Available (when it reopens) in Highgate Library's local history collection
Highgate Newtown extract from DPCAAC Statement
…Highgate New Town was the name given to the area in the 19th century, providing working-class housing largely multi-occupied from the start, and was re-used when redeveloped in the 1970s by Camden Council. Bertram Street and Winscombe Street are an enclave of late 1860s terraced houses. Generally the streets are a uniform set piece. Chester Road, Balmore Street and Doynton Street were built in the 1870s to 1880s with Raydon Street and streets north of it for railway and industrial workers. There are surviving stretches of an ancient footpath that ran from Croftdown Road to Bertram Street, Chester Road, and on to Balmore and Doynton Streets. When redevelopment was first conceived in the 1960s it involved all the streets north and south of Raydon Street. As fashions changed the plans were altered and some of the Victorian terraces were kept. Three Stages of the redevelopment were built: the concrete Whittington Estate north of Raydon Street, the shops and flats between Chester Road and Balmore Street, and the New Town development between Dartmouth Park Hill and Raydon Street. These give the sub area its unique character despite the diverse age and styles of the buildings. Unlike many of the streets in the south which were developed in a piecemeal fashion, larger areas were planned and built at the same time which gives a greater sense of unity within each distinct development. This is reflected also in the public realm where the materials and spaces relate well to the built form.
Balmore Street When first built the street ran from Raydon Street to Dartmouth Park Hill and was called Colva Street, renamed a century ago because of its notoriety as a slum. There are terraces from the 1880s on either side with a uniform design consisting of three storey houses in yellow stock brick with white dressings; the lower ground and ground floor canted bays are set off by florid capitals that lift the group. Decoration is restricted to the raised ground floor only. There are tiny front areas with access to the front doors located on the lower ground floors. The roofs are pitched with decorative brick eaves. The road now terminates before Dartmouth Park Hill and faces the rear of the three storey block that was the last stage of the Highgate New Town development of the 1970s. At the other end of the street is another part of the 1970s redevelopment that links with Chester Road. Nos.41-71 is a two storey terrace with a curved roof and panelled elevations (1972-6), designed by Bill Forrest and Oscar Palacio of Camden Architects Department. At the rear they face the service yard and have three floors. The buildings have not worn well. At the Raydon Street end of the road there is a small public open space identified in the UDP as the Highgate New Town Open Space. It has a children’s playground surrounded by trees.
Bertram Street Similar in length and topology to Winscombe Street the street has terraces of three storey houses with rusticated rendered ground floors under two plain brick storeys with a deep stucco cornice at parapet level. Dating from the 1860s, they were multi-occupied from the start. The window architraves are topped by vermiculite keystones. The windows have wide sashes with margin lights on the ground floor, and narrower sashes on the upper floors. The front doors are arranged in pairs sharing pilastered doorcases and cornice. Simple railings with small front paved areas complete the formal composition. There has been some unsympathetic window replacement. At the south end of the street is the Community Centre, built in 1950s as a Territorial Army Centre. It is a valuable local resource although the buildings, facing a courtyard, are not notable.
Chester Road The road gently slopes down from Dartmouth Park Hill and this section has terraces on either side of the road. Nos. 33-53 are three storeys, built at the same time as Bertram and Winscombe Streets. Some have basements and have a strong stucco cornice and stucco at ground floor level. There is a valley roof at the rear, visible from Bertram and Winscombe Streets. Windows have keystones at first floor level and margin lights. The Star Public House at the corner of Bertram Street is prominent in views down the street. Nos.18 - 56 were built 1881-2 (Dixon) and are three storeys with ground floor bays and a pitched roof. There have been no roof alterations. The front gardens are a bit deeper than those on the other side of the road and give emphasis to the sweep of the terrace. At the corner with Raydon Street is Stage 2 of the Highgate New Town development, designed by Bill Forrest and Oscar Palacio of Camden Architects’ Department: a group of buildings (1972-6) executed in coloured pre-fabricated panels with tubular railings. The terrace ends at the western end with the shops and maisonettes of this group. Stepped back from the street there are shops at ground and first floor level. The shops are a uniform parade of timber shopfronts on two levels with solid stallriser panels. The buildings have suffered from graffiti and a number of poor Dutch blinds mar the shopfronts. The shops are identified in the UDP as a Neighbourhood Shopping Centre. The shopfronts are subject to Design Guidelines (see Planning History).
