South Yorkshire Times, April 22nd, 1944
Assault at Dance Hall
Mexborough Youths Sent to Gaol
“The bench has decided to put its foot down with regard to young chaps like you with no manners who go to dance halls under the influence of drink and try to force your way in,” said Mr. Mark Nokes, presiding at the Doncaster West Riding Court on Tuesday when Harold Riley (18), sailor, and Geo. Cheswick, (19), welder, of Mexborough, were charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on George Wellings.
It was stated that Wellings was in charge of the door at a dance hall at Mexborough on April 15th. The accused wanted to go in without paying the admission fee, and when Wellings tried to stop them, attacked him with such violence that both his eyes were closed and he was unable to see.
The accused pleaded guilty, but said there was already a fight going on when they arrived, and they acted in self-defence. They were both sent to prison for one month.