In 1967 the Times Newspaper editor William Rees-Mogg used the quotation “Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel? after the infamous "Redlands" court case, when prison sentences were handed out to Keith Richards and Mick Jagger over their recent drug bust. Although the jail sentence was later quashed Jagger might have had every right to think society was definitely out to get him and the Stones. He also might have hoped after that fiasco he might well have had a little less heat from the law.
So now May 28th 1969 and yet another bad day for Jagger. This time along with Marianne Faithfull the house was raided and both were charged with possession of cannabis, although later released on £50 bail.
2005 now and the National Archives (London) release papers on the case revealing that Jagger had made a statement to the police some weeks after the raid, alleging Scotland yard officer Mr Constable (obviously handpicked) had tried to plant the "white powder" in a piece of folded up paper he produced from a box in the house. Jagger's words, "I think he put the box down and opened the folded paper. He said (in true plod fashion.) 'Ah, ah, 'we won't have to look much further',".
No further action was taken against Mr Constable. (Jagger's word against his.)
In the 1960's The Stones seemed to have been busted as many times as they'd had hits. They were the national undesirables. Yes Sir !
Here's "Route 66" from the 1964 Decca album "The Rolling Stones".
