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The Chard and Ilminster News and Somerset, Dorset, and Devon Advertiser. Saturday 28 Jan 1911
Page 6 Column 3 and 4
ILMINSTER SESSIONS.
BREEZY SHEPTON! A COURT SKIRMISH BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS.
ILMINSTER WOMEN AT VARIANCE.
At Ilminster Petty Sessions on Wednesday there present on the Bench, Col. V. U. LANGWORTHY, were V.D. (in the chair), Col. M. L. BLAKE, Messrs H. H. SHEPHERD, Jas. LEAN, John TAYLOR, and F. W. BLAKE.
LICENSING.
Mr. E. KING applied for and was granted an extension from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. on February 1st on the occasion of the Rifle Club's annual dance.
Wm. NANKIVELL(?), of the Lamb and Flag, Buckland St. Mary, was granted an extension from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on February 9th on the occasion of an annual dance.
MOTHER AND HER SON.
Thirza PHELPS, of Love Lane, Ilminster, was summoned for being drunk and incapable in Silver Street on Dec. 31st.
Defendant pleaded guilty.
P.S. BLACKMORE stated that, in company with P.C. SWEET, at 10.50 p.m. he was on duty in Silver St., when he saw defendant being pulled from the entrance to the back of the George Hotel yard by five or six men. She was helplessly drunk and witness and the constable had to take her home. She said she was sorry she had got into that state; she had had a drop too much gin on the last night of the old year.
Defendant said on the evening in question she expected to see her son home. He had said that he was coming home to see her and that he was going to enjoy himself. She had worked until a quarter to seven, when she made it comfortable for her son. He did not come, however, and, with a mother's feelings she went out to look for him. When she met him he expressed his sorrow and asked her to have a drink. She said, “You have put me out dreadful, not coming home as you promised.” They went to Cross, where his chum – a ganger over him – lodged.
In answer to the Bench, Sergeant BLACKMORE said Mrs. PHELPS made no noise, but she was helplessly drunk.
Defendant: It was for love of my boy.
The magistrates inflicted a fine of 5/- inclusive.
BEER AND WHISKEY.
Wm. BALE, of West Hatch, pleaded guilty to using indecent language at Ilminster on January 4th. Sergeant BLACKMORE said that the words were used near Jordan's House. He handed to the Rench <sic> a report of the language and added that it was at 5.50 that the offence occurred. Defendant, he said, had been drinking.
Defendant said it was cold standing about and he had a drop of beer and some whicky <sic>, which overcame him.
The Chairman, stating that the magistrates were sorry to see there were previous convictions, ordered BALE to pay 10/- and costs, which defendant was allowed a month to find.
MIDNIGHT AT STOCKLINCH.
Charles PRIDDLE, of Stocklinch, was umsmoned <sic> for disorderly behaviour on the highway at Stocklinch on Jan. 13th.
P.C. BUSH deposed that about midnight he heard defendant shouting and swearing for about 15 minutes.
Defendant said he had been threshing and got a little too much to drink. He was a hard-working man.
There was a previous conviction, and PRIDDLE was ordered to pay 7/6 inclusive.
SHEPTON BEAUCHAMP AMENITIES.
Mary A. WOODLAND, of Stocklinch, Kathleen CORNELIUS, and Minnie CORNELIUS, of Shepton Beauchamp, were summoned by Caroline ROWSWELL for assault at Shepton Beauchamp on Dec. 31st. - The last-named defendant did not appear, Kathleen explaining she was in service at Mrs. LANGDON's at Chard. There was also a cross summons by Mary WOODLAND against Caroline ROWSWELL and one of Edith BEALEY against Mrs. WOODLAND for assault.
Complainant ROWSWELL stated that on the evening in question they were near Mr. ALLEN's shop, Shepton Beauchamp, when Tom WOODLAND, a little boy, fell off the pavement. His cousin, Florence CORNELIUS, accused witness and her companion, Edith BEALEY, of knocking the boy over, and when they were in the shop the defendants “fell on them” and witness was stunned. Mrs. WOODLAND slapped witness in the face and then “laid hold of her head.” She knocked her about the shop and then the other two defendants came in and knocked her about further. Witness put up a hand to save a blow and received a number of scratches on her wrist. When she got sensible she was being held in fresh air at the back by a young man. Witness then produced her pinafore which was torn and pointed to the mud on it, declaring that defendants jumped on her.
Mrs. WOODLAND (cross-examining witness): When you and Edith BEALEY met my little boy you were dancing? - No.
