Scene at New Conisborough

April 1898

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 22, 1898

Scene at New Conisborough

Ellen Gunning, married woman, Conisborough, was charged with doing wilful damage to glass at Conisborough and further using threats to Harriet Owen, on 12 April.

From the evidence adduced, a regular pantomime seems to have taken place on the night named in the region of New Conisborough. The defendant appeared in court with a lovely black eye, said to have been received in the deliberation from which the present proceedings arose.

Thomas Owen, the brother of the defendant, stated that on the night named, about 7 o’clock, the defendant came to his house the worst of beer, and commence to kick up a row. After a lengthy argument as to whether certain pipe was or was not the property of Thomas Owen, he ordered her away.

This Ellen indignantly refused to do, and Thomas went to fetch a “Bobby.”

It appears as soon as Thomas left the house the pantomime began in earnest. Ellen’s first act of revenge was to put a stone through the front room window. She then went round to the back, and politely put her fist through the unoffending window there. It appears that while this was going on, the defendant’s sister, Harriet Owen, had sought refuge upstairs.

The defendant then made her way upstairs, and broke open the panel of a door with her fist and knees, exclaiming that she would have her revenge if she had to do six months for her.

Patrick Kelly said he was in the house at the time of the occurrence. Defendant broke the front window, and then went into the kitchen, and smashed that window with her fist. He was at the bottom of the stairs when she broke the panel of the door. He heard the defendant say she would do six months for Harriet Owen.

Harriet Owen corroborated as to the threats used.

Defendant: Harriet, you set my brother agen me.

Witness: No.

Mary Redfern also gave evidence as to the damage to glass.

Mary Ann O’Brien, for the defence, said she saw the defendant bleeding from the wounds inflicted, and she took her home. She had heard the man Owen say he would give her more if she did not go away. Witness stayed all night with the defendant, because she was vomiting blood.

The defendant, who had frequently interrupted the witness, had chimed in with the remark to the magistrates, that she should not pay anything. They could make it as much as they liked – she should not pay a ha’penny.

The Chairman: You will have to pay damages and costs, and you will be bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for six months.

The Clerk (Mr Rockett): Will you be bound over?

Defendant: No.

The Clerk: Very well. That will mean another month.

Defendant: I have no one here to be bound for me.

The Clerk: I did not asked you that. Will you be bound?

Defendant: Yes. (Laughter)

She promised to obey the order.