Buntingford Petty Sessions
Friday last, before Sir Charles Heaton-Ellis, C.B.E. (in the chair), Capt. H.H. Williams, Claud Fraser, William Steel, and G.W. Pepper, Esqs.
NEIGHBOURS DISAGREE
Ernest Newman, of 15, Council Cottages, Cottered, brought a charge of common assault against his neighbour, Jack Gravestock. Gravestock pleaded "not guilty."
The plaintiff said that on Saturday, 7th January, he returned to his home shortly after 9 p.m. After he had been indoors some minutes he heard someone at the front door. He went to the door and the defendant took hold of him and tried to pull him out. Some men were standing at the front gate, and the plaintiff went down the path to enquire what was the matter. Jack Gravestock then took hold of him and pushed him on the village green, and dumped him in the mud two or three times. He afterwards reported the matter to the police.
Edith Newman, wife of the complainant, said she was having a few words with her husband on the night in question when the defendant came to the front door and tried to pull her husband outside. Later her husband went outside and was pushed in some mud by defendant.
Cross-examined, witness stated that her husband was not drunk that night.
The defendant, in giving evidence, said that at about 10.20 p.m. on the Saturday night in question he was indoors with his parents when he heard screams of "murder" and "help." He went to the front door, where he saw Mrs Newman, who asked him to hit her husband.
Newman then came out of the house and witness said to him "I want to see you; come on to the green." Newman walked over to the green and slipped down in the mud, where he laid for some minutes.
Mrs Hearne, of 14, Council Cottages, said that at 10.30 p.m. on the day in question she heard someone screaming. She ran outside, and saw Mrs Newman lying in the path. When Newman came out of the house she asked him to go to his wife's assistance, and he replied "She is only putting it on."
Harry Gravestock, the defendant's father, gave evidence, and said that when he went outside Mrs Newman was shouting "murder" and asking for protection. When Newman came out into the road he walked on to the green, and slipped and fell in the mud.
Harry Hearn and Joseph Pepper said they stood in the road and saw Newman fall down in the mud. The defendant did not push him down.
Mrs Gravestock, the defendant's mother, said there was an awful row outside, and when she went out Mrs Newman told her that Newman would kill her son. The witness went out on to the green where she saw her son (the defendant) standing with another man. She went up to the man, and, thinking he was Newman, smacked his face. She then discovered it was Mr Pepper she had struck. (Laughter). The witness added she helped Newman up and pushed him indoors.
The Chairman said the Bench were of the opinion that the assault had not been proved. The case would be dismissed.
ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A CHILD
Mrs K. Goss, a married woman, of Buntingford, was summoned by John E. Gibbs, of Buntingford, for alleged cruelty to his child, Frederick Gibbs, aged three years.
The plaintiff, in a lengthy statement to the Bench, said that while his wife was in hospital his three children were placed in the care of Mrs Goss. He paid her £1 per week for their maintenance.
On Tuesday, 20th December, Mr Goss brought the boy, Frederick, home, stating that the child had misbehaved himself. The complainant found that the child complained, and on examining him it appeared as though the child had been struck. He took the child to the Police Station, where he was examined by Police Officers. He also saw Mrs Goss, who denied thrashing the boy.
Mrs Goss, in giving evidence, said that when she took the children into her care they had chicken-pox. In consequence they had marks on their bodies.
On the morning of December 20th she attended to the boy, Frederick, as usual. When she went to dress him at 7.30 a.m. she found he had misbehaved himself, so she gave him a smacking. She did not smack his head, and the child seemed all right at breakfast. She had three children of her own, and would have treated any of them just the same.
Mr G.H. Maughan, of Messrs Chalmers Hunt & Co., defended, and pointed out that a person who has charge of a child is legally entitled to administer such punishment as is necessary. There were times when corporal punishment was necessary, and this occasion had been one of them.
The complainant then called his daughter (Barbara) to give evidence and further evidence for the defendant was given by her husband and daughter.
The Chairman, in addressing the complainant, said that the Bench had listened with great patience to all the evidence. They were impressed by the fact that the complainant had called no medical evidence to support his case.
They further noted, from the evidence, that although an officer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children had his attention called to the matter, there was some significance in the fact that he did not intervene in the case.
The Bench were of the unanimous opinion that the case must be dismissed.
POSSESSION CASE
The case in which Mrs Page applied for the possession of a cottage in the occupation of Jonah Brown, and which, as reported in our issue of 10th February, was adjourned for the Magistrates to inspect the alternative accommodation offered the tenant, again came before the Bench.
In dismissing the application for possession, the Chairman said that the alternative accommodation offered the tenant was, in the opinion of the Bench, unsuitable.