1914

1914 Jan 1st
EPWORTH PETTY SESSIONS
John Whitely, of Crowle, was charged with using obscene language, at Field Side Crowle, at 10 45pm. on January 10th. – Pc Rodwell said the man opened his own door, and used the language towards his wife. – Defendant pleaded guilty, and said his wife annoyed him by going to the picture palace. – A fine of 2/6 and costs was imposed.

1914 Feb 21st
EPWORTH POLICE COURT
Thomas Morris, a labourer, of no fixed abode, was accused of stealing a shovel, value 2/6, from the front of Mr A Key’s shop at Crowle, on Friday. Inspector Elviss saw Morris take the shovel and followed him down a side street. Asked by the inspector what he was going to do with the shovel, Morris replied ‘I was off to work with it.’ Prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a month’s hard labour. He had been previously convicted of theft.

1914 Feb 21st
EPWORTH PETTY SESSIONS
John Henry Clark, and his wife, Sophia Clark, of Haxey, were charged with assaulting Martin Pilsworth, at Haxey on the 7th inst. – There was a cross summons, Kate Clark versus Pilsworth – Mr Symes appeared for Pilsworth, and Mr J A Baddiley for the Clarks. – Pilsworth stated that he and Clark were neighbours. On the day in question Clark was cutting his hedge when Pilsworth went to him and made a complaint as to the annoyance of Clark’s wife, who had let their pig trespass on Pilsworth’s land. Mrs Clark then came up and endeavoured to get the hatchet from her husband for the purpose of striking Pilsworth with it. She however struck him several times with a clothes prop, and Clark struck him several blows with the flat side of the axe. He was badly cut and bruised. Mrs Clark also struck his daughter with the prop. John Cooling said he saw Mrs Clark strike Pilsworth with the prop, and Pilsworth then ran away. Pc Hallam described the wounds he saw upon Pilsworth. – Clark stated that when his wife came up Pilsworth struck her, and then she struck him several times in return with the prop – Sophia Clark admitted striking Pilsworth who then put his hand to his head, saying, ‘I will go to the bobby.’ The Pilsworth family often got upon the fence and insulted her. – Two road men said they saw Pilsworth strike the first blow. – The woman Clark was fined 5/- and costs, and the other cases were dismissed. – Another case against Albert Pilsworth was withdrawn.

1914 Feb 28th
THE TELEPHONE
On Wednesday morning the telephone service was opened. The following are the local subscribers and their numbers:- Mr J Franks J.P. 2, Crowle Brick and Tile Company 3, New Trent Brewery Co Ltd. 4, Mr J Ross 5, Dr Alexander 6, Messrs S Johnson and Sons 7, Mr A Briggs (Cross Keys Hotel) 8, Police Station 9, Messrs Hill Bros (White Hart Hotel) 11, Dr Thompson 12. The Post Office is No. 1, where there is also a public call office. No. 10 is reserved for Eastoft, Luddington and Garthorpe.

1914 Mar 7th
EPWORTH PETTY SESSIONS
John Bass and William Leggott, of Haxey, were charged with being disorderly, and refusing to quit licensed premises at Westwoodside, on February 16th. – Thomas Adcock ( the landlord) said they refused to go out, and Bass told witness that he would not allow him to turn Leggott out. – Pc Hallam stated that the defendants were a great nuisance to the innkeepers of the parish. – They were each fined 5/- and costs 8/6.

Thomas Smithson, of Owston Ferry, was charged with not having a third man with his thrashing tackle.

Harry Tomlinson, of Owston, was charged with doing wilful damage to a clothes line and clothes, the property of Elizabeth Gray. The woman said they had some dispute as to the using of a clothes prop in the yard where they lived as neighbours. She refused to stop using the post, and he thereupon cut the line and damaged the clothes which were upon it, doing damage to the amount of 1/6. ……

Thomas Slingsby, of Crowle, was charged with stealing 19lbs of ‘Summitt’ potatoes, value 9d., the property of Charles Stones, of Rainsbutt, Crowle, on February 18th. ……

1914 Mar 21st
EPWORTH PETTY SESSIONS
Charles Cranidge, of Crowle, applied for an ejection order against Mary Sharp, wife of James Sharp, of Crowle, who refused to give up possession of a cottage belonging to Miss May Slack, at Crowle. – Applicant said he acted as agent , and the tenancy was a weekly one. Albert Robinson (from the office of Mr W A Cundall) gave evidence as to having served the notice. Mrs Sharp denied that she was the tenant, but that her husband was, and they could not get another house. – An ejectment order was issued.

