Mexborough and Swinton Times, June 14, 1929

Boys Beaten.

Swinton Mother’s Temper.

Alice Mapplebeck (47), married, of Bridge Street, Swinton, was before the Rotherham West Riding magistrates on Monday on charges of having inflicted grievous bodily harm upon her two children, David Mapple-beck aged 14, and Arthur Mapplebeck, aged #nine years, at Swinton, on Sunday.

She pleaded guilty.

P.c. Noble said at 1145 p.m. on Sunday he was on duty in Station Road, in company with Sgt. Hesletine, when he was called to the house of defendant. He saw Arthur and David Mapplebeck with their heads bandaged. David had a deep cut over the left eye about an inch long and two scratches on the face. Arthur had a large bruise and scratch over the left eye.

He asked the father of the boys what had happened, and he said, “My wife struck them I with a stick.” Defendant said “Yes, I did it.” He went into a bedroom where there was a lot of blood on a bed, and blood was scattered about the floor. The woman said,: “I gave him the most,” pointing to Arthur. When charged, she said “Yes, I have done it, and I shalt have to, stand for it.” Ile took possession of a brass rod from the bedroom and a blood-stained towel from the kitchen.

Willis Humphries, a Commercial traveller, of 12, Bridge Street, Swinton, said he was standing at the door of his home when he heard screams coming from Mapplebeck’s home. The child, David Mapnie’beck, ran from the house shouting, “My face is cut.” He saw Arthur Mapplebeek in the doorway of his home with his face bleeding.

Defendant and her husband were fighting, and he went and closed with the husband and separated them. The husband said it was his wife who was kicking up the disturbance, and she said “Yes, I did it.” She was quite sober.

David Mapplebeck said at about 11-15 p.m. on Sunday he was spoken to by his mother about some knickers. He told his mother a lie. His mother hit Arthur and sent him to bed, and he ran upstairs followed by his mother. In the bedroom his mother hit him across the face with a brass rod from the staircase. Both he and Arthur had cuts on the face. He ran out of the house.

Dr. Richard Thomas Lee, of Swinton, said he was Called to the house about 11-55 p.m. on, Sunday. He found David Mapplebeck suffering from two recent wounds on the left temple, one about on inch and the other a quarter of an inch in length. The boy also had several scratches on the left cheek and upper lip, and was suffering slightly from shock. Arthur had a large bruise of about two inches over the left eye, with a big swelling. The injuries were consistent with those likely to be caused by blows with a rod.

Alice Mapplebeck told the magistrates that in consequence of what her husband had said to her, one thing Ied to another, and she hit the children in a temper. The boy had told lies about some knickers.

Aid. A. P. Aizlewood, chairman, said the magistrates believed that the trouble arose in consequence of what her husband and children had said to her, but she should have chastised them in a proper manner.

She would be bound over in the sum of £5 for twelve months and ordered to pay £4 costs.