Saturday March 11th. 1905
HER FIRST DANCE
Frank Procter, mat maker, Holme Mills, was charged at Milnthorpe Police Court, on Monday, with an assault on Susannah Laidman, of Holme, on February 25th. The complainant stated that she was going home from a dance that night in company with a young man, and when about 200 yards from the house a number of stones came flying close past them. As they feared that the young man on returning might be waylaid and maltreated, she turned back along the road they had come with him, and shortly after they met Procter and another man. A few words passed between them, and she walked on with her companion, but had not proceeded many yards before the two men rushed after them, and whilst her companion defended himself against one man, Procter struck her a blow which knocked her down. He hit her in the eye, and she got up and went home. By defendant: She did not get hurt by trying to get between the men, for their assailants came in such a rush that she had no time to go between them nor to escape out of the way. In reply to the Bench, she did not know who threw the stones, and did not know whether it was a customary thing for stones to be flying about promiscuously at Holme after a ball, as she had never been to a dance before. – Thomas Houlder, plumber’s apprentice, Carnforth, stated that he went to the dance at Holme along with a friend who was playing in the band, and he left about twenty minutes to 11 in order to take Miss Laidman home and, then be back in time to cycle to Carnforth with his friend. When they had got near the house a number of stones were thrown at them from over the hedge, and he recognised the defendant. He turned back because he was afraid of being waylaid at Holme, and he thought he could get home by going round by Burton. When they met defendant and another man he asked them why they had thrown stones at them, and he replied that he could make them pay for it if he liked. He went away from them in company with the girl, and when they were followed he defended himself against one man, and Procter struck the girl in the eye; two other man then coming up took defendant away. He saw the defendant throw the stones, as it was not very dark. – The defendant stated that he was coming home from the dance along with a friend whom he left at the Crossings before meeting the complainant and Houlder. Houlder accused him of throwing stones, and from words they got to blows, and the girl coming between them may have been hit, but if so it was a complete accident. Charlotte Woodend gave similar evidence in support of defendant’s story. – A fine of 10s. and costs was imposed.
HER FIRST DANCE
Frank Procter, mat maker, Holme Mills, was charged at Milnthorpe Police Court, on Monday, with an assault on Susannah Laidman, of Holme, on February 25th. The complainant stated that she was going home from a dance that night in company with a young man, and when about 200 yards from the house a number of stones came flying close past them. As they feared that the young man on returning might be waylaid and maltreated, she turned back along the road they had come with him, and shortly after they met Procter and another man. A few words passed between them, and she walked on with her companion, but had not proceeded many yards before the two men rushed after them, and whilst her companion defended himself against one man, Procter struck her a blow which knocked her down. He hit her in the eye, and she got up and went home. By defendant: She did not get hurt by trying to get between the men, for their assailants came in such a rush that she had no time to go between them nor to escape out of the way. In reply to the Bench, she did not know who threw the stones, and did not know whether it was a customary thing for stones to be flying about promiscuously at Holme after a ball, as she had never been to a dance before. – Thomas Houlder, plumber’s apprentice, Carnforth, stated that he went to the dance at Holme along with a friend who was playing in the band, and he left about twenty minutes to 11 in order to take Miss Laidman home and, then be back in time to cycle to Carnforth with his friend. When they had got near the house a number of stones were thrown at them from over the hedge, and he recognised the defendant. He turned back because he was afraid of being waylaid at Holme, and he thought he could get home by going round by Burton. When they met defendant and another man he asked them why they had thrown stones at them, and he replied that he could make them pay for it if he liked. He went away from them in company with the girl, and when they were followed he defended himself against one man, and Procter struck the girl in the eye; two other man then coming up took defendant away. He saw the defendant throw the stones, as it was not very dark. – The defendant stated that he was coming home from the dance along with a friend whom he left at the Crossings before meeting the complainant and Houlder. Houlder accused him of throwing stones, and from words they got to blows, and the girl coming between them may have been hit, but if so it was a complete accident. Charlotte Woodend gave similar evidence in support of defendant’s story. – A fine of 10s. and costs was imposed.
