Petty Sessions: Yesterday: Before Dr. Atkinson and J. Vicary, Esq. … Reuben Blatchford was charged with wilfully breaking glass, value 6s 6d, belonging to Albert Prowse of Highweek, on the 19th June. This case arose out of the following: On the night in question, the complainant’s brother-in-law had been found by his wife in a certain house, and when he left was followed by two or three hundred persons until he sought shelter in the house of his sister. The crowd demanded to have him turned out. Failing that, several panes of glass were broken. It was alleged by the defendant who threw the stones: Jane Prowse, wife of the complainant, said she saw the defendant taking the most active part in the affray. She told him he had broken the glass. He replied, “If you don’t mention my name, I will put the glass in all right”. He was the ringleader of the mob, and if P.C. Salter hadn’t taken him away, she believed matters would have been much worse. Witness saw the defendant a few days afterwards and asked when he was going to put in the glass. He then denied having broken it, and said he should not put it in. Defendants now said he was standing by Mr. Pinsent’s door when the mob came up and someone threw some water out on their heads. Stones were then thrown at the window, and Mr. Prowse, knowing him, accused him of throwing them. He denied having done so. P. C.s’ Evens and Salter and Geo. Groves gave evidence in the case: Defendant was fined 13s 6d in addition to the 6s 6d, the value of the glass, or 14 days in default. …
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GROxxxx xxxxx