Mexborough & Swinton Times, February 17, 1928
“Cottage of Content.”
Trouble at West Melton.
A scene outside the Cottage of Content Inn. West Melton, just after closing time on Monday, January 2nd, led to the appearance at Rotherham West :Riding Police Court on Monday of three miners.
George Kitchen (35), of 51, Dearne Road, Bolton, was fined 10.s. for having used abusive language. P.c. Kent gave evidence of arrest.
Defendant said he did not use bad language, but his brother did.
Lawrence Kitchen, brother of the defendant, said he used the bad language. Witness gave an illustration of the language he used.
Mr. J. S. Colton-Fox (chairman): You can talk without using those words ?
Witness : Granted
The Chairman: Well, try,
George Kitchen was fine as previously stated.
Lawrence Kitchen (36) a miner, of 36 Packman Road, West Melton, the witness in the previous case, was in charge with having used abusive language, and, to the amusement of the court he pleaded not guilty.
He was fined 15 shillings.
Both the Kitchens then charged with having assaulted Jim Botham, 53, a miner, of 72 Firth Road, West Melton on January 2. A
Mr L.A. Britain, who appeared for Botham, said there had been trouble between the defendant and complainant since Easter of last year. Botham had kept out of the way of the two defendants, and it was only by accident that he ran into them on the date in question
Botham went to the Cottage of Content Inn, and the two defendants came in later. The defendant asked Botham to play cards with them, but he refused, and they got angry. Botham then left the room and went into the bar. He was talking to friends when, at about 9 p.m. the defendant came out and wanted to fight. They went out of the house and there was some trouble outside the house.
The defendant’s returned about 9:30 p.m. and the landlord told them they must not come near his house again. Botham left the house, and when you got outside he saw George Kitchen. “trapezing” in the roadway. When he had finish this, he stuck Botham a violent blow at the back of his head and knocked him to the ground. Botham was helped up by a friend, and then knocked down by Lawrence Kitchen
Mr Brittain said he would call witnesses to prove this when the magistrates heard the evidence had heard the evidence he would ask them to say it was a most brutal and uncalled for assault, and to deal with them more severely. Botham was frightened of the defendants.
Complainant, James Foulston, Arthur Tingle, Albert Adams, all miners, of West Melton and Sarah Law, a married woman, West Melton gave corroborative evidence.
The case against Lawrence Kitchen was dismissed owing to their being insufficient evidence on this charge.
George Kitchen, in evidence, said there would have been no trouble on that night if Botham had not threatened to fetch a gun to shoot Lawrence Kitchen. Witness said that he pushed Botham, thinking he was going to shoot his brother. He could not see, owing to it being dark.
Lawrence Kitchen corroborated this statement.
George Kitchen was fined 20 shillings and ordered to pay five shillings costs.
Jim Botham, 50, miner of 72 Firth Rd, West Melton was then charged with having used violent and abusive language at 10:15 PM on Monday of January 2. PC Kent gave evidence of arrest.
Mr LH Brittain, defending, pleaded not guilty, said defendant was too much knocked about by the defendants in the previous case to be able to use any bad language to get violent. It was the brothers Kitchen use bad language that night.
The case against Botham was dismissed