altogether £226. Gregg replied that it was untrue that he was paid £4 a week by Hounsell, but that he was not such a fool as to say that he did not receive a present or two from him. Gregg also said that Kennett and the man who follwed him were not competent men and it was agreed that they should do as he told them. Gregg would not give any information as to the presents he received, and when he asked Gregg why Hounsell had given him presents he replied, "For nothing in particular." On November 9, 1940, witness saw Hounsell at Denmead. Hounsell said he paid Gregg £4 a week from March 13, 1939, to May 9, 1940, and that Gregg asked that his name should not be entered on the wages sheet, as he would have to pay more Income Tax, and he was entered in the name of Waring. On September 19 last, Hounsell was asked for wages sheets concerned, but could not say what had happened to them. When he went through the pay sheets with Hounsell in November, 1940, they corroborated Hounsell's statement as to the payments in the name of Waring. In reply to Mr, Henderson, Inspector McDonagh stated that he submitted a report to his superior officer after interviewing Hounsell in November, 1940, but no action was taken. Mr. Henderson: "Who stirred the matter up two years later?" --Insp. McDonagh; "The Botough Council, I think, sir."
William Henry Crocker, accountant, Portsmouth, stated on May 2, 1940, he was appointed by creditors of Hounsell, with a committee of five to investigate Hounsell's financial position. The school contract was then running. Waring's name appeared on the wages sheets, and he asked Hounsell who Waring was. Hounsell replied that the payments in that name were made to Gregg.
Mr. Henderson said the first important fact was that this matter was investigated by police in 1940, and they might be certain the Borough Council was informed, but nothing was done for two years. He submitted that no act was done and nobody ought to get Gregg to do anything against the borough's affairs. The position was that Gregg received this payment for acting as foreman. It might hace been improper, but there was no evidence that he had foreborne to supervise work. The evidence was that the Corporation were satisfied he had not done so. The Chairman (Col. R. F. A. Sloane-Stanley) said the Magistrates considered that no jury would convict, and they dismissed the case. A charge of conspiring to fefaud the Corporation of £226 was not proceeded with.
