Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 October 1893
Assault by a Lodger at Conisborough.
A Conisborough miner named Ben Davies was charged with having assaulted Mary Golding, married woman, Conisborough.
Mr. Edwards appeared for the defence.
Mary Golding, married woman, Conisborough, stated that defendant left her house on Saturday, the 23rd September. Defendant gave her 6s., but he still owed 11s. He promised witness 5s. on Tuesday, but he never turned up to pay it. Two or three days afterwards witness met defendant in the field near their house and asked him for the balance of the account and he slapped her in the face, used bad language, and said he would never pay a half-penny.
Cross-examined: Witness was not drunk at the time and defendant never offered her a penny. She was not in a temper.
Eliza Flipson said she saw the defendant and complainant quarrelling in the field near the complainant’s house. Defendant was using very bad language, and he hit the complainant over the face once only.
Elizabeth Staniworth corroborated the last witness’s evidence.
Two or three more witnesses were then brought up to corroborate these last witnesses’ evidence.
Hodgson Brown said he saw defendant walking up the street and complainant was behind him eight or ten yards. She looked very red in the face. She had no doubt had a drop. Davies was sober. He was about 30 yards away. He saw defendant offer complainant four half-crowns and she refused it. Defendant would not give them her a second time. Complainant then remarked, “I will have either your body or blood before the night is out.”
Another witness corroborated this evidence.
The Chairman said there might have been some provocation for the assault, but the man had not behaved well to the woman in reference to the money owing.
Defendant was ordered to pay the costs of the case, 27s.