Row between Married Women at Denaby

July 1879

Mexborough and Swinton Times, 11th July.

Row between Married Women at Denaby.

Wearing Apparel Torn.

Elizabeth Gregory, was summoned by Mariah Bray, both of Denaby, with assaulting her on the 25th ult. And also with damaging her dress and petticoat at Denaby.

When charged the defendant stated that she “never interfered with the dress or petticoat, nor anything she had on her back.”

Complainant stated that as she and her husband were coming from Doncaster, where she had a case against the defendants, was been for molesting her on the high road, they met the defendant, who forthwith ordered her to put her shawl out of her hands. She asked what she wanted her to do that for upon which Mrs Gregory. “up with her fisses” and gave her a black eye, and the language she brought out, also was not fit for publication.

Defendant also taught her dress and white petticoat.

Complainant hereupon, opened out her dilapidated articles of apparel for the gratification and identification of the bench, but the chairman told her to give the bench verbal particulars of the affair, as they were not aware as to what state her clothes were in previously.

Complainant: they were in no state Sir. (Laughter.)

None of the complainant’s witnesses turned up to support her story and after the case was “put back.” For about four hours. Mrs Brady was in the same predicament, and in fairness to the defendant. The bench were compelled to hear the case, when Mr Gregory called Mrs Lydia Hobson as a witness on her behalf.

She stated that she saw Mrs Gregory go up to the complainant and ask her if she was not ashamed of being with her husband, and she replied “no” and struck Mrs Gregory, upon which that person immediately retaliated.

In reply to the chairman witness said she did not see the dress torn, and Mrs Bray suggested that Mrs Hobson had not been an observer of the whole affair; and also intimated to the bench that she had been informed by the officer who served the summons upon the defendant, that the latter had expressed their regret that she did not pay more attention than she actually did bestow on her.

The chairman told the defendant that she had no business to assault Mrs Bray, and she would be fined 15 shillings, including costs, or seven days imprisonment.

With regard to the damages, the bench considered that Mrs Bray had laid the amount too high, as probably this with a needle and thread, and a little labour the whole would be put right again.

They would, however, allow her three shilling and she would also have to pay the costs and a penalty of 6d.

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