William FLOOD

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, February 2, 1866

CREDITON - Petty Sessions

William Flood, and William Legg, shoemakers, William Marles, carpenter, and Philip Hammett, labourer, were charged with being drunk in the High-street, on the 30 ult., by P.C. Proctor. Fined 9s 4d including costs.

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, August 7, 1868

LOST SPECTACLES. -- William Flood, Lewis Elston, William Marchant, and Samuel Harrison, shoemakers of Crediton (the later did not appear) were charged with taking from Mary Pope of Morchard Bishop, a pair of spectacles. Fanny Grant, wife of Robert T. Grant, butcher, stated that on the 16th July, defendants came to her house and asked for a cup of cider; ordered the servant to draw it. After they had drank it the servant said the men would not go away. Witness told them she would get the police for them. Found her aunt's spectacles missing about half an hour after defendants had left. Could not swear other persons might not have passed into the house. Charlotte Cann corroberated this evidence. She could not swear defendants were the only persons that entered as she was in the back kitchen. P.C. Sellers followed defendant's on the Crediton-road; overtook them near Sandford Turnpike Gate. They were in Mr Carthew's waggon. Searched them with the exception of Lewis Elston, who refused to be searched until told what he was being searched for. The spectacles were not found on either defendants. George warren, waggoner to John Carthew, stated that on arriving at Four Mills he found the spectacles produced, a strange man had got into the waggon previous to defendants. He got up about two miles from Morchard, and got down near New Buildings. The defendants got up at New Buildings. The Bench, after a patient hearing of the case, dimissed the defendants, remarking to them that they stood under grave suspision. During the interval the Bench withdrew to consider the case the conduct of Flood was very disorderly, insomuch that Supt. Sargent reported it to the Bench

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, April 2, 1869

William Flood, shoemaker, of Crediton was sent to prison for being drunk and disorderly at the King's Arms Inn on the 30th.

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, March 16, 1888

THE LATE SUDDEN DEATH -- Mr. H. W. Gould, the Deputy Coroner, held an inquest on Tuesday at the Kin's Arms Inn, touching the death of Thos. Berry, shoemaker, who was found dead on Sunday. Mr Elias Browning was chosen foreman. William Flood said the deceased was his uncle aged 69. Witness last saw him alive on Saturday morning, when he was at his home at work, and appeared in his usual health. He was a widower and lived in a cottage on Bowden-hill by himself. On Sunday evening witness went to deceased's house to hear him read the newspaper, when he found him lying along the floor under a wicker chair, which had been pulled over him in the fall. He was quite dead. Witness called W. Harvey and another and sent for a surgeon. --James Flood, brother to the last witness, stated that on Sunday he saw the deceased eat his dinner and tea heartily. Witness left him to get his own tea. Deceased had not complained of being poorly.-- Mr. Walter Scott Campbell, surgeon, of Crediton, stated that he found the deceased quite dead. He had no doubt death resulted from syncope.--The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."

