A Violent Woman

Jane May, a married woman, of Conisborough, was summoned for an assault on Ellen Jennings, a married woman, also of Conisborough, on May 23rd.

Complainant said that whilst on the railway bridge at 1.30 in the afternoon of the day named the defendant came up and, without saying anything, struck her violently in the face. Then, raising both fists, she struck her again in the mouth and again on the bridge of the nose, giving her two black eyes (both of which complainant retained at the Court).

A policeman came up and stopped the defendant and asked complainant to give her in charge, but she did not, as she did not know her name. She had never spoken to the defendant before and had only seen her a few times. She had to be examined by her doctor, being pregnant.

Defendant came to her afterwards and asked to have the case made up, but she had not made it up as she was afraid of her, and people said she would do it again.

Cross-examined: When they were on the bridge defendant had asked her what she knew about her (defendant’s) husband that was wrong, and she said she did not know defendant’s husband. Defendant said, “What have you said about him?” and she said nothing.

Defendant said that complainant was a stranger to her, but had been scandalising her and her husband and she hit her. She was vexed or she would not have hit her. She had not hit her hard. She believed the marks on the complainant’s face were caused by her husband beating her on the way from the Conisborough Railway Station. One of the men who was standing by struck her (defendant).

The Bench said it was obviously a violent assault and fined the defendant 20s. and costs.