The Result of Good Friday

Elijah Hewitt and Herbert Watson, both foundrymen of Mexborough, were charged with being drunk and disorderly at Conisbrough on March 23rd. They pleaded not guilty.

Police-constable Cade stated that he had seen both defendants drunk and shouting and swearing in the street at Conisbrough. He added that they had previously been ill-treating a horse. He told them to go quietly home, but they refused and he had to take them into custody.

The defendants denied the charge and called two men who had been in their company on the day in question. These witnesses asserted that neither of the defendants had been intoxicated.

The chairman informed the bench that they must rely upon the police evidence. It was evident that the defendants and their witnesses were altogether unreliable and were probably as bad as one another. Both men were fined 5 shillings and costs.

In a separate case, Mary Ann Murphy, a married woman from Denaby, was charged with being drunk at Conisbrough on March 23rd. Police-constable Dobbs outlined the case, and the defendant pleaded guilty. She was fined 5 shillings and costs, or seven days’ hard labour.