George Norman, market gardener, was fined 10s including costs for an assault on Thomas Ward of Preston this morning in Hitchin market. (July 1855)
Mr George Wright (farmer) of Preston was charged with an assault upon Thomas Ward (aged 39, of Back Lane , Preston) of Preston on the night of the 5th of November. Complainant said that about eleven o’clock he went into a lane to look for his donkeys and found they had strayed into Mr Wright’s fields and went in to fetch them out. Whilst in the field, Mr Wright came up to him and asked him what he was doing there. he said to fetch out his donkeys that had got through a gap in the hedge. Mr Wright said he would take the law into his own hands and struck him in the face with his fists and said he would thrash him if he did not take himself off. Mr Wright admitted having struck the complainant, but said that when he went up to him to tell him that neither he nor his donkeys had any right on his land, some altercation took place when Ward kicked him on the leg. Fined 5s and costs. (September 1856)
ASSAULT. Daniel Groom (aged 45, a labourer from Church End, St Pauls Walden) was brought up in custody charged with committing an assault on Mr John Cook at Hill End in May last. The prisoner had just come out of gaol, where he had been imprisoned under a conviction for night poaching. Committed for six weeks. (December 1859)
ASSAULT. John Sharp of Preston, whose case was adjourned from last week, was accused of assaulting James Kirkby Complainant stated that on the evening of the 27th of August, he met the defendant who worked for his father, and asked him why he had not been to his work that day. the defendant then struck him with a stick and struck the horse that he was on two or three severe blows. Complainant then rode away, when Sharp threw stones at him. Ordered to pay 10s and the costs. (September 1863)
John Sharp, labourer of Preston, charged by J Weeks Esq. of Preston with threatening to assault him. Dismissed. (October 1870)
George Wright (aged 61), farmer of Preston, charged with assaulting one of his labouring boys, Samuel Reeves (aged 11, a ploughboy living in a cottage near Preston Hill Farm), who appeared in court with his arm very much injured. Fined £3 including costs. (December 1870)
(See Alleged Assault at Kings Walden case below)
ASSAULTING THE POLICE. Henry Chalkley (aged 29, a brick maker of Breachwood Green,
Kings Walden) and Charles Chambers were charged with assaulting the police while
in the execution of their duty. Police-
ALLEGED ASSAULT. George Wright, farmer , was summoned for having on the 13 ult. assaulted a young woman,Mary Slater.The defendant was summoned to appear before the Bench at their last meeting, but had failed to do so.
Mr Shepherd appeared for the accused. He said the defendant was exceedingly sorry that anything should have occurred to call for the interference of the Court, but since the occurrence a satisfactory arrangement had been come to between himself and the complainant’s father and the young woman did not now wish to press the charge.
The magistrates, under these circumstances, allowed the case to be dismissed. (August 1873)
ASSAULT. William Monrow, gardener to Mr Weeks of Temple Dinsley, was charged with assaulting William Sharp (aged 16, living in Preston in 1871) on 21st of November. Mr Harper appeared to prosecute.
Wm Sharp deposed: I have worked for Mr Weeks at Temple Dinsley about four years and
a half. On Friday last I was at leaf cart about half past three. Geo Palmer (aged
14, living in Preston in 1871) was with me. The defendant came to us and said, ”Pull
off your jacket.” I told him it was too cold, when he said if I did not pull my jacket
off, he would and then took hold of my throat and said, “ You -
Defendant said he spoke to Sharp about his work and told him if he did not do his
work better, he would have to leave. He also told the boys about having their coats
on and they refused to take them off. He told them if they did not obey they would
have to leave and then Sharp threw down his rake and said, “Now you -
Fined £1 including costs (November 1873)
ASSAULT AT PRESTON. Martha Peters (aged 20 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston was charged with assaulting George Boston (aged 15 of Back Lane, Preston) of Preston but as the defendant was unable to appear, the case was adjourned for six weeks. (September 1877)
SERIOUS CHARGE. At the Hitchin Petty Sessions on Tuesday, Jesse Bryce, a young man
of about twenty years of age was charged on remand with feloniously assaulting Elizabeth
Roberts, a middle-
(May 1889)
These articles are reproduced by kind permission of the Hertfordshire Mercury.
Henry Jeeves of Preston (woodman of Back Lane b 1839c) was charged with assaulting Frank Stanford of Hitchin on the 18 July. Mr Horace Baker, solicitor, appeared for the defendant. Stanford was also charged with assaulting Jeeves at the same time and place. The Bench dismissed the charge against Stanford and fined Jeeves 16s 6d including costs or seven days imprisonment. (Aug 1881)
ASSAULT. Thomas Ward (b 1816) was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Sturgess (b 1827) of Preston. It came out in evidence that the fair complainant herself was guilty of the offence with which she charged the defendant and the case was therefore dismissed, on payment of costs by her. (May 1845)
Francis Sharpe was charged with assaulting John Buck of Kings Walden. It appeared from the complainant’s statement that the defendant came to his house in company with some others on a day when a club feast was held there and called for beer. This however was refused upon which Sharpe and the others (one of whom was convicted last week) assaulted the complainant and threatened to demolish his windows. Fined £1 and in default of payment committed for one month. (May 1845)
ASSAULT. Charles Ray (sic) was summoned, charged by Hill with assaulting him on 12 March. From the evidence of the prosecutor it appeared that he was making hurdles in a wood. Ray came up to him and charged him with taking the bread out of his mouth. This the prosecutor said he could not help as he had been told to do the job. Ray then went up to him and struck him with a hurdle sideways. When the prosecutor got up, Ray then pulled him by his coat and struck him a blow in the eye with his fist. (The mark was still visible) Ray also said that if he found out that the prosecutor had asked for the job, he would drop on to him and give him a good thrashing.
The prisoner said that he had gone and sworn at the prosecutor for taking the job out of his hands. As he was going away, he told Hill what he would do to him if it was true. Hill retorted, and he went back and struck him in the eye with his fist.
The magistrates said that one man had as much right as another to do a job and therefore fined Ray £1 and 12s 6d costs which were paid. (March 1860)
These articles are reproduced by kind permission of the Hertfordshire Mercury.