1886: Canal Boat Act - George Brittin fined at Swindon

From the Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle, 10th April 1886:

THE CANAL BOAT ACT

George Brittin, boatman, of Wootton Bassett, was summoned by Maurice Simpson, Inspector under the Canal Boat Act for the New Swindon Local Board, charged with using the boat “Sir Daniel” without having the same registered, as required by the Act. Mr. H. Kinneir, clerk to the Local Board, appeared to support the charge.

The defendant, in answer to the charge, showed that the boat was registered on the day named in the information, although he had not got the license with him.

Mr. Kinneir admitted that he had since ascertained this to be the case, but the defendant refused to produce his register or license, which, under a different section of the Act, rendered the defendant to double the penalty to imposed under the section the proceedings were taken. The better course the defendant could take would be to submit to have the charge altered. This the defendant agreed to, and the Bench fined him 5s. and £2 costs, or in default 14 days' imprisonment.

The Chairman said it was very clear the owner of the boat, Mr. Twine, should pay the fine.