The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-28 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.

At the Highgate Petty Sessions, London, Mary
Barrow, a married lady, living at 10, Lansdown-
terrace, Archway-road, Highgate, surrendered to her
bail to further answer a police charge of being drunk
and disorderly at Archway-road. Police-sergeant
Pickling deposed that on the night of the 11th inst.
his attention was called to the prisoner, who was
standing in the Archway-road, opposite Major Platt's
house, shouting, with a large crowd round her. She
was making such a noise that he heard her a quarter
of a mile off. Some bricks had been thrown at Major
Platt's windows, one or two of which were broken.
In was told that the prisoner broke them, but the
major would not charge her. She was drunk, and as
she would not go into her own house witness took
her to the station. At first she threw herself down,
and the ambulance had to be sent for, but when it
arrived she consented to walk. A constable corro-
borated as to the defendant being drunk and
shouting. Inspector Kemp said he took the
charge, and he had no doubt that the prisoner was
drunk. Mrs. Barrow denied that she was drunk.
She declared that the only intoxicant she had was a
little beer for her dinner. On the night in question
she came out to her gate with a girl who had been
doing some work in the house, and whilst there a
clergyman came up, and asked which was Lansdown-
terrace. The girl who was with her told him, but he
came back and asked a second time. He was again
directed, but returned a third time, and repeated his
inquiry, when she (prisoner) said she did not believe
be wanted such a place, and be then turned round
and told her she was only fit to be the keeper of a
low house. She told him she should follow him, and
he then struck her in the chest, knocking her down,
and injuring her head, arm, and leg. After that he
ran away. She was assisted to her feet, and she
followed him in order to get his name and
address. A lot of boys collected, and when
they saw him go into Maier Platt's house
shouted for him to come out, and threw
stons at the house. Sergeant Fichling came
up at this time, and said "What's up ?" She said, "I
have been insulted by a parson who has gone inLo that
house." Upon that the sergeant pushed against her
in a rude manner, and said "You are drunk !" She
naturally felt annoyed at this, and she retorted rather
strongly that she was not. He then told her he
should take her to the station, and he refueed to let
ljer go into her house to put her hat and jacket on,
lout dragged her across the road through the mud, and
doing so hurt her arm. She had been trying to
find the clergyman who assaulted her, so as to prose-
cute him. Margaret Barnard, the young woman
who was with the prisoner, corroborated as to the
conduct of the clergyman. At the time of the
disturbance the defendant was qu te sober. John
Smith, a young man living in the neighbour-
hood, said he was passing at the time, and the
accused complained to him of having bolsi assaulted.
Major Wardham Pigott Platt, of 3, Lansdowne-
terrace, said his brother, who was a clergyman of the
Church of England, had been staying with him for
a little time, and on the night in question he came in
rather excited, but perfectly sober. He was followed
by a woman whom he believed to be the prisoner, who
created a disturbance outside his house. He had no
doubt as to her being drunk. She used very bad lan-
guage, demanding that the "long-haired Salvationist"
should be sent out. A crowd collected, and his
windows were pelted and two of them broken. The
prisoner, in reply to the Bench, said if she could get
the address of Major Platt's brother, she would take
proceedings against him. Mr. Bodkin thought Major
Platt should give the address. Major Platt replied
that he must decline to do so; but ultimately, on
being told that the accused could have demanded it
in cross-examination, he gave it, and a summons was
issued egainst the Rev. Thomas Platt, of Croft-villas,
Wallingford, Berk s, for having assaulted the prisoner,
and the case againAt her was adjourned, her husband
becoming bail for her.