Interesting Cases
(Internet Published) Jun 2001
The case against John William Sykes, September 1934, was heard at the Vestry
Hall Attercliffe, Sheffield. His kit of 5 Tipplers had flown all day and
right into darkness before dropping on the house 20 yards from the loft
(well within limits). Sykes had succeeded in getting 4 of his Tipplers into
the loft well within the allowed 1 hour, but the 5th one fell down the
chimney and had to be rescued from the fireplace. The owner, the timer and
three spectators went into the house to get the Tippler. Time was duly
recorded and Sykes won the contest.
The complaint came from one of the spectators who said that this pigeon had
not been in the loft and according to the rules the kit should have been
disqualified. A recorded observation was made that if Sykes had carried the
pigeon to the loft within the allowed 1 hour, then he would have been in
order.
Sykes protested that the pigeon was in such a filthy and distressed state
that he could not take it into his loft. The panel of 5 decided that Sykes
was in breach of the rules and that the prize money would have to be paid
into the club treasury. The sum of 27 shillings and 4 pence was owing.
Then spoke John William Sykes "Sirs, I cannot pay because I have spent the
money and I am unemployed". There was an outburst of laughter and cheering
from the 23 members present. Then spoke the President, Mr. Benjamin Stamp
who was extremely angry. "Gentlemen, this is not a theatre and I will have
order. In view of the merits of this case I will pay the money that Mr.
Sykes owes, but he must pay the money back within 6 months. Furthermore,
this complaint should have been lodged at the time of the contest and
certainly before the prize money was paid - so we will have to make a ruling
on that issue.