Coventry Standard Friday 14 May 1915
BROOM THROWING AT CASTLE BROMWICH
Rupert Rushton, carter Bucklands End, Castle Bromwich, was summoned Ellen L. Barnes, also of Bucklands End, for common assault on April 30th. The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Mr. H. Willison (Messrs. J. Baker and Co., Birmingham) appeared for the complainant. The complainant said the defendant lived next door to her. On April 30th, on going into the garden, she noticed that the fowl pen was broken down, and the defendant’s brother was laughing about it. When the defendant came out, she said, The same game again, Mr. Rushton, but said, I have not pulled your pen down. I have not touched it.” He then picked up a broom, and struck her three times on the hand and arm.
She consulted a doctor about the injuries to her hand caused by the blows, and also went to the police station. In answer to the defendant, the complainant said the defendant picked the broom first. It was his mother’s broom, and stood her door. She did not throw it at him. Mrs. Elizabeth Rowley, a neighbour, said she did not see the beginning of the trouble but as she went to her hovel she heard loud voices. going up she saw the defendant strike the complainant two three times with the broom. The complainant tried to dodge the blows. Mrs. Donelan (another neighbour) stood in her garden, and was laughing at what was taking place. Witness shouted, “What are you doing there? and the defendant dropped the broom and went off. Mrs. Donelan turned round as though surprised to see witness, who cried, I have seen it all.” Bv the defendant: witness saw the occurrence through the gaps of the hedge.
P.S. Ross said the complainant came to the police office, complaining of the assault. She had blood the back of her hand, and there were several bruises between the hand and the elbow. The defendant said that through his mother having trouble with the complainant and losing one “son in France, and having another “ missing,” he saw the complainant and asked her to quiet as possible for his mother’s sake. this, the complainant picked up her broom and threw it at him. He caught it, and threw it back, with no intention of hitting her. Br. Mr. Willison: did not see the fowl pen that morning. Mrs. Rushton. mother of the defendant, said she had heard her son ask the complainant leave her alone. Mrs. Barnes picked up the broom and threw it at her son, striking him the chest. Reminded that her son had said he caught the broom when it was thrown, witness said it would have struck him had not caught it. She did not believe the complainant’s arm was bruised. Frank Rushton (brother of the defendant) corroborated, and said the complainant threw the broom viciously at his brother. It struck him on the body; he picked it off the ground and threw it back to the complainant. The bruises the complainant arms were no doubt caused by the bristles of the broom The Bench found that an assault had been committed, and the defendant was fined 19s. 6d., in default, seven days.
Coventry Standard Friday 28 May 1915
DISMISSED Rupert Rushton and Frank Rushton, labourers, Bucklands End. Castle Bromwich, were summoned Elizabeth Rowley, Bucklands End, for threats. Mr. Willison appeared to prosecute. Mrs. Rowley said she gave evidence against the defendants at the last sitting the Court. ten o’clock the same night she heard shouting outside her house, and upon going out she saw’ the defendants. Rupert said. I will give you more than I gave the old woman Barnes”; and Frank said, “And 1 will come and help you.” Witness’s husband was in bed, and when came down the defendants told him “ was no man have allowed his wife to give evidence against them.” Henry Rowley, the complainant’s husband, corroborated. P.S. Ross said he was fetched Mrs. Rowley the night of the bother, and found that Mrs. Rowley’s window was broken. The next night he met Rupert Rushton, who said that he was sorry had been to Mrs. Rowley’s, and he would pay for the broken window. Rupert Rushton. on oath, said after the last court they heard the clapping of hands, and heard Mrs. Rowley say, We have made you pay to-day, and will make you pay in a fortnight’s time if get a chance.” Witness never threatened Mrs. Rowley, or broke the window. Frank Rushton also denied the threats. Edward Donellan and John Douellan corroborated the defendants’ version of the affair. The Magistrates decided to dismiss the case, and ordered each side to pay their own costs. DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT Edward Crookes, miner, 1, Church Cottages, Arley, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly at Arley, May Dth, and further for being disorderly and refusing to quit the Waggon Load of Lime, Arley, on the same day. The defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. P.c. Hackman said saw the defendant minus his hat and coat. He was drunk, and was making use of bad language, and witness took him home and reported the matter. Mr. Bates, the proprietor of the public-house, said the defendant came in with a ferret in his possession. As refused to put the ferret away, witness had to eject him. The defendant had since apologised to him, and witness hoped the magistrates would deal leniently with him. he had’a wife and four small children, and had just been invalided home from the army. The defendant said had just been invalided home with rheumatism, but he hoped should soon be ready to toe tile mark again. The magistrates ordered the defendant pay 2s. fid. in each case, without recording conviction.
