CHATHILL GIRL AWARDED £100 DAMAGES

The details of an unfufilled promise of marriage were related before the Under-Sheriff of Northumberland  (Mr John E. Gibson), and a jury, who sat at the Moot Hall, Newcastle, on Tuesday, to assess damages in a case which had been remitted from the King’s Bench. The plaintiff was Mary Ternent, of Tuddle Farm, Chathill. The defendant, Robert Carr, was described as a boiler man, of Budle New Farm, Bamburgh. After hearing the evidence damages amounting to £100 were awarded.

Mr Hugh Percy, of Alnwick, who represented the plaintiff, said the parties in the case were in humble circumstances. The girl was 25 years of age, and she met the defendant, as unhappy fate would have it, about November, 1917, their acquaintance ripening into courtship. Carr proposed to her in January, 1919, which could be proved by a letter written by defendant to plaintiff, posted on January 21^st, in which the following passage occurred: “Have you made up your mind yet about getting married? I do not like to say anything to your mamma, as you know I am shy, but I think she would let me have you darling.” That occurred in the middle of a voluminous correspondence, and it was important in fixing the date because of a particularly sad feature of the case. The girl gave all to this man, with the result that a child was born on March 17^th last. He appeared to be acting honourably towards her, and in May, 1919, he had bought her an engagement ring. Later, however, he deserted her, and did not reply to her letters. After the proposal, added Mr Percy, Miss Ternent had spent £10 on household linen, and during her illness lost about £45 in wages.

Plaintiff bore out Mr Percy’s statement, and Carr, asked as to his financial position, said that his wages amounted to £2 10s per week, of which he paid 30s for board.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

FRIDAY

Before A. T. Robertson and Thos. Purves, Esqs.

Neil McGee, labourer, Ireland, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Chapel Street, Berwick, at 9.30 p.m., on Thursday, 8th April. April. He pleaded guilty.

P.C. Cruickshank proved the case, and said he found accused using foul language in a passage, and later, after being warned, he found him committing a nuisance.

One previous conviction was recorded, and accused was fined 5s or 7 days.

MONDAY

Before Alex. Darling and Jas. McNab, Esqs.

PUNCHED THE POLICE

Jane Wood, married woman, Berwick, was charged with having assaulted P.C. Latto and P.C. Robson, while in the execution of their duty in her own house in Chapel Street, on Saturday evening. She pleaded guilty.

P.C. Latto said he heard the accused cursing and swearing in Chapel Street, and abusing P.C. Robson. Witness advised her to go home, but she continued the disturbance. Her husband attempted to drag her into the house, but she bit, scratched, and tried to punch him on the face. She was mad drunk, and witness and P.C. Robson went into the house to try and pacify her. She continued to kick and strike out, and hit P.C. Robson on the lip, causing it to swell.

P.C. Robson said when he had occasion to check the child of accused, Wood, who was mad drunk, started to abuse him and use vile language. When trying to pacify her in her house, she behaved violently and struck him on the mouth, also kicking him in several places. She resisted all the way to the Police Station, kicking and scratching all the road.

This being accused’s third appearance; she was fined £2, with the alternative of one month. A fortnight was given in which to pay.

LOCAL NEWS

A long delayed letter and a postcard were received by Mrs Anderson, 66 Hunter’s Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 27th March. The missives were posted in Moscow, Russia, on July 29th, 1914, by her son, Mr W. D. Anderson, a Freeman of Berwick, who was going to China, and they described the mobilisation of Russian troops for the great war, then just about to begin.

Mr Anderson, shortly after posting his letter to home, crossed Siberia to China, and was there 12 months when he came home to join up and become gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the D.L.I. He then went over to France, and was badly smashed up at the Somme, and returned to Newcastle, where he remained with his wife until demobilisation. He has been back in China for nearly a year. His brother, Mr Jas. Anderson, who is also a Freeman of the Borough and a regular visitor to the old town at holiday times, was in Berlin on holiday a few days before war was declared, and just got away at the last moment.

While excavations in connection with the laying of underground telegraph and phone cables were in progress at the Berwick end of the Old Bridge on Friday, workmen laid bare a piece of very old masonry, and a very much encrusted water main of lead was also unearthed. It is believed that the masonry is part of the foundations of the old English Gate or Key Gate, which are shown on a sketch of the Bridge dated 1745, and which were demolished nearly two centuries ago. The old foundations appeared to be composed of sandstone and limestone, run together with hot lime. The foundations cannot have belonged to the old Toll House, as it was situated in the recess at the Bridge End, close to Mr Vance’s shop.

About 1.40 a.m. on Saturday while two soldiers of the K.O.S.B.’s were returning after attending a dance, they observed fire to have broken out in an old house used as a workshop, at the rear of Mr Thos. Buglass’ property at 79 Low Greens. They immediately in formed the police, who communicated with the Borough Surveyor with a view to getting the fire engine out. Meanwhile a number of railway cleaners, and others who had hurried to the scene got at work on the burning building with water buckets. Their efforts were rewarded by keeping the fire from Lowrie’s stable which is adjacent, but the entire workshop was gutted. The fire brigade call was cancelled immediately the fire was got under control. It is believed that the conflagration was started by an old incubator which is kept in the workshop, becoming overheated. Damage to the extent of £100 was done, and the property, we understand, is not insured.

The children attending Kiln Hill Sunday School were entertained to a social on Thursday evening last in the Mitchel Memorial Hall. The first gathering of its kind for the past few years, owing to war conditions, the youngsters naturally looked forward with added keenness to a night’s enjoyment. The teachers and those responsible for the arrangements saw that they got it. Over 100 children were present at tea, and the good things were thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards a concert of recitations, etc., provided by the children, was gone through, many parents and friends being present. Another treat was the exhibition of lantern slides by Mr G. Short, Berwick. The Rev. W. Jardine, who was accompanied by Miss Jardine, was present, and spoke a few words to the children. Mr Grainger, Superintendent of the Sunday School, and Mrs Grainger were also there.