The Judge’s euphonious tones could be heard across the room as dinner was serviced the following Saturday night at Gittins Manor. The bosses of the collieries, factories and big businesses were all in attendance and ideas for raising the money for the new courthouse building were flowing as fast as copious amounts of wine were consumed. Slowly the guests drifted away as the evening wore on until only Joshua, Spencer and Judge Stanhope remained. The men took their brandy and cigars into the study.
‘So Joshua,’ said the Judge, holding out his brandy goblet for a refill as he sat sprawled in a leather armchair in Spencer’s study, ‘what made you decide to raise money for a new courthouse? Not that I ain’t grateful of course!’
‘Well Judge,’ Joshua smiled, ‘the one you are in now is falling down!’
‘True enough,’ Stanhope said as he drank greedily already showing signs of being tipsy.
‘Judge,’ Spencer said, ‘you appear to be getting busier than ever in that old building, so a newer, bigger one makes much more sense.’
‘I am fair rushed off my feet and no mistake,’ again the Judge held out his glass.
Refilling it, Joshua placed the bottle on the table next to the Judge and his nod of appreciation showed he understood its meaning.
‘Ar, just the other day I had Constable Micklewhite telling me how a wench cried rape on the heath. Bloody woman…’ Judge Stanhope took a great swallow of his drink.
‘Really?’ probed Spencer.
‘Ar really lad, she pointed the finger at young Ernie Pitt… nice young man that one.’
Exchanging a brief glance with Spencer who raised his eyebrows, Joshua went to the cupboard to fetch another bottle of brandy.
‘Oh I think I know him, he works at the canal, doesn’t he?’ Spencer asked.
Joshua saw the Judge eye Spencer warily and he moved to empty the last of the brandy bottle into Stanhope’s glass before removing the stopper from a fresh bottle.
The Judge’s red nose from years of drinking couldn’t catch the aroma of the brandy but his eyes lit up at sight of the newly opened bottle. He was not a tall man, and good food and constant imbibing of alcohol took their toll on his body, making him almost as wide as he was tall.
‘I believe he does,’ he answered with yet another brandy in his hand, ‘not quite sure what the wench hoped to get out of the accusation… unless it was a husband!’ The Judge let out a guffaw at his own comment, and Spencer and Joshua pretended to laugh along with him.
‘How come you never married, Judge?’ Spencer asked, all innocence.
‘Married? Me? Not bloody likely. I much prefer the company of men. I’m not having a woman telling me what to do. I haven’t got time for bossy women and their nonsense!’
‘I can understand that,’ Joshua added. He was finding it taxing to hold down his disdain for this man. ‘A man in your position. So what happened with Ernie Pitt and the wench, Judge?’
‘What? Oh yes…’ Helping himself to more drink.
Joshua rolled his eyes at Spencer discreetly, not that the Judge would have noticed as his gaze was firmly fixed on the brandy bottle!
The Judge went on, ‘Ar well, the lad didn’t do it, did he? So I let him go.’ The hand holding his cigar waved through the air in a dismissive gesture.
‘Was there any proof of what the woman alleged had happened?’ Spencer asked.
‘Proof? It’s a woman, lad! I don’t need bloody proof!’ the Judge’s voice boomed across the room.
‘Calm yourself, Judge, you just get another brandy down you,’ Joshua said. ‘The lad was only asking.’
‘You listen to me, young Spencer,’ the Judge said, calmer now his glass was full again, ‘I am the law around these parts and what I says, goes. You understand me, boy?’ The cigar hand pointed at Spencer as the Judge waited for an answer.
Spencer nodded with a quiet, ‘Of course, my apologies Judge.’
Judge Stanhope harrumphed into his glass before saying, ‘Bloody women are a menace to us men!’ Getting unsteadily to his feet, he made his way through the door, ‘I thank you both for your hospitality.’
Handing him an unopened bottle of brandy for his journey home, Joshua asked conspiratorially, ‘Better than the stuff brought up the canal eh?’
Sniggering, the Judge winked, whispering, ‘I told Ernie, the next time I want the good stuff!’
