CHAPTER VI
Incarceration, with Hard Labour, ends Frank Harry Cable’s career as a Dairyman
1919 – MAY: FRANK CABLE IN FRONT OF THE MAGISTRATES AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IMPRISONMENT!
After many appearances before the local magistrates in Bexhill-on-sea regarding his activities in the dairy, Frank Cable is in front of the bench again, but on this occasion, no fine was issued!
THE CHRONICLE, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1919
HEAVY SENTENCE ON A DAIRYMAN.
At Bexhill Petty Sessions yesterday (Friday) before Mr E. E. Hurst (in the chair) and other magistrates. Frank Cable was charged with endeavouring to obtain by faults pretences a sum of £17 8s. from the overseas military forces of Canada. Mr. F. Lawson-Lewis prosecuted, and Mr. C.A. Pead defended.
Mr. Lawson Lewis said the defendant was a milk dealer and dairymen in Bexhill and had been supplying the Cooden Hospital with milk which is supplied at 3s. a gallon. The contract was an extensive one and the milk could be supplied to the kitchen at the camp. A deficiency of 116 gallons had been found, and it was because they defendant had not received the money that he was charged only with the attempt.
Sergt. Clark, of the Canadian Forces, gave evidence, saying that he been at the Cooden Hospital. He had kept observations on the supplies of milk. During March two men were in charge of the kitchen. They received the goods upon arrival. The milk was delivered daily and the men should have checked the milk upon coming in and checked the bill after.
A complete investigation had been made, and in March a deficiency of 45 galls. was found. The result tallied with certain documents found on a man Butcher. A further deficiency of 71 galls. was noticed later. There was no defence and the defendant pleaded guilty and consented to the case being dealt with some summarily.
A large number of previous convictions were proved against prisoner.
The bench we retired to consider the case, and upon returning the Chairman said that the offence was of such a serious nature that it could not be met with a fine.
The Chairman said the defendant had had privilege of doing large trade with a Convalescent Camp which would have satisfied most ordinary men, and he could not understand the mentality of a man who time after time had come to this court and learnt lessons which should have had an effect.
Four months hard labour were inflicted.
REVIEWED
FOOTNOTE:It is believed Frank Cable may have served the sentence imposed by the court in Lewes Prison in East Sussex. This prison is located around 25 miles west of Bexhill.
INSERT DETALS OF LEWIS
1919 SEPTEMBER – FRANK NO LONGER THE OWNER OF THE MARINA DAIRY
An advertisement, in the ‘Situations Vacant’ section of the Bexhill-on-sea Observer on 13th September 1919, indicates that Frank Cable‘s involvement with the Marina Dairy has ended. The advert is seeking a ‘Lad, or Girl, for a milk round – Apply D.E. Flux, Marina Model Dairy, Bexhill’.
The ‘D.E. Flux’ mentioned in the advertisement is ‘Dorothy Elsie Gwendolinee Flux‘, a 27 year old unmarried lady, from Newport on the Isle of Wight. She is identified, on the 1921 Census, as a ‘Dairy Shopkeeper‘ and is recorded as an ‘employer‘.
Consequently, it is Miss Flux, and not Frank Cable, who is now the person in charge of the Marina Model Dairy in Bexhill. This change is extremely likely to be directly connected to Frank Cable’s four-month prison sentence in the May of the same year.
1921 JUNE: CENSUS – FRANK IS NOW A FARMER
The 1921 Census was taken on Sunday, 19th June 1921. Initially it was scheduled for 24th April, however, the date was postponed due to industrial action, specifically the Black Friday strike by coal miners, railwaymen, and transport workers. On this date Frank Harry Cable, age 41 years and 6 months, is living with his Alice Louisa Cable, age 46 years and 8 months, together with their four children; their oldest son, Frank Nevill Cable, age 15 years and 3 months, and Horace Cable, age 13 years and 10 months. Both these boys are recorded with a birthplace of Teddington in Middlesex.
Their two youngest children; their daughter Alice Kate Cable, age 9 years and 10 months and Herbert James Cable, age 6 years and 6 months, were both born in Bexhill.
Frank Harry Cable is now recorded as a ‘Farmer’, no longer a Dairyman, and as an ‘employer‘, with his eldest son, Frank Nevill, ‘assisting father in general farm work’. Their three youngest children are in school the ‘whole time‘.
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| Name and Surname | Relationship | Age | Sex | Condition | Birthplace | Occupation | Employment | Place of Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank Harry Cable | Head | 41 yrs 5 mths | Male | Married | London Middlesex | Farmer | Employer | At Home |
| Alice Lousia | Wife | 46 yrs 8 mths | Female | Married | London Middlesex | Home Duties | ||
| Frank Nevill Cable | Son | 15 yrs 3 mths | Male | Single | Teddington Middlesex | Assiting father in general Farm Work | Frank Harry Cable | At Home |
| Horace Cable | Son | 13 yrs 10 mths | Male | Both alive | Teddington Middlesex | Whole Time | ||
| Alice Kate Cable | Daughter | 9 yrs 10 mths | Female | Both alive | Bexhill Sussex | Whole Time | ||
| Herbert James | Son | 6 yrs 6 mths | Male | Both alive | Bexhill Sussex | Whole Time |
The entry ‘Both alive’ against the three youngest children is a requirement for children under 15 years to indicate the status of their parents. Whereas ‘Whole time’ reflect their attendance at school.
The Family’s Location in 1921
The location of their resident in 1921 is not clear. On the Census cover sheet (below left), it appears to be ‘The Ferns, Ninfield Road, Sidley. Bexhill’. Sidley is a village in East Sussex, 4 miles north of Bexhill. Ninfield Road is the main road between Sidley and the village of Ninfield. As far as I can ascertain Ninfield Road is the only road in Sidley with a name that ends in ‘field’.
The cover sheet of the 1921 Census. The images centre and right show Ninfield Road, Sidley.
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Ninfield Road, Sidley
Ninfield Road, Sidley is identified by a dashed red line at the top left of the map below.
Ninfield Road, Sidley, near Bexhill. Surveyed 1872-73. Revised 1828.
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THE CABLE FAMILY – Highlighting the position of Frank Harry Cable c.1921
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