Denaby Women Assault Bailiff

February 1916

Mexborough and Swinton Times February 26, 1916

Denaby Women Assault Bailiff

There was an unusual scene that the Doncaster County Court on Tuesday, when two Denaby women, named Mrs Hickling and Mrs Alan Fleming, were summoned for assaulting a bailiff of the court who had gone to arrest Hickling’s husband for debt.

Mr G.W.Andrew said he appeared for the High Bailiff with respect to an assault commit about two women upon a bailiff of the Court on February 7, whilst in execution of his duty. Whilst endeavouring to execute a settlement, he was seized by the two women, and the debtor succeeded in escaping. He was severely scratched and knocked about, and a crowd congregated. His Honour would appreciate that just now especially execution of orders of the court was a very delicate performance, and would see that all possible assistance should be given see that the processes of the court carried out and due and proper protection extended towards officials of the court.

Joseph Brain, the bailiff in question, said on the date named he was entrusted with a warrant to execute on Charles Hickling, at 116, Annerley Street, Denaby. He went to his house and saw him, and was about to execute one by arresting him, when the man ran away, assisted by the women in the house. He went up the street and into a doctor’s surgery. Witness followed him into the surgery, where he heard him ask the doctor for a certificate to say he was not fit to go to work. The doctor said he could give a certificate that he was ill, but not too ill to prevent him going to Wakefield.

When the man came out he wanted to go back to the house for his jacket and waistcoat. Witness got hold of him I was struggling to get away, when Mrs Fleming came up and struck witness in the eye and eyebrow, cutting it open. She then threw herself crosses on, and Mrs Hickling came up and got hold of him by the collar, breaking it, and striking him also in the mouth.

The debtor got loose and run away, when witness saw he could not catch him he went down the street and spoke to a policeman, asking him to get the name of Mrs Fleming. He already knew Mrs Hickling.

A crowd of 50 or 60 people congregated. Before he could execute the warrant, he had to make another journey the following day, when the money was produced and paid over to him. The amount was 17/6.

In defence, Mrs Hickling she never assaulted the man at all. She could not understand why you wanted to lock her husband up.

Mrs Fleming said the bailiff pushed him and she pushed him back.

His Honour said he had no hesitation in believing the bailiff was assaulted. A bailiff’s task was never a pleasant one. It would be much more pleasant for everybody if everyone pay their debts without having to execute warrants on them. He was only there in the course of the execution of his duty as an officer of the Court, and he was entitled to every protection he could get. He would like to warn all the people in the district if any officer of the court was interfered with in the execution of his duty they would be very severely punished.

Each woman would have to pay 10 shillings and the costs.