Arthur Reed, of Epworth, was charged with knocking at a window in Epworth, on the 12th inst. – Pc Knipe said he saw Reed and another man together, when the former knocked at Mr Goodwin’s window.- the case was dismissed on payment of costs 4/6.

1914 Apr 4th
EPWORTH PETTY SESSIONS
H F Sales, John Lovelace, Fred Chafer, J T E Robinson, Cyril Gilbert, Leonard Pettman, Herbert Janney, Austin Briggs, Richard Wroot, and Arthur Maw, all of Crowle, were charged with being on licensed premises, at Eastoft, on March12th. Charles Hill, bus proprietor, said he took the party to the River Don Hotel, and arrived at 7.40, and left at 10.40 pm. They went to have a friendly game of dominoes. There was no drink paid for after 10pm. The Eastoft players left at 10pm.

1914 April 4th
Thomas R Turvey, of Scarborough, late of Owston Ferry, schoolmaster, was charged with unlawfully assaulting Geoffrey Clayton, a boy aged 11, who attended his school, at Owston Ferry, on the 11th March. Mr Gamble appeared for Turvey, and Mr Symes for plaintive.- Mr Symes said the lad was playing with a knife, which had to be taken from him by Miss Frewin, when he made a rude remark. She sent him to the master but he did not then punish him. Afterwards, while drilling, Miss Frewin again sent him to the master who decided to cane him. The lad refused to hold out his hand, and the master knocked him about.

The lad said he was playing with a knife when Miss Frewin took it from him, and, when she offered to return it he said: “I don’t want it now, after you have thieved it from me.” She sent him to Mr Turvey, but he sent him back to his class. When he told him to hold out his hand he replied: “Its too late now.” He cane[d] him, and he eventually got away from him, but he followed him and again thrashed him. Mr Turvey told him not to say anything to his parents. Cross questioned: I did not tell the master that I had accused Miss Frewin of theft. He did put some matches on the ground and stamp upon them when at drill. He said to the master. “If you cane me I will pull the blackboard down,” and another blackboard was afterwards knocked down. The master afterwards took an open knife from his (the lad’s) pocket. Complaints had often been made by the Head master as to the bad example he set to the other boys.

Mrs Joy, assistant mistress, said the noise lasted for 10 minutes, and the blackboard fell upon her shoulder.

Dr Messiter (Epworth) said he examined the lad, and found eleven marks upon him, some of which were bruises. Considerable violence had been used, and indicated undue severity. He had never seen a boy so heavily marked before.

Mrs Clayphan [sic] said the lad was in pain for many days.

John Frewin (retired schoolmaster) said the lad had been heavily thrashed, but he (witness) had probably given as heavy thrashings in his time. Mr Symes said this was a hostile witness, as he had previously stated to him that he had never given such a heavy thrashing.

The Rev. J R Mowbray said he did not think the lad had been unduly thrashed, and the managers had not had any previous complaints, except on one occasion.

Joseph Kent, who asked to give evidence, said he had made a complaint to the master thrashing his child, and he was a witness in the interests of justice.

Mr Gamble said he defended for the National Union of Teachers, and submitted that the punishment was justifiable. The lad thoroughly deserved all he got, and the master had only used the means necessary to uphold discipline in the school.

T R Turvey said he had been at Owston School three and a half years. He told the lad to take his punishment but he refused, and was very impudent, and held an open knife in his hand. The lad had been the most troublesome of any in the school. He should do the same under the same circumstances.

Miss Sythe Frewin said the lad was not unduly thrashed, and Mr Turvey had been too lenient.

Willie Waltham, a boy, said Clayphan [sic] said “if he touches me I will stick him with this knife.”

The case was dismissed.

[This case was reported in The Epworth Bells, and provides further information]