Dartmouth Park Hill This sub area continues the boundary with Islington and curves along the road as the slope of the hill to Highgate evens out. The buildings form the final stage of Highgate New Town designed by Bill Forrest and Oscar Palacio. The design of this group turned away from concrete and panelling seen in the earlier stages of Highgate New Town, employing yellow brick with red brick banding and pitched roofs with deep eaves, and steel balconies at the rear and black casement windows. The blocks were completed in 1983 and won a Civic Trust Award in 1983. Nos.85 - 111 are three storeys with strong expressive facades facing the road and cross banding.
Doynton Street The south side dates from the late 1860s and are flat fronted three storey terraces with basements. They have stuccoed ground floors and pitched roofs. The north side is part of the final stage of Highgate New Town designed by Bill Forrest and Oscar Palacio 1978-81. There are small open spaces as in neighbouring Balmore Street. Facing a triangle of open leisure space of integral design with Stage 3 redevelopment are Nos.2-14, two storey houses in the same design as the blocks on Dartmouth Park Hill.
....The north east corner of the area was developed as working class terraced housing from the 1860s, providing cottages forthe labourers building the railways and houses. Bertram and Winscombe Streets were built in the 1860s, as well as one side of Doynton Street, the other side following in the 1880s. Retcar, Raydon and Lulot Streets went up in the early 1880s, along with the completion of Chester Road. The 1894 OS shows this area complete and it was known as Highgate New Town.
Slums & Gangsters
Great care needs to be exercised when looking at the sensationalist 'tabloid' history of the Newtown. The 'east end' of Dartmouth Park does indeed have a good deal in common with the East End of London. However as frequently presented, this is typically history as propaganda. Stuff is often missed out for effect and frequently blown out of proportion. For example, much is made of the jerry built houses of the late 1800s without it being reported that the worst of these were rebuilt at the time.
However, for those who are interest in this strand of the discussion during the event, here is a cut and paste of a Facebook post by John Leo Waters:
HIGHGATE NEW TOWN AND BALMORE ST (THE BAY) - "WORST STREET IN NORTH LONDON”
There are many streets in London which could lay claim to being 'the worst streets in London' at the turn of the 20th century. North London had several streets which were considered dangerous and 'off limits' to the forces of law and order. Campbell Bunk was probably one of the most notorious but another, Balmore Street, has also entered the annals of notoriety
The building of Kings Cross (1852) and St Pancras
Railway Stations (1868) along with the the Kings Cross Goods Yards meant
there was a huge demand for cheap unskilled labour in the second half
of the nineteenth century.
A huge influx of labourers and their
families - mainly Irish - in the latter years of the century put a great
strain on an area that was already blighted by slums such as Agar Town
and Somers Town. It was decided that a 'New Town' would be built to
accomodate some of these poorer working classes.
Highgate Newtown
was built during the 1860's, 1870's and 1880's. It comprised a small
area of terraced streets built to house these labourers and railway
workers. Bertram and Winscombe Streets and part of Doynton Street were
the first to be built followed by Retcar, Lulot, Colva and Raydon and
the completion of Chester Road.
These 'new' houses were far from perfect and there were many initial problems.
This is from Holborn Journal - 1868
HOUSES WITHOUT A DRAIN
'The report of the Sanitary Committee with reference to the shocking
state of the drainage of a large number of houses erected in Highgate
New Town, and the existence of a foul ditch or open sewer 900 feet in
length was read. Mr. Watkins, chairman of the Sanitary Committee, stated
he had no idea until he viewed the property that they had houses, in
the parish in such a state as they found these. It really was very
serious affair. Builders were there erecting a large town of some 131
houses and a 12-inch pipe was the only medium of carrying off the
sewerage, which it did into an open cesspool 900 feet long by 4 or 5
feet wide, which the committee could scarcely go near.
