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Quarrel over cat
telephone girl summoned
schoolmaster assaulted
A quarrel over a cat was described at the south western police court on Monday.
Ida Smith, a telephone operator at the general post office, living at Roseberry Rd, Brixton, answered to a summons accusing her with assaulting David John Morris, a neighbour and a schoolmaster, engaged at the Brixton prison.
Mr George Hindle, for the complainant, a man of years, said he had a cat, which was being constantly enticed away by members of the defendant's family.
A cat was again missing on October 3. Consequently Mr Morris called round at the defendant's house and regained possession of the cat, warning Mrs. Smith, defendants mother, not to take it away again.
Later in the day, the defendant, her sister, and a Mrs Ward, created a disturbance at the complainant's house.
He was then assaulted, the defendant striking him a blow in the face.
Pussy passed away
Mr Morris disclosed the information that the cat had since died. "I'm sorry to hear that", said Mr Hindle but the magistrate remarked "it will probably end all the trouble".
The complainant described the incident leading up to the assault he said that when three ladies visited his house they were very voluble, shouted and bawled. As he could not get a word in, he ordered them away. The defendant having struck him in the face, he forced all three away from his door.
Cross examined, witness denied having invited the defendant's family to look after the cat. "They appropriated the cat for a whole month, without my permission", he said.
Mr Ludlow [defending]: "I suggest you approached Mrs. Smith in a bullying attitude an attitude you probably acquired in Brixton prison? Is that not true".
Mr Marshall, the magistrate, interposed to say that they were considering the question of assault.
Mr Ludlow I thought the quarrel over the cat had some relevance.
Mr Marshall did not think so.
Mrs Morris, the wife, said though she did not witness the assault, she heard the smack.
Similar evidence was given by the daughter, Else Adelaide Morris.
The defence
The defendant said she called at the house to inquire of Mr Morris why he had insulted her mother. He threw himself into a terrible rage and aimed several vicious blows at her. She suggested he was hurt in a struggle.
Mr Hindle: "you lost your temper and struck him?" "No I did not".
Mr Marshall came to the conclusion that the defendant went to the house to make a row. He ordered her to enter into recognicances in the sum of £10 to be of good conduct, and to pay £2.2s cost
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