Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 19 August 1892
The Result of a Peep Through a Window at Conisborough.
Enoch Sheldon, dataller, of Conisborough, was charged with having done wilful damage to a window at the residence of his sister–in–law, Ellen Sheldon.
Mr. Hall was for the complainant, and Mr Baddiley for the defence.
The complainant said she lived in Rossington street, and on the night of Saturday, the 7th inst., her husband and herself and a young man named Harry Butler were seated at supper together. The young man had been invited to the house by her husband. Her husband was on night duty, and he left at ten o’clock, leaving the young man and her together. After a while they were startled by a stone coming through the window. The defendant had admitted having sent the stone through the window.
Mr. Baddiley: When did your husband invite the young man to the house? – On Sunday night.
When was the window broken? – At eleven o’ lock.
Then the young man had the with you an hoar after the husband had left?
Mr. Hall: Surely he had a right to be there?
Mr. Baddiley: That is questionable.
Mr. Hall: The husband does not complain.
Crops – examined : The young man left by the back door; that was after the wind ow was broken. The window had since been mended. She did not knew who had had it mended. The defendant was the brother of her husband.
Mr. Baddiley said his client had had the window put in and had paid 2s. 6d for it.
Mr. Hall said the woman wanted to clear her character.
Joshua Sheldon, the husband of the complainant, said be had invited the young man to the house; he was a friend of his and was a respectable young man. He did not be believed the statement made by his brother as to what he had seen. His brother had called his wife bad names.
Mr. Baddiley: Your brother told you all about it? – Yes.
Did he say why he broke the window? -He said there was some indecency going on.
And did he say be sent the stone through that let them know be was watching ?-Yes.
Yon would never have known who broke the window if he had not told you ? – No.
Did your wife make a complaint about the young man having pulled her stout? -No.
Did yen expect him staying until eleven o’clock at night?
I expected him staying till she turned him out.
You did not care how long he stayed with your wife ? – I had no came care. I was not frightened.
Mr. Hall: You believed in the chastity of your wife and the respectability of the young man? – Yes.
The young man was then call. He said he went to the house by the in invitation of the husband, and stayed about an hour. There was not the least impropriety.
In reply to Mr. Baddiley, he said he went out the back way for fear of stones being flung about.
Mr. Baddiley said the defendant acted as he had done because he had some respect for his brother and family. He had hem watching what was going on in the room, and he admitted having broken the window. He did not intend breaking it but in his indignation, the tap on the glass with the stone was harder than he had expected. There was no wilful damage. He had since paid for the glass being put in. and be had told his brother all about it. The prosecution was a vindictive one.
The Chairman said as the window had been paid for the defendant must pay the costs of the case, which came to 17s. 6d.