People attending Stamford County Court were amused by the scene of two women coming to blows which took some time to dissipate.
“LIVELY SCENE IN THE COUNTY COURT
An almost incredible amount of ill-feeling was displayed in a case at the Stamford County Court yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, resulting in one of the liveliest scenes every witnessed in a local law court. The case was one in which Henry Lowth, labourer, sued William Burrows, quarryman, for 15 s./ and Lina Crowson for 10 s. All the parties live at Ketton, and the claim was for trespass by defendants’ fowls and destruction of produce of plaintiff’s garden. Mr. Law appeared for plaintiff. Bad blood speedily began to show itself, especially between Mrs. Lowth and Mrs. Burrows, – Henry Lowth said he has a garden, the produce of which was all eaten up by fowls kept by defendants. Witness said to Mrs. Burrows, ‘This has been going on for two or three years, and will have to be put a stop to.’ – His Honour Judge Wood : Then I suppose she has a turn. What did she say? – Witness : Nothing. – His Honour : Nothing? Then she is a most remarkable woman. (Laughter.) – Mrs. Burrows now stated that she had only seven fowls. – Mrs. Lowth (from the body of the court): She’s got 70. – Repeated interruptions came from Mrs. Lowth, who at this point was ascorted to the back of the court. She was subsequently called as a witness, and said that both defendants had a lot of fowls – about 70 each. – Defendants : Oh! – Mrs. Lowth afterwards said that Mrs. Burrows had four or five fowls and some chickens. At this point an indescribable scene took place between Mrs. Lowth and Mrs. Burrows, the court for nearly 10 minutes being in a perfect uproar. A wordy war ensued between the two, voices were raised, and harsh expressions were used. In vain his Honour appealed for order: Mesdames Lowth and Burrows held the field, and they maintained it against all comers, the people in court being convulsed with laughter. The war of words grew hotter and hotter, and at last fists were clenched, and each menaced the other with threatening gestures. The combat increased in fury, until eventually the contestants got at each other, and words gave place to blows. A sturdy police-sergeant intervened, but the combatants were not prepared to cease hostilities, and so some further assistance was secured in the form of the County Court bailiff. After some time the women, yielding to the pressure of the strong arms of the law, consented to stand apart, and although scornful glances and angry darts passed between them. their words gradually grew calmer, and a truce was declared. Something like quiet having been secured, his Honour said that the women had now had a good innings – Mrs. Lowth called her daughter, who said she had seen fowls in her mother’s garden. – Defendants said they had never seen their fowls in Lowth’s garden, Mrs. Crowson adding that she had kept hers shut up for six months, only letting them our for an hour a day, when she watched them, His Honour said he had no doubt that damage had been done, but evidence as to the amount was utterly vague. Mrs. Crowson must pay 1s. damages and Mrs. Burrows 2s. 6d. The case lasted nearly an hour.”
The Stamford Mercury, 8th May, 1896.