By Isle of Wight Observer
From the Isle of Wight Observer published on September 16th, 1922, comes the curious tale of a carnival sideshow, a spinning aeroplane, and a brush with the law. Two men found themselves before the court after police decided the popular attraction on Sandown Pier amounted to unlawful gaming – although even the officer investigating admitted there was no “trickery” involved.
A SPINNING AEROPLANE.
Chas. Edward Stuart and Arthur Lipscombe, of Southsea were summoned for unlawfully gaming with a certain table and instrument called a wireless station aeroplane at Sandown Carnival. Mr H. R. Palmer and Mr Brunton defended.
The evidence of P.S. Morrison was that on Sept. 5th there was a carnival on Sandown Pier and he saw a side show in charge of the defendants which comprised a large circular table with a perpendicular pole through the middle on which was a propeller and aeroplane which revolved when touched. There were 16 boards on the table each bearing the name of a country. Defendants were selling envelopes containing a postcard which they sold for 3d which gave the purchaser a chance of obtaining a prize from the spinning of the aeroplane. […]
Witness was satisfied that the whole thing was simply a game of chance and there was no skill connected with it, the apparatus being swung by Lipscombe.
In cross-examination the sergeant said he did not have a try but he told P.C. Kenny to have one (laughter). He agreed that it was a game of chance but not trickery. […]
Mr Palmer: And that even the Ryde Corporation arranged for it to appear at the Regatta? – I don’t know.
Mr Brunton put in a letter from the secretary to the Sandown Carnival committee as follows: The position you selected on Sandown Pier for your spinning seaplane has been approved of and upon receipt of £5. I will reserve a pitch for you definitely and wish you “every luck.”
Mr Brunton on behalf of the proprietors admitted there was a technical offence […] and he hoped the circumstances would be met and the justice of the case served by dealing with them under the First Offenders Act. The proprietors, O’Brien Ltd. undertook they would not offend again.