You threw my little boy down in the mud? - No, neither of us touched him. You said you owed us a grudge over the election.
What have I said to you about the Election? - Your sister said you owed me a grudge since the Election.
What about? - Just because my father let a room to the Conservatives. (Laughter).
Mrs. WOODLAND declared that she never went into the shop.
Mrs. CORNELIUS (next examining witness): Now, Carrie, did I hit you?
Witness: Yes, you did.
Speak the truth, Carrie, speak the truth.
I am speaking the truth and nothing but the truth.
Mrs. CORNELIUS: I never struck the girl any more than I have struck the biggest man in London. (Laughter).
Edith BEALEY stated that she was by Mr. ALLEN's shop with last witness when she saw the little boy fall off the pavement. Witness helped to pick him up, when Florence CORNELIUS came out and blamed the last witness, alleging that the boy had been pushed down. She went back into Kathleen CORNELIUS's house and witness and her friend went into ALLEN's shop. Then witness came into the shop and knocked witness's glasses off her face. She came straight in and struck her. Kathleen and Minnie followed into the shop and started on Caroline ROWSWELL. Mildred ALLEN was serving in the shop. Witness saw a young fellow named Edward ALLEN take the complainant ROWSWELL out of the shop for fresh air.
Answering the Clerk, witness said the affair lasted about half-an-hour.
Mildred ALLEN said she was serving in the shop on the evening in question when Caroline ROWSWELL and Edith BEALEY came in. They had been there five minutes when Mrs. WOODLAND and Mrs. CORNELIUS came in and knocked the former in the face. She did not see Minnie CORNELIUS at all.
Mr. SHEPHERD: Were any others there?
Witness: Yes, a lot more. Witness added that she was serving at the time, and did not take much notice of the row. (Laughter).
Annie WAKELEY said she was in the shop buying at the time, when Caroline ROWSWELL and Edith BEALEY came in. Witness went to pick the glasses up when they were knocked off, and the three defendants all went for complainant. Mrs. CORNELIUS said, “I've owed thee that ever since the voting, and now I've paid thee out.” (Laughter). She saw Caroline ROWSWELL's head bumped against the wall, and saw her jumped on. She fainted, and was picked up by a chap.
Edward ALLEN(?), the next witness, said he was up the street when he heard a squabble in his uncle Tom's shop,and, proceeding there, found Caroline ROWSWELL looking a bit “faintish.” He took her out. There were customers in the shop, but he took little notice because he was anxious to get the girl quickly outside. He did not notice defendants in the shop, but the people in the case might have been there. Witness was about 50 yards away when the squabble was on, and therefore did not see it.
Daisy MALE, also called for complainant, deposed that Mrs. WOODLAND struck Edith BEALEY in the shop. When Caroline ROWSWELL said she ought to be ashamed of herself, the same defendant “pulled her about,” and Mrs. CORNELIUS and her daughter Minnie fell upon her. She had to be taken into the fresh air on account of her condition. ROWSWELL was too much frightened to strike Mrs. WOODLAND, and BEALEY did not strike her.
P.C. BUSH(?) said at 10 p.m. he came into the village, and received a complaint from Arthur ROWSWELL that his daughter had been assaulted by three women. She had five scratches on her wrist, her apron was torn, and there was blood and mud on it. She also had a scratch on her chin, and one on her forehead.
Mrs. WOODLAND, giving evidence in defence(?), said the two girls ROWSWELL and BEALEY were dancing about, and knocked the little boy(?) off the pavement. When spoken to, ROWSWELL struck witness, rushing at her without provocation. Witness could not remember seeing BEALEY there, and denied knocking her glasses off or striking ROWSWELL.
Questioned by Mr. SHEPHERD, witness said that the young woman who had given evidence had no grudge against her, and suggested that they had committed perjury. She declared that she was not even in the shop.
Mr. LEAN: Then five people must have sworn to a lie?
Mrs. CORNELIUS(?): Yes.
There followed a series of questions to witness, in reply to one of which Mrs. CORNELIUS warmly denied that she was talking about the election. “Why should I to a girl”? she asked.
Mr. SHEPHERD: Have these girls any grudge against you?
Witness: I have never had an angry word with one of them.
Why should they concoct this story?
They are all in a string.
Why should they select you?
Because I went out and asked them why they pushed down my little boy.
Mr. TAYLOR: Did you see them knock him down?
No, but my girl did.
