Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 28 November 1930

Backyard Quarrel

Swinton Man Fined for Assault.

A Swinton family’s backyard quarrel had a sequel at Rotherham West Riding Police Court on Monday, where Margaret Haigh, married, 51, Piccadilly, Swinton, summoned her brother-in-law, Harry Haigh, a railway worker, 53, Piccadilly, Swinton, for assaulting her on Oct. 24. There was a cross summons.

Mr D Dunn (Messrs. Fenoughty, Dunn and Co.), who appeared for the complainant, Margaret Haigh, said the parties shared a common yard, in which a fall pipe supplied water to two rain tubs. Delendant alleged that complainant’s husband had interfered with the fall pipe and diverted the flow of water to his tub. Complainant’s husband had only cleaned the pipe out, and when complainant tried to explain that to defendant he assaulted her.

Margaret Haigh said that on Oct. 24th her husband crossed the yard and manipulated a tin at the bottom of the fall pipe. When he got back into the house there was a loud crash against the door. Her husband went to the door, and she heard Harry Haigh say. “If you come down in this yard I will smash you. She went to the door, and Harry Haigh swore at her. He alleged that her husband had interfered with the fall pipe, and when she tried to explain exactly what her husband had done he struck her on the face with his clenched list, causing blood to bow.

The complainant’s husband gave corroborative evidence.

Defendant denied the assault. He alleged that his brother, complainant’s husband, had diverted the flow of water from the fall pipe. He denied striking complainant, and said she came rushing down the steps at him when he knocked down a tin that had been placed at the foot of the fall pipe. She struck him and caught her nose on his shoulder. He added that he would have struck complainant, but did not do so, because it would have disturbed his mother.

The Chairman (Mr. J.S. Colton Fox) said the case had been proved to the hilt. The magistrates considered the assault, though not a bad one, was unprovoked.

Harry Haigh would be fined 15s. and bound over in the sum of £5 for 12 months.