Mexborough and Swinton Times February 21, 1936

Hot Tempered Husband
Domestic Trouble at Conisborough

A Conisborough miner, John Robert Herdus (51) of 13 Leslie Avenue, was charged at Doncaster on Saturday with inflicting grievous bodily harm on his wife Ethel Herdus. Herdus who pleaded “guilty” asked for an adjournment to enable him to obtain legal assistance, but afterwards agreed to the case proceeding.

Inspector Redfern said that prisoner and his wife went to a club in Conisborough on the evening of February 9. They returned home and Herdus began getting ready to go to work at Cadeby.

After supper he suddenly became violent and without any reason he struck his wife a blow in the face, knocking her to the ground. He caused a deep wound in her upper lip and in falling she hurt her back. She was attended by a doctor, who inserted two stitches in her lip. The prisoner was seen later and when cautioned and charged he replied “I am not going to commit myself.”

Mrs Herdus said she had three bottles of beer at the club, but her husband contradicted her and said she had seven. Once she was attended by a doctor for a fractured jaw when her husband hit her.

Prisoner admitted striking his wife, but said her lip was cut when she fell.

PS Schofield said he had known Herdus for 11 or 12 years. When he was sober there was not a better man, but he had a vile temper when he had had some beer.

The Chairman¶ (Mr Mark Nokes) said the charge would be reduced to one of common assault. The Bench were of the opinion that the prisoner was not a bad sort, but had a temper when he had had some drink. He could not be allowed to strike a woman in the face in the way he had.

They did not want to send him to prison, but he would be fined £2 and bound over for 12 months. The Bench hoped he and his wife would get together again.