This week’s round-up of pieces relating to the parish of St Mary’s from the 9 June 1917 Batley News contains a startling tale of alleged inappropriate police behaviour towards a female. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
The Family Notices contained two parish deaths, as follows:
BATLEY
DOYLE. —On 4th inst., aged 43 years, Mary, wife of John Doyle, 12, Churchfield Street.McMANUS. —On 4th inst., aged 5 months, James, son of John McManus, 30b, Peel Street.
Batley Court had a parade of parishioners on Monday. It included a couple of briefly covered cases, involving John Herbert Hill and James Edwards, as follows:
Batley Court – Monday.
For having been drunk and riotous on Saturday John Herbert Hill, miner, Victoria Carlinghow, had to pay 10s.
Two Batley soldiers, James Edwards, 37, Ambler Street….were remanded to await escorts.
Another case had received far greater coverage. It involved parishioner Elizabeth Howley, and featured two other parishioners, Ann Woodhead and Catherine May.
A DRUNKEN WOMAN WITH A BABY IN ARMS
Serious Allegation Against a Constable who Reported Her.
Magistrates Regard it as a “Trumped-Up” Charge.Elizabeth Howley, married woman, 36, New Street, Batley, was charged on Monday with having been drunk and riotous whilst in charge of a child. She pleaded not guilty.
A constable stated that on May 27th, midnight, he was near the Bridge Hotel, Carlinghow, when he heard a baby screaming. Defendant appeared, carrying a child, and preceded by another woman. Defendant was in a very drunken condition, and staggering from side to side on the footpath. In consequence of something said to him by Mr. Abraham Binns, night watchman at Dock Ing Mills, he followed defendant, and told her to give the baby to the other woman, as she was not fit to carry it. Defendant met her brother in Stocks Lane, and told him to carry the child. On being told she would be reported she replied “You ought to be in the front line trenches and all other West Riding Police.”
Defendant cross-examined the Constable as to why he allowed her to pass before attempting to speak to her. “When you heard the child cry it was your business to come and help me if I was drunk,” she added.
Supt. Barraclough: Never mind what his duty was, ask him questions.
Abraham Binns, 115, Bradford Road, night watchman at Dock Ing Mills, said he was stood at the office door about midnight when he saw two women coming down from Birstall. Defendant was in a very drunken condition, and she fell with the child in her arms. Alarmed that something might happen [to] the child he reported what he had seen to the Constable.
Wilfred Robinson, Craven House, Batley, said he was talking to the constable when defendant passed. There was no doubt that the woman was very drunk, and not fit to be in charge of a child.
Defendant, giving evidence on her own behalf, said she went to Birstall at 9.30 p.m. to see a relative on leave. There was singing, dancing, and a gramophone playing, but she was not drunk. As she and her companion missed the last car to Batley the child was exchanged many times on the way.
Defendant made serious allegations against the constable, saying that when he had told her she would be reported he went away. Later, he returned and made certain improper suggestions, to which she replied “Get out, you dirty dog.”
Ann Woodhead, 4, Melton Street, Batley, said that she went to Birstall with defendant. There was no drink about, and Mrs. Howley was not drunk.
The constable, recalled, denied defendant’s allegations. He only saw defendant in the presence of her brother and Mrs. Woodhead, and after telling her she would be reported he went straight to the police station. As he was coming away he heard the three people shouting after him, and afterwards heard defendant’s door locked. He did not return to the house that night, and had never spoken to Mrs. Howley, except in the presence of other people.
Catherine May, 40, New Street, said that she lived next door but one to Mrs. Howley, and heard her say “Get out, you dirty dog.” She did not know who it was addressed to until afterwards.
Cross-examined by Supt. Barraclough, witness said she did not hear anything else, although it was stated that three people were shouting in the street after the policeman.
The Bench found the case proved, and Superintendent reported a previous conviction for common assault.
A fine of 20s. and 10s, costs was imposed.
Supt. Barraclough, in announcing that the allegations against the constable would be fully investigated, said it was the first time any such charge had been made against him, and he was the last man whom the speaker would associate with such a charge.
Mr. W. J. R, Fox: We do not believe these charges against the constable.
Mr. A. W, Taylor: I believe it is entirely trumped up myself. If so it is a vile slander and wants to be severely dealt with. It is vile beyond anything.
Mr. T. W. Collett agreed with these remarks.
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