The Devon and Exeter Daily Gazzette
Thursday, May21, 1891

Damages for Malicious Prosecution

Yesterday at the Crediton County Court, before his Honour Judge Edge, an action was brought by William Flood, a shoemaker, living in Park Street, Crediton, against Mr. William Elston, stationer and Newsagent, High street, Crediton, to recover 25 as damages for the alledged malicious procsecution of the plaintiff by the defendant - Mr. A. E. Dunn (Exeter) appeared on behalf of the plaintiff; Mr. Friend (Messrs. Friend and Beal, Exeter) for the defendant. - The case for the plaintiff was that he employed once a week, on Friday to take a certain number of newspapers into the country and sell. About October of last year some dispute took place between the parties with reference to the matter, which resulted in the defendant requesting the plaintiff to give up his journey at a week's notice. At the time there was a sum of 2s 5d due from the plaintiff to the defendant. It was the usual practice for the plaintiff to settle accounts with the defendant each week, and to pay for the whole of the papers he received. The above mentioned item was money due to the plaintiff by customers, and, instead of paying the sum to Mr Elston as usual, and he (the plaintiff) himself bearing the responsibility of recovering it from the customers, he declined, upon receiving notice, to pay until he had received the money himself, in the hope presumably of inducing Mr. Elston to continue the engagement, and instituted proceedings about the latter part of November, which resulted in the plaintiff being arrested on the 27th November in High-street, Crediton, taken to the Police Court, where he was charged, on a warrant with embezzling the sum of 2s 5d, and locked up for some hours until brought before the Magistrates. The bench, however, dismissed the case with a remark to the effect, it was alledged, that it ought not to have been brough. Reports of the case appeared in the newspapers, and it was argued that this and the proceedings generally would seriously damage the plaintiff. The plaintiff's solicitor (Mr. Dunn) wrote suggesting that the defendant should publish an apology, but no notice was taken of the letter. The fact that plaintiff was charged with embezzlement, that he was detained in custody, and brought before the Magistrates and dismissed, was admitted by the defendant's solicitor. - Mr. Friend, in the course of his cross-examination, elicited that plaitiff was in the habit of paying Mr. Elston for all the papers he took each week, even if some of his customers did not pay for the papers when delivered. Mr. Elston did not give him authority to "trust." He paid the defendant 5d he received from one customer. - Mr. Friend (to the plaintiff) : How long ago were you at the Police-court on a charge of stealing a Jubilee shilling from a young woman? - Plaintiff ; I don't know. The case was dismissed. - Mr. Dunn ; Yes, the case was dismissed, and without a stain on the plaintiff's character. - Mr. Friend ; Did you after the case go into the street and boldly say, "I had the shilling after all?"- Plaintiff ; No, I did not. I said I found the shilling, but whose it was I could not tell. - Mr. Friend ; Were you prosecuted before for stealing potatoes? - Plaintiff ; Yes. - Q. And convicted? A. Yes; but it is 20 years ago, I think. - And imprisoned for two monthswith hard labour. Yes. - For various offences under the Poaching Act, and for being drunk and disorderly, how many times have you been convicted? I cannot tell. I have been Pretty good for the last 20 years. Since I have been married and got a family I have been good. (Loud laughter.) - The Judge : That is something to be put down to the credit of matrimony. (Renewed laughter.) But these convictions are a great number of years ago, and I do not think they should be brought against this man if he has been living an ordinarily repectable life since. (Applause in Court) - Mr. Friend remarked that the alleged stealing of the Jubilee shilling occured in 1888. - The Judge : But the case was dismissed, and I take it that the Magistrates acted rightly. This is dangerous ground. - Mr. Friend : I quite feel it. - The Judge : And enhances the damages. When was the conviction for syealing potatoes? - Mr Friend : In 1878 or 1879. - The Judge That is 13 years ago. I shall take no notice of the Jubilee case because the Magistrates who heard the evidence thought there was no case. His Honour added that he thought a man having lost his character once and retrieved it by subsequent hard work ought to have even more consideration shown to him than sheep that did not go astray. - Mr. Friend : I would not have made any use whatever of the circumstances except that my client is charged with acting in a way that was illegal. - The Judge : There is a wide difference between a man acting illegally, or not according to his proper rights, and a man acting felniusly. A man who ran up a long score with a shopkeeper might not br acting legally, but there is a great difference between him and a thief. - Mr. Friend suggested that circumstances relating to the plaintiff had a great influence on Mr. Elston. - The Judge said that if Mr. Elston had reflected he would probably have considered that a man who had been covicted 13 years previously, and since that time, by orderly living, had endeavoured to win back his former good character, would not throw it away for 2s 5d. If Mr. Friend could not diprove the facts stated he should say there was no reasonable or proper cause for charging the plaintiff with embezzlement. It might have been a reasonable and proper case for putting to the plaintiff into the County Court and making him pay the 2s 5d, but the criminal law should not be put into motion frivolously. - Mr. Friend called no witnesses and addressed his Honour in mitigation of damages. - His Honour gave a verdict for the plaintiff for 5 5s, with costs and court fees.

