The Old Bailey

I was on Jury Service Tuesday and Wednesday. The case was rather depressing really, in that the accused was obviously guilty, but only because of circumstance and, in particular, the other `innocent’ party. I felt that the better character of the two was in the Dock, but had to vote Guilty as he undoubtedly was, but only because the other chap had `caused’ it. I felt very `heavy’ yesterday evening because our `Guilty’ verdict has lost him his livelihood (He was a self-employed Taxi driver) and he has been given a custodial sentence, plus fine, plus driving ban, plus having his Licence endorsed. So he will lose his Cab Drivers Badge and will only be able to be a Mini Cab driver when he comes out. The poor man has two kiddies too, 2 years and 4 months, and was of previous good character. What a Tragedy.

I had a rather pleasant early evening pottering around in the garden. It is coming on nicely now, beginning to look more like a garden. I have several rose bushes in bloom (bought them in Containers), several Fuchsias; a holly bush; a buddleia (the one that attracts butterflies) and several different shrubs. Have also cleared the garden path and this makes it look more respectable as it is about 2 ½ ft. wide. My lawn is mowed and looks neat and tidy, albeit rather brown and scorched at the moment but I will keep that down and gradually get it back into a decent lawn. Today spent preparing my `Shrubbery’, situated at the end of the lawn, before you actually get to the tree (where there use to be loads of huge thistles growing). The 2ft border down the side of the garden path is all cleared and planted as far as the washing line post, and my new Shrubbery is all dug over and already has three shrubs in it. I am now beginning to actually enjoy `pottering’ in my garden; it is fun – I only hope my interest doesn’t wane once it is all complete. I would like to get lots and lots of various bulbs and let them all naturalise all around the tree. I don’t think much else will grow in that area because of the shade, but bulbs should be ok and would like nice.

I still have that poor man on my mind. Probably because I was unfortunate enough to have an unexpected visit later this evening by Doreen who was on the Jury with me and who lives in Charlton. She is a right old bore and is a real scrounger. She kept saying, “I hope my money comes tomorrow or I won’t be able to get any food in, I haven’t got anything in the cupboard”. As she mentioned this several times I got the strong impression she was `on the tap’, but I didn’t bite. I agreed it was very difficult with money these days and showed her my Red Reminder Bills for the Rates, Gas and Electric, but didn’t offer to lend her any money. I would have been foolish to do so as I only have enough to get my own needs. I do wish people wouldn’t do this – Try to make you feel guilty because you have a fiver in your purse when they’ve only got a pound. At one time I would probably have lent her half, made it hard for myself and not seen the woman or money again, but in later years I’m afraid I have become a little harder – or maybe, more mean? She kept on and on about the Taxi Driver, and all I wanted to do was forget – not think about the poor man locked up in some cell.

Back in March, he was on his way home late one night, but still had his `For Hire’ sign up as he hoped to pick up on his journey. When he stopped at traffic lights a drunk man opened the back door to get in, so, hoping to shake him off, when the lights changed he drove off. Unfortunately the drunk held on to the handle and was dragged about 150 yards, finally being thrown off into a stationary car by St. Paul’s and being injured. The Taxi driver then continued on down Ludgate Hill and round the corner into New Bridge Street, before coming to a halt. As a Police car had been parked in St. Paul’s Churchyard and had seen the taxi go by with the man hanging on, they gave chase and arrested him. We had no choice but to bring in a Guilty verdict, but I still feel it was basically the drunks fault and the Taxi driver just panicked.

Because of the recent bombings (IRA) we have to undergo a rigid search each time we enter the Old Bailey. It is quite an interesting experience and I’m glad of the opportunity of seeing how things work, but would hate to have my future decided by a handful of Jurors who, like myself, know nothing of the law. It was a real eye-opener in that Jury Room, listening to some of the inane utterances of some of the other Jurors. The Judge directed us all to base our findings on the evidence produced in Court, and that alone, but some of them were talking rubbish in that room. One man said he was voting Not Guilty because he was a Taxi Driver!

We had a bit of excitement over the road tonight, when that stupid Doreen was here. A while back a man threw a brick through the window opposite and then just sat on the wall? Well, while we were talking there was a lot of noise and Sheba started barking. I thought it was just children fighting as I saw a little girl crying and the woman opposite sat on the path, but as she does odd things I took that as the norm, then I saw a `bundle’ and realised it was two men clamped together fighting, rolling all around the front garden. After a few minutes the woman got up and started clouting them with her shoe. Then the men got up, one had blood all over his shirt and the other had a wound on his head. This really got Doreen excited – up till then she had been getting on my nerves by giving me a running commentary (after all I could see the same as her), but once she saw the blood, she was really off. “Our friends will be here now” she said and kept repeating, “Our friends are coming”. It wasn’t until a Panda Car turned up I realised she was talking about the police. When they drove off with one of the fellows in the back, Doreen shouted out “Cheerio! We’ll see you on Monday”. Silly Moo. They were just local Bobbies, nothing to do with the Old Bailey.

Grace Russ - 23rd July 1982