Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 23 Dec 1925
Page 4 Column 4
FAMILY ROWS AT EAST REACH.
THREE WOMEN IN COURT.
HAIR PULLED OUT AND ARM BITTEN.
FEMALE LODGER INVOLVED.
An elderly mother, her married daughter, and her daughter-in-law figured prominently in the proceedings at Taunton Borough Police-court on Wednesday morning, when a series of assault charges were heard(?) by the Bench, culminating in all three being fined. The eldest defendant was alleged to have(?) pulled out a handful of her daughter-in-law's hair, and this was carefully wrapped in tissue(?) paper and exhibited to the magistrates during the hearing. The woman also uncovered her head to force home the point to the Justices. The Mayor, Mr. J. S. SCUDAMORE, was supported on the Bench by Messrs. F. W. PENNY, W. DRAYTON(?), and R. B. QUICK, and Mrs. LOVEDAY.
The parties concerned in the case, who all pleaded not guilty(?), were Edith OATEN, of 39, East Reach, married(?) woman, and Caroline OATEN and Annie(?) May WATTS, the two latter, who are mother and daughter, living at No. 15 Court, East Reach(?).
TROUBLE OVER(?) YOUNG LADY LODGER.
Edith OATEN first summoned the two other defendants or assault on Monday morning. Complainant stated that Annie WATTS came into the Court and accused(?) her husband of “carrying on” with her lodger, Miss Myra COOK. Witness told her she was always making rows, where-upon Annie WATTS(?) told her to go indoors and she made a suggestion against her. Witness took up a bucket of dirty water and threw over her, as the disturbances had been going on for a long time past. The younger defendant bullied her and caught hold her hair, and Mrs. Caroline OATEN came round the other side and pulled out a handful of her hair(?) and also injured her finger. Witness could not do anything against the two of them. She was a daughter-in-law of the elder defendant.
Caroline OATEN: Worse luck, sir.
Edith OATEN: They have always been “on me” ever since I was married. They wont let me alone.
Myra COOK (24)(?), who lodges with complainant, stated that on the morning in question she was beating out a mat and saw the “old lady” come slyly up and pull out a handful of hair and throw it on the floor. “The language she used, gentlemen, you would not allow to be used in this Court,” she added.
The Mayor (to witness): What work are you doing?
Caroline OATEN: Nothing; begging, sir.
Witness added that both the defendants assaulted Mrs. OATEN, which brought the remark from the elder defendant: “You have good eyesight if you can see through a brick wall and a door.”
Mary, the 14-years-old daughter of complainant, also gave evidence.
THE DEFENCE.
Annie WATTS, giving evidence on her own behalf, said COOK brought a mat to beat in front of her step after it(?) had been swept. She asked her not to do it there, whereupon she told her to go indoors, and abused(?) her. She also pulled her hair, and her sister-in-law(?), the other defendant, bit her on the arm(?).
Caroline OATEN declared that all she did was to take away the bucket(?) of dirty water. She neither touched her daughter-in-law nor spoke to her, good or indifferent(?). “Last Friday night, at ten o'clock, they fetched a policeman and said I was kicking up a row(?)” added defendant, “when all the time I was in bed.”
The Magistrates' Clerk: That has nothing to do with this case.
Replying to the Bench, Superintendent CHAPMAN said that Mrs. OATEN had been before the Court a number of times for using indecent language, but not since 1921, when she was fined 10s – (Defendant: That was through her then) – and she was also summoned for assaulting Lily OATEN in 1914.
The Bench found(?) both defendants guilty, and fined Mrs. OATEN 20s and her daughter 10s.
Mrs. OATEN (excitedly): I shall never pay it.
The Mayor: In default, seven days.
Mrs. OATEN: Allright! That's where I'll go. I shall be home again next Tuesday.
Mrs. WATTS (emphatically): She was not in the Court at the time.
Defendants later asked for time to pay the fines, and were allowed a month.
CROSS-SUMMONS SUCCEEDS.
Edith OATEN was next summoned by Annie May WATTS for assualt. - The case arose out of the previous one, and Mrs. WATTS stated that Mrs. OATEN interfered(?) when she spoke to the lodger about the mat. It had nothing to do with her, but she caught hold her hair, and, with the assistance of her two children, dragged her 20 years to her door(?). She also bit her arm, which witness had shown to the policeman.
P.C. DOUGHTY said(?) that when he served the summons on the woman, he saw four distinct marks of teeth on her arm.
Defendant said she did not hit her, but merely caught her by the hair, as the two women were upon her. She threw(?) the water over her, but did not know that she had also been bitten.
Defendant was fined 10s and allowed 14 days to pay.
ANOTHER CASE ADJOURNED.
A further summons was issued by Annie May WATTS against Walter(?) OATEN, husband of Edith OATEN, for “unlawfully threatening to break complainant's neck.” - A letter from defendant's employer was handed to the Bench, stating that he was timber hauling at Stogumber. - Mrs. OATEN stated he had already left when the summons was served the previous morning, and the case was adjourned until next week.
<NOTES: Caroline OATEN is Caroline Louisa KITCH daughter of John KITCH and Sarah TRUMP, married Charles Robert OATEN
Annie May WATTS is Annie May or Annai OATEN daughter of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH, married John WATTS
Edith OATEN is Edith Lucy or Lucy Edith BERRY daughter of Charles BERRY and Alice D or Deborah A. CLAPP, married Walter Edward OATEN
Walter Edward OATEN son of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH, married Edith Lucy or Lucy Edith BERRY
Mary OATEN is Mary Georgina OATEN daughter of Walter Edward OATEN and Edith Lucy or Lucy Edith BERRY, married Francis Edward James PALMER
Lily OATEN is Lilian Elizabeth Mary BAILEY daughter of George Thomas BAILEY and Emily BROWNING, married Charles Robert OATEN>