One large
house, built for a public-house, at the corner of Chester and
Bertram-roads, called the Totnes Castle, was in a fearful condition. On
going down the staircase, there was quite a miasma from the stench and
filth in the cellars. The floor appeared dry but when a stick was pushed
into it they found four inches of soft filth. It was a matter of
consideration with the committee whether the house should not be
closed.'
Within a matter of years the area had become notorious
and the haunt of criminals. Gangs of teenagers and children such as the
'Highgate New Town Gang' and 'Dick Turpin Gang' featured regularly in
the press of the day - both local and nationally.
Colva Street was
considered the hub of this criminal fraternity and was avoided by the
constabulary unless they were in sufficient numbers to be safe from
attack.
The triangle of streets that constituted the New Town was soon considered to be one of the 'most dire slums' in North London.
The suffragette newspaper The Common Cause described Highgate New Town as a 'notoriously rough quarter' (1910)
The Labour Party writing in the Daily Herald said of the area -
'Hundreds of kiddies in this district are underfed and there are
terrible slums, especially in Highgate New Town' (1913)
In an effort to turn the tide it was decided to change the name of the most notorious street from Colva Street to Balmore Street. The exercise proved pointless as changing the name did nothing to keep the gangs of offenders off the streets.
Balmore Street would eventually become known to one and all as 'The Bay'. It is not certain as to how it aquired this nickname but legend has it that it was likened to the notoriously rough area of Tiger Bay in Cardiff by a Police Inspector who had worked in both areas. Whatever the reason the name stuck and the Bay was how it became known.
One good thing that always could be said of the Bay was that there was a wonderful sense of community in the street. The years of poverty at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century had instilled a sense of 'togetherness' in the residents. People looked out for each other and 'watched each other's back'. The terraced back to back houses were very similar to what could be found in the East End of London and the working class cities of the North. Everybody knew everybody and houses were often occupied by two or three generations of one family to say nothing of uncles, aunts and cousins.
Every street had it's gang of kids and pitched battles between different streets would often take place on the local bomb site or 'debris'.
The criminal element of the street that was so
prevalent in the early years had certainly abated as the twentieth
century moved on although there were still quite a few 'villains' about
and ducking and diving was often the order of the day!
In his
excellent book 'London Born', Sidney 'Cabby' Day describes Balmore
Street in the thirties and forties as a 'street where there was so much
villainry going on, so many drunks and gambling and Gawd knows what,
that at night the police would only come down in pairs'
One notorious spot in the mid sixties was the 'mission' (St Anne's Mission Hall opened Jan 1885) which was being looked after by a local 'character'. I can remember some very dubious characters being put up there and some notorious parties took place there!
Balmore Street still exists - well, half of it does! These days it is a very different place with current house prices starting around £630,000 - a far cry from being one of the 'most dire slums' in North London. Most of the streets that made up the 'triangle' are gone having been replaced by a 'new' Highgate New Town in the 1970's and The Totnes Castle is now an upmarket gastro pub called The Star serving such delights as Smoked Mackerel or Octopus - I just hope they had that cellar cleaned out!
These are just a small selection of the clippings from the press relating to Colva/Balmore Street and Highgate New Town back in the late 1890's and early1900's. Some serious sentences handed out!! There were literally hundreds of articles to pick from!! - One or two familiar names mentioned?
HIGHGATE ROBBERS.
William Reeves (21),
Thomas Simkins (17), and Joseph Conway (17). all labourers, residing at
Highgate New Town, were charged on remand with highway robbery. Conway
was further charged with using violence, —Miss Stainsforth stated that
she was walking along the Archway road on February 28th, when she was
attacked by the three prisoners. Conway knocked her down and stole her
purse, which contained 8s. The men then ran off. It was then about
eleven in the morning. Reeves and Simkins were arrested in the district
few days subsequently, and Conway was arrested at Barnet on the
following day be was about to join the militia. The prisoners pleaded
guilty.—Detective Sergt. Nicholls said the men were members of Highgate
New Town gang that was continually committing shop larcenies.—Reeves and
Simkins were awarded two month’s each, and Conway three months with
hard labour.