1892

"A Risky Experiment — Bostock's menagerie visited Crediton on Tuesday, and processioned the town. A sensation was caused by the announcement that a local man, well known in the town, and described as Mr. W. Flood, alias "Billy Shy," would enter a den of forest bred lions. This proved to be a fact. About eight o'clock the daring townsman was fetched in the triumphant band carriage. The large arena was well filled to witness the feat. In masterly manner Mr. Flood opened the cage door, and entered the den amidst three lions alone with whip in hand. The door was closed and Billy, who showed much coolness and bravery handled the brute beasts like a professional tamer. Erect and with a firm manner, Billy made the trio march and run around him with agility. Enthusiastic applause was given by the hundreds of witnesses. When Mr. Flood left the cage everybody was very pleased to find that he had escaped unhurt".

The Devon and Exeter Daily Gazette
Wednesday, March 2, 1892

Bostock's Menagerie visited Crediton, and in the evening William Flood, a well-known townsman, following the example of an Exonian on the previous night ventured into the den with the young lions, and aquitted himself of his task triumphantly.

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, March 4, 1892

A man named William Flood alias "Billy Shy" entered the lion's den successfully at Bostock and Wombell's menagerie, much to the surprise of the numerous spectators

The Devon and Exeter Gazette
Saturday, September 29, 1906

William Flood, an old man, residing at Park-street, Crediton, met with an accident at Exeter yesterday, necessitating his admission and detention at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He was leading a horse, belonging to Mr. Were, butcher, of Crediton, over Exe Bridge when the animal became frightened by a passing tramcar and swerved. Flood was knocked down and dislocated his shoulder.

The Devon and Exeter Gazette
Wednesday, March 12, 1913

SHOEMAKER'S LAST SMOKE

An Inquiry was conducted by Mr. H. W. Gould (District Coroner) at the Girls' Club, Crediton, yesterday, on Joseph Stephen Stemson, who died in the allotment ground.
Sidney Arthur Stemson, of Oakhampton, bootmaker, identified the body as that of his father, a bootmaker, aged 60 years. He had heard him complain of pains in his chest.
Thomas Stevens, labourer, of Crediton, said he last saw deceased alive at about 3.15 p.m. on Monday in the allotment field. He was walking down a path, smoking his pipe, and appeared to be in his usual health.
William Flood, shoemaker, of Crediton, deposed that he was at work in the allotment field, at 4.30 p.m. on Monday, and found Stemson dead on his piece of ground. Deceased's coat was off, and he did not appear to have been at work. His pipe was by his side. He was lying on his back.
Dr. W. S. Campbell, of Crediton, said he was called to see deceased. There were no marks of violence, and witness was satisfied that deceased died from syncope. The widow had told witness that her husband was attended by a doctor for heart disease last summer.
A verdict was returned in accordance with the medical evidence.

Note: Joseph Stephen Stemson lived at 39 Park Street, Crediton

CREDITON NOTES
(1919)

"By the death of "Billy Shy" as he was called, Crediton loses a well-known and popular craftsman. A great gardener, he was usually to be seen with his basket of vegetables, and was always ready with a funny story. His daring in entering a lion's den is well remembered by many in the town, as also his triumphant progress round the town, wearing a brass helmet and seated in the band carriage of the menagerie. He thus earned the additional sobriquet of "Billy-Shy, the lion-tamer."

CREDITON CHRONICLE and NORTH DEVON GAZETTE
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1919

Page 2

IN MEMORIAM

"One of Crediton's oldest inhabitants passed away on Wednesday morning in the person of Mr. William Flood, of Cherry Garden Square, Park-Street, Crediton, who died on Wednesday at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital where he had been admitted the previous day. Mr. Flood was 78 years of age and was one of the old-time Kirton hand-sewn boot makers. He leaves a widow, one son and four daughters, to whom great sympathy is extended. One of the deceased's sons was killed in the war."