The detective saw Woodward among the crowd watching Cardow's Cadets. Woodward however, in the opinion of the detective, was acting in a suspicious manner.
He appeared to be taking little notice of the performance but was moving about from one p
lace to another "always with his head down," as the Chief Constable said to SN Smith at the Borough Police Court, when Woodward was brought up on a charge of "visiting a certain public place for the purpose of committing a felony." Woodward eventually went and stood behind two young ladies – quite close to them. The detective arrested him, and found that there were holes through both the pockets of his jackets, and his fingers were protruding through the holes, his hands of course undercover. The allegation of the prosecution was that if Woodward desired to pick any pockets, he could have done so, his hands, as stated, being under cover.
For the defence it was stated that there would no doubt be a complete answer to the charge, Woodward being in a good position. Mr GE Royle had been instructed for the defence, but could not attend, and a remand was asked for – and granted. Bail being allowed in a personal surety of £10, and another of £10, the chief constable also insisting that the jacket Woodward was wearing should be retained by him (the chief).
A friend of Woodward, who was surety for him, said he felt strongly about the matter, and he would stake his life that no such thing as alleged was intended by Woodward.
The latter stood in the dock with his head in a slightly stooping position, it being apparently his natural "carriage".