The driver flicked the horse’s reins just as the Judge climbed onto the footplate of the carriage, causing him to fall inward onto the seat. The Judge began to harangue the driver for his stupidity then continued to mutter obscenities under his breath. With a cheeky smile and salute to the two men standing on the steps, the driver set off, taking a crapulous Judge Stanhope home.
*
The meeting of the ‘Wives’ took place in Martha’s living room the following day and Spencer and Joshua made it their business to attend. Relating the tale of Judge Stanhope and Ernie Pitt, they settled with tea as murmurs sounded around the table.
It was obvious to everyone that the Judge could not be allowed to continue to remain in his judicial position as things stood. Clearly he could not be trusted to judge anyone fairly. The question was, how could they oust him from that position? It was certain the Judge enjoyed the perks afforded him and therefore would definitely not consider retiring of his own free will. They had to find a way to besmirch his name; give him a good reason to relinquish his role of judge.
Martha said quietly as if to herself, ‘If he doesn’t like women…’
Joyce piped up, ‘Maybe he prefers men!’ All eyes turned to her as she said, ‘What? It goes on!’
‘It’s a point to investigate,’ Violet added, ‘maybe we should find out.’
Martha said, ‘My Geordie and Mary’s Jim could watch over him for a while, see where he goes, what he does and who he meets.’
‘Good idea,’ Violet smiled, ‘that might provide us with enough information to confront him if nothing else.’
‘He’s already shot himself in the foot admitting about the brandy,’ Kath responded.
‘Right then, that just leaves what to do about Ernie Pitt,’ Violet said.
‘If he wants to have his evil way with women he should go to the brothel down Moorcroft Row!’ Mary mumbled. As the talking ceased, she added, ‘I know, I know… I’ve done it again!’
‘How do you know about that place, Mary Forbes?’ Martha asked sharply.
Mary sighed, ‘Everybody knows about it; all of Wednesbury. I see you do as well.’
Martha harrumphed as the others smiled behind their teacups.
*
It was at the next meeting a few days later that the story unfolded. Violet and Martha had walked across the heath of Moorcroft Old Colliery, down Bull Lane and into Moorcroft Row amid the stares of women coming and going from the building at the end of the row of the only six terraced houses left standing. Martha banged on the door and it was opened by an older woman with rouge on her cheeks and lips. Dressed in a flimsy gown her eyes widened when she saw the two women standing before her.
Violet said, ‘She was rather taken aback until Martha told her who we were.’
‘Ar,’ said Martha, ‘she was a nice woman as it turned out, took us in for tea.’
Giggles sounded as Mary put in, ‘Bloody hell, I never thought to see the day Martha Slater would go into a brothel!’
‘Ar well, it was business…’ The giggles turned to full laughter as Martha recognised the irony of her statement.
Violet explained how the woman had listened to the story of Ernie Pitt and Martha’s daughter, Phoebe. The woman had asked why Ernie wasn’t in jail and Martha told her how Judge Stanhope had dealt with the matter.
Kath asked, ‘How did she respond to that?’
‘She said we have to get Ernie Pitt to the brothel somehow and leave the rest to them!’
‘What are they going to do?’ Mary asked, pushing her head forward with interest.
‘I don’t bloody know!’ Martha snapped before seeing the hurt look on Mary’s face. ‘Sorry wench, but I’m not sure what their plan is. They said we should be walking alongside the canal on Friday morning and be sure to bring Ernie’s mother with us.’
Joshua added, ‘Well Spencer and I can get Ernie to the brothel, can’t we lad?’ Watching Spencer and Violet exchange an embarrassed look, he said quickly, ‘Don’t worry, Violet, I promise to bring your man straight back home after we drop Ernie off!’
*
Geordie and Jim had discreetly followed the Judge for the rest of the week and reported back that Stanhope regularly visited a property in Paradise Street, Birmingham, a big house in its own grounds that stood near the Town Hall.
They had watched in the descending darkness of early evening as he had entered and then they quietly crept to the window to see inside. Listening carefully they had sat outside well into the night before hiding themselves in the bushes of the garden as the Judge emerged.
Glancing around him, the Judge had kissed his companion passionately before taking his leave. The Judge, it seemed, had found himself a lover… a male lover!