BAD LADS.
Wm, Bishop, 18, van boy. of
Doynton-Street, Highgate New Town, and Thomas Wright, 17, labourer, of
Colva-street, Highgate New Town, were charged on remand with being
concerned together in stealing a wooden sleigh, value 10s,, the property
of a boy named C. Newton Bussell, of Southwood avenue.—Three previous
convictions were proved against Bishop, one of which was for stealing £1
Is 5d from a boy.—Detective-Sergeant Hall said that the two lads were
pests to the neighbourhood. They would do no work and were thieving
every day.—Bishop was sentenced to three months, and Wright to one
month's hard labour.
DICK TURPIN GANG.
At Highgate Police
Court on Monday, Reuben Sims, 14, factory boy, of Vorley road; Alfred
Johnson, 15, errand boy, of Colva street; Henry Pettifer, 12, school boy
of Bertram-street and William Sear, 12, school boy, of Colva-street,
all members of a band known in Highgate New Town as the Dick Turpin
Gang, were charged with stealing, on August 11, a sewing machine, of the
value of £2. the property of Mary Spring, of 118, Highgate Hill; Sims,
Pettifer, and Johnson were also charged with stealing a tricycle horse,
value 10s. the property of Mr B. C. Johnson, of Cromwell Place,
Highgate; and Johnson was further charged with wilfully damaging an
apple tree to the extent of £1 in the garden of Brookfield, Westhill,
Highgate.
Jane Dennis, 34. a married woman of Colva-street, New
Town, was charged with feloniously receiving the tricycle weII knowing
it to have been stolen.—Evidence was given by Detective Sgt. Nicholls, Y
division, who said that Johnson was the ringleader the gang, which
numbered 12 in all.—All the prisoners pleaded guilty. —Jane Dennis was
bound over under the first Offenders’ Act to come up for judgment if
called upon ; Johnson and Sims were each sentenced to 14 days
imprisonment, to be followed four years in a reformatory; Pettifer was
sentenced to receive six strokes with the birch rod and Sear was
sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, followed by five years in a
reformatory
THE BIRCH FOR THREE YOUNG THIEVES.
Edward Martin,
thirteen; Harry Edwards, eleven; and William' Edwards, thirteen,
schoolboys, of Winscombe Street, Highgate Now Town, were charged with
being con- cerned together in stealing two tins of salmon from a
grocer's. shop in - Chester Road, Highgate New Town.
In Highgate New
Town there is a gang of youths and boys who call themselves the Dick
Turpin Gang. Members of this gang are constantly getting into trouble
and appearing at this court, it was said.
Osborne, 69 V R, deposed
that he saw the three prisoners with another boy in Dartmouth Park on
Tuesday morning week. Two of the prisoners had each a tin of salmon
under his coat. He arrested those boys, and took the third prisoner into
custody at night, but he had not found the fourth boy. Mr. Buckingham,
grocer, identified the tins of salmon as his property.
These boys and others were constantly entering his shop.
Mr. Tubbs: As customers?
The Witness: No, sir.
Mr. Tubbs: You mean they "sneak" in.
The Witness: Yes, and then steal anything they can lay bands on.
He saw these boys in his shop on Tuesday week, and afterwards missed
the salmon. Martin's mother gave her boy a very bad character. She was
sorry he was her son, and wished the Bench would send him to sea. The
police-constable (re- called) said that Martin was birched by order of
this Court some time ago. The school attendance officer gave all the
boys a bad character. Mr. Cory Wright said that six strokes of the birch
had not done Martin any good. They would try what twelve strokes would
do this time. Martin set up a tremendous howl, and said he would rather
go to sea. Harry Edwards was ordered to receive six strokes with the
birch, and his brother William eight strokes.
DARTMOOR CONVICTS LAMENT.
Four schoolboys. named Thomas Dennis, Arthur Waller. