A Complicated Case Of Assault

February 1894

Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 23 February 1894

A Complicated Case Of Assault

John Ward. collier, Conisborough, was charged with assaulting Mary Ann Ward, his sister-in-law, at Conisborough on Feb. 8th, and Mary Ann Ward was charged with assaulting Jane Ward, her sister-in-law, on the same occasion.

Mary Ann Ward stated that the defendant’s wife, Jane Ward, came to the house and asked her to take a letter to the post. She refused, as she was busy washing. Defendants were then struck witness, and she witnessed struggled together. The defendant came in and pulled his wife away and struck complainant twice, blocking her eye and cutting her head. She had been under a doctor, who had told her to tell the Bench that the blows received have been very savage and serious.

Defendant had assaulted her before, and she had summoned him for the offence.

Mrs Butler said she saw the defendant go into the complainant’s house, and when he came out he told her that he had struck Mary Ward for hitting his wife. She replied that he had done wrong to strike the woman in her own house, but he replied that he would take the consequences.

The cross summons was then heard.

Jane Ward stated that a letter came to her by post but was taken to Mary Ward, who was witness’s husband’s wife. Mary Ward opened it, and then brought it to witness, who refused to take it in that condition. Witness went and saw the postmaster, said that Mary Ward had no right to open the letter, and she must come down and see him about it.

Witness went up and told Mary Ward what he said, when she seized witness by the hair of her head and struck her in the face and threw her down on the floor, knocking her head against a sewing machine. While they were struggling on the floor, witness’s husband arrived and pulled Mary Ward away and he stuck her quite accidentally.

The Bench said there was no doubt that both parties are committed an assault, and both are bound over to keep the peace for six months in the sum of £5.