Mexborough and Swinton Times November 10, 1906
Denaby Neighbours in Conflict.
Mutual Animosity in a Backyard.
The Doncaster West Riding bench had before its consideration on Saturday, a case emanating from Denaby, in which the pitiless and unreasoning spite characteristic of unneighbourly neighbours, was a prominent factor.
The complainant was a married woman, named Leah Walker, who resides with her husband at 25, Balby Street, Denaby Main. The woman appeared in court very much disfigured by bruisers on the face, and her alleged assailants were married women, named Jemima Manly and Annie till.
The complainant was represented by Mr WM. Baddiley of Doncaster, who in the course of his address stated that since the serving of the summonses the woman had gone about issuing threats of such a nature as to cause his client to go about in fear of her life. By reason of the circumstances, complainant would prefer that defendants should be bound over rather than that they should be fined.
Mrs Walker, giving evidence, said that at about 1 o’clock on 27 October, she had been standing in the doorway of her kitchen when defendants had walked up. Mrs Till pulled witness out of her house and striking her on the eye, had caused her to fall to the floor unconscious.
With reference to the case against Mrs Manley witness said there had been some trouble between herself and this defendant, on account of the children. Mrs Manley (for the purpose of greater facility in carrying out the argument, presumably) rolled her sleeves up, and had used very offensive expressions. Witness had replied by shutting the door, and withdrawing into the house. There was absolutely no justification for the assault, said complainant.
With reference to the alleged threats, Mrs Walker referred to the defendant Till as ‘continually opening my door and calling me such fearful names as never was known. She said she would do a month for me.’
A neighbour named Mary Clark corroberated the statement of complainant and said defendants had returned to the prostrate body of Mrs Walker, and kicked it, before she (witness) had been able to carry her into the house
For the defendant it was pleaded by both defendants that complainant was equally as bad as they and that they had received considerable provocation. “She called me a prostitute, and said I was no good,” was Mrs Manley’s source of complaint. “She throwed fire on me, your honour, and then I struck her, your honour. She fell down on the bricks, and Mrs Clark picked her up, your honour.” Was a plea of Mrs Till.
The bench decided to bind over both women to keep the peace for six months, in their own recognitions of £5 each. Mrs Manley expressed a wish to bind over Mrs Walker, as she (Mrs Manley) was not allowed five minutes peace on her account. She was told that it would be necessary to get out a summons for that purpose.