Assault

Hertfordshire Mercury, 1st September 1906

Transcript

In a second court at Hertford Borough Sessions on Thursday, Jacob Brown, son of the defendant in the previous cases, was summoned for assaulting Elias Watts on August 26th at Peg’s Lane. Defendant pleaded not guilty. The complainant said that on the night in question about 9 o’clock he was coming from the Gladstone Arms public-house with a bottle of beer, when the defendant came up to him, and struck him three violent blows about the face and neck, and offered to fight him.

He did not strike Brown until afterwards, and then only in self-defence. Henry Wright deposed to seeing Watts struck by Brown, but he did not see the finish of it, as he fetched the police. The complainant’s wife gave evidence bearing out her husband’s story.

P.S. Huckle spoke to being fetched by the witness Wright, and said that he found Watts with his face covered in blood and his shirt torn into rags. William Archer, of Peg’s Lane, was called for the defence, and said that Watts struck the first blow, and also threatened to ”bash” Brown, and there was a fair up-standing fight. Watts then ran away into his house.

Mrs Caroline Archer corroborated her husband’s evidence, and said there was fault on both sides, but she saw Watts strike the first blow.

The Chairman said that the Bench was determined to put a stop to this sort of thing.

In the present case there seemed to be faults on each side, and both parties would be  bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for six months.

 

 

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