Singular Encounter Between a Blacksmith and a Married Woman at Conisborough

Theo Sharpe, alias Boyne, blacksmith, Conisborough, was charged with having assaulted Sarah Elizabeth House, a married woman, of Conisborough, and there was a cross-summons charging Mrs. House with having assaulted the man. Mr. Hall appeared for Mrs. House, and Mr. Baddeley for the male defendant.

In opening the case, Mr. Hall said the attack on the woman was so violent that she had fits afterwards and was in a very weak state. The assault was committed on the high road. Sharpe knocked the woman on the head, threw her down, and then kicked her in the face, also threatening to repeat it. She had accused the man of having assaulted her husband and also of having made false statements about herself.

Sarah Elizabeth House, wife of John House, pit labourer, said she lived in Burcroft, Conisborough. On the 9th of May she saw the defendant. She was then going to ask why he had called her names and had insulted her husband in the Castle Inn. “I will let you see you ——,” he said, and then seized her wrist, afterwards striking her on the head. He then gave her a violent blow in the stomach, sending her into the hedge, and he then kicked her in the jaw. She afterwards threw a stone, but he bent down and it missed him. He threw several at her. She went to the police, and afterwards to a doctor. She was so bad that she had fits.

Cross-examined: Sharpe was the first to speak. He said, “Hello! what’s it all about?” meaning what had taken place in the Castle Inn. When she saw the man he was on the highway. She did not strike the man first and then throw a lot of stones at him. She threw two stones at him. She was unconscious when lying in the hedge, and would perhaps be like that for ten minutes.

By Mr. Hall: When she “came round” she saw Arthur Murphy, who was standing at the doorway. She was still suffering great pain.

Arthur Murphy said he lived about 40 yards from the defendant. He heard a disturbance while at dinner, and he then went to the door. He heard the man ask the woman to go home. He did not see him put a finger on her. But she was bleeding when she passed him.

Miriam Casey said she saw the man strike the woman and knock her into the hedge, but the woman commenced the affair.

Sergeant Ambler said when the woman went to him her face was very much bruised and swollen, and she had a black eye.

Mr. Baddeley said House, the husband of the woman, and Sharpe had some words in the public-house, and it was after that that the scene with the woman occurred. Fortunately for his client a number of persons saw the affair. The woman smacked the man in the face and threw stones at him, and what the man did was in self-defence.

Sharpe was then called. He said the woman went up to him and smacked him in the face, and then threw stones at him. He begged of her to let him get away to his work, but she did not do so. He then pushed her into the hedge and struck her. She afterwards continued to throw stones at him.

By Mr. Hall: He only smacked her on the side of the face with his hand. He did not see her bleeding. He did not notice that her head was swollen with the effects of the blow. He had had no quarrel with her, and had not spoken to her for three months before.

Mrs. Parker said the parties were strangers to her. From her house she saw Mrs. House strike Sharpe on the face several times, and he did not retaliate but walked on. She then picked up stones and threw them at him and ran after him. Then he turned and kicked her into the hedge. She followed him again, and he again knocked her down. He struck her three times.

Cross-examined: Sharpe had not thrown stones.

Annie Chapman said she was looking from her doorway, and she saw Mrs. House throwing stones. She said, “Oh dear, that woman is going on shameful.” Her children were about, so she ran to protect them, and heard Sharpe say he did not want anything to do with her. Mrs. House said she would scratch his eyes out. He pushed her into the hedge, and then in running after him the woman fell over some broken crockery.

Cross-examined: She had not denied seeing anything of it. She did not want to come as a witness until she was summoned.

Mr. Yarborough said that but for the mitigating circumstances Sharpe would have been sent to prison without the option of a fine. He had, no doubt, been very much provoked, but the assault was serious, and he would have to pay £2, including costs. The justices believed an assault was also committed by the woman, and she would have to pay the costs, and be bound over to keep the peace for six months. There had also been a charge preferred against Sharpe for an assault on James House, but this was withdrawn.