Mexborough and Swinton Times July 12, 1919

Mexboro’ Hotel Attacked

Sequel to Window-Smashing Outbreak.

On Saturday, at Doncaster, Walter Tingle, miner, of Mexboro’, was fined £5 for being disorderly and refusing to quit the Montagu  Arms Hotel, on June 20, and a further £5 for doing wilful damage to several windows. He was also ordered to pay £20 damage.

Mr. J. A. Baddiley, who prosecuted on behalf of Mr. F. J. Law, the licensee, said on this night ,the defendant came into the house just before closing time, and, as was customary, Mr. Law blew a whistle at ten minutes to ten as a warning that it was near time. He again gave the signal for the, rooms to be cleared just before time. The defendant was in the large smoke room and when he was told it was time he made no, attempt to go.

The barman told him it was time but he became awkward. The barman went away I thinking he would have gone when he returned. Mr. Law’s attention was drawn to him and he also asked him to leave. When, he would not and he became abusive and used bad language, he ordered the barman to eject him. As soon as he was got outside he picked something of the road and broke several windows. His brother then came up, knocked him down, and got him away, but after about ten minutes he returned and broke two more windows.

The barman then went out, but the defendant boarded a car and went away. The damage was estimated at £35. The following day the defendant went and saw Mr. Law and offered to pay for the damage, but he refused to accept it.

Evidence was given by William “Iron” Hague, the barman, who said the defendant used very bad language. He saw him throw something through the windows.

Replying to Mr. Frank Allen, Hague said he was an ex-heavy-weight boxing champion.

Mr. Allen: And when you had finished with him he was not much use was he ?—He was throwing bricks anyway.

Don’t you think he has suffered enough ?—I am not sure about it.

Hague added that he did not use more force than was necessary. He did not strike him and render him unconscious.

Mr. Allen said it was an unlucky night for the defendant, and he thought he had suffered enough for any indiscretion be might have been guilty of. He could not deny he did the damage, but he had offered to pay for it though he admitted there was not any excuse for his conduct. His story was that he did it order to call the attention of the barman.

He regretted it.

It was stated that the defendant had a bad record, having been before the court several times this year.