Mr. LEAN: Would it have been possible for the child to have fallen off the pavement?
She knocked him over.
You saw her do so? - No.
Selina CORNELIUS stated that she was in ALLEN's shop when BEALEY and ROWSWELL came in. The former stood close by witness and when Mrs. WOODLAND came to the entrance of the shop ROWSWELL said, “You black-looking devil,” She then went outside and witness saw no more. Witness saw no blows and no disturbance. What blows were struck much have been outside the shop.
BEALEY: Didn't you pick up my glasses?
Witness: Oh, Edith! How can you look me in the face and say that. If you say I gave you your glasses, you tell a wilful lie, so there.
The magistrates had several times to request the parties to speak one at a time.
Nellie CORNELIUS having given evidence, Susan GUMMER spoke to seeing Mrs. CORNELIUS with her hair down, her bodice undone, and complaining that someone had kicked her.
ROWSWELL: Please, Susan, were you there when Mary Ann came into the shop? - No.
Didn't you ask where I was and say you would serve me worse? - No, I didn't.
Arthur CORNELIUS, another witness, spoke to going along the road about 8.15 when he met three girls, including Caroline ROWSWELL, who said, “I chucked the little son of a bitch down in the ditch and pulled her blasted hair and I got it.” When he got home he heard what had happened.
Mr. SHEPHERD: How do you rember <sic> the time?
Witness: The bells were ringing. I am the leader of the ringers and I had been for a jar of beer far(?) them, it being new yenr's(?) eve. (Laughter).
Florence CORNELIUS, aged 12, declared she saw ROWSWELL take hold of the boy by the jacket and push him into the ditch, whilst Edith BEALEY “bide and laughed while she picked him up.”
The magistrates, after a consultation in private, decided to dismiss the case of Mrs. WOODLAND against ROWSWELL. They convicted Mrs. CORNELIUS and Mrs. WOODLAND and fined them 10s each and costs and bound them over for six months in the sum of £5 to be of good behaviour. They dismissed the summons against Minnie CORNELIUS, whilst Mrs. WOODLAND was convicted for assaulting BEALEY and fined 1s.
Col. LANGWORTHY observed that it was the wish of the whole Bench that the supt. should take strict notice of the bad language that was used in several places, particularly Shepton. They hoped that if anything like it occurred again the police would take immediate steps to dealt <sic> with it.
The Supt: I will see it is attended to, your worship.
NEIGHBOURS AT VARIANCE.
Annie DISCOMBE, married woman, of East Street, Ilminster, was summoned by Mary CRANTON(?), of Wharf Lane, Ilminster, for assaulting her seven-year-old son, William, on January 6th. - Defendant pleaded not guilty.
Mrs. CRANTON said the boy came in crying bitterly and his face had marks of ill-usage. He said some one had knocked him down and his face was marked.
Mrs. Georgina STEVENS, of Love Lane, swore that she saw Mrs. DISCOMBE assault the lad between a quarter and half-past five. She was by the fire with her baby, and the boy ran into her house complaining that he had been knocked about. Witness went out and saw Mrs. DISCOMBE running down the Court. She said, “That Billy CRANTON been and hit my boy without a word of warning.” She ran straight into witness's house and took hold of him by the two ears and gave him a shake or two, knocking him down on the doorstep. She said, “Now, you little beast; go home and tell your mother that.” Witness ran up the Court to go and tell Mrs. CRANTON, and the boy ran home crying.
Defendant: Did I go in your house? - Certainly you did.
Did I use bad language? - You did.
The boy was brought forward but Col, LANGWORTHY thought him to young to be questioned about the case.
The Supt.: I am afraid rhese(?) two good ladies are rather at variance.
The Chairman: Yes, I expect so. Do they live together?
The Supt.: They used to live within a few yards of each other.
Defendant declared that the lad beat her boy with a stick and she ran after him. She denied doing more than shaking him, and asserted that the boy was cheeky. His mother did not insult witness herself but sent her boy about doing it.
Defendant called her husband, but admitted that he did not see what happened near Mrs. STEVENS' house.
Samuel DISCOMBE stated that he was at home on Friday afternoon when he heard the lad using cheek to some men, one of whom gave him a couple of “clouts” and hit his hat off. He ran off(?), and later came back and said his father would come and see them. He then deliberately hit witness's little boy with a stick, and the mother ran after him. More than that witness did not see.
The Bench decided that the case should be dismissed on payment of costs (1/6), the Chairman observing that it was apparent the parties were not on good terms.