Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
A parishioner found himself with yet another conviction.
With 44 previous convictions against him, Michael Leach, labourer, Victoria Street, Carlinghow, was fined 20s. to-day for having been drunk and riotous.
Another parishioner faced the Dewsbury Borough Court magistrates.
ADRIFT FROM HOME.
Batley Girl’s Thefts from Dewsbury Town Hall.
A Weaver who Gave Way to Drink.
Mary Ellen Neifsey (24), weaver, 37, Peel Street, Batley, admitted at Dewsbury Borough Court on Tuesday, the theft from a cloak-room at Dewsbury Town Hall on Saturday of a lady’s rain-coat, pair of lady’s gloves, and a pocket handkerchief, value £1 18s. 4d., the property of Mrs. Olive Atkinson, 39, Walker Street. Earlsheaton, and of a silk scarf, value 6s. 11d., the property of Dorothy Brook, shop assistant, Warwick Road, Batley.
Complainants attended a dance at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, left the articles in the cloak-room, and later missed them.
Gertrude Crawford, shop assistant living with Mrs. Atkinson, gave evidence that she saw prisoner go out of the cloak-room wearing Mrs. Atkinson’s raincoat. She told the girl the coat did not belong to her, but Neifsey replied “It does.”
Detective-sergt. Dransfield said he received prisoner in custody from the Dewsbury West Riding Police on Sunday. The articles enumerated were in her possession when arrested. Charged with the offence she replied “Yes, I took them,” and later stated, “I will tell you the truth. I had had seven or eight beers and old beer, and was under the influence of drink when I went to the cloak-room for my cost and cap. As I could not see them I took up the rain-coat, gloves, handkerchief, and scarf. I left the room with the property, knowing it was not mine.”
Under the Influence of Drink
Prisoner now said, “I was under the influence of drink. I am sorry, and I will lead a better life.”
The Chief Constable (Mr. S. Barraclough) said prisoner had not been convicted before. She was employed by Messrs. Wrigley and Parker, Batley, but unfortunately she had given her parents, respectable people, considerable trouble by staying out at nights, and going home under the influence of drink. Her father, who had been in the employ of Batley Corporation for 24 years, had turned her out in consequence of her conduct. The Detective-sergeant had found in the girl’s possession a fur, a pair of gloves, and another scarf which had been stolen from the Town Hall cloak-room on Saturday, but the police had not, up to that morning, traced the owners.
Prisoner’s father said he would take his daughter back to her home if she would behave properly.
The girl was thereupon bound over for 12 months, and told by the Mayor that if she did not return home the magistrates would probably alter their decision.
A final general piece about how people’s accents could change depending on who was being spoken to.
Irish Brogue from Batley.
One incident might be given to show how a person could change according to circumstances. When an Irish Member was introduced, the Irish representative from Batley immediately put in the Irish brogue (Laughter.) “I did not know he could speak the brogue,” added Alderman Blackburn, “but when he was talking to the hon. member we could scarce understand him. (Laughter.)
Past To Present Genealogy 