Mexborough and Swinton Times July 26, 1929

Elderly Thurnscoe Woman Assaulted.

George Agar, a Thurnscoe miner, was summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday for an assault on Margaret A. Bright, also of Thurnscoe on July 11. Defendant denied the offence.

Complainant said she was 67 years of age, and lived at 37, Stewart Street, Thurnscoe, and a widow. She was in her daughter’s house between 3 and 4 p.m., when defendant came up the pathway next door, and was going to fight her granddaughter. Witness intervened, and defendant said “Get out ci the way, you old beast, or I will smash your face.” He called her bad names, and when she sent for the police he said, “You can send for all the —– police you like, I am not afraid of any of them.”

Defendant: Did you call my missus anything?—No.

Where did I give you a blow ?—By my daughter’s gate.

Defendant: I have never hit a woman in my life.

Witness added this was the first time had ever had a blow like that.

Elsie Bentley, of 25. Stewart Street, Thurnscoe said she saw a mark on her grandmother’s, face after the incident.

A witness called by complainant, who had been at the Court, could not be found when called to corroborate the evidence.

Defendant, on oath, said complainant threatened to knock out his only good eye and while he had been out on business she had called his wife an “ugly pig.”

The Chairman (Mr. Hinclicliffe) : That is hearsay.

The Clerk: This did not take place in your backyard ?–It took place by the garden gate. The assault did not take place on complainant’s premises. He could not account for the mark on her face, and he denied touching her.

A man whose name was not given, and who had been in Court all the time, said he had been speaking to defendant when the old lady came up and threatened to strike defendant on the eye, and she called defendant’s wife foul names.

Witness lived next door to defendant. Complainant was not touched.

The Clerk: How do you account for the mark on her cheek ?—I cannot say. I saw no mark on her cheek

Mrs. Wilson said she was moving into a house there, and complainant said to defendant, “If You do not get into the house I will knock your other eye out.”

Both defendant and complainant were bound over to keep the peace for twelve months in the sum of £5 each, the complainant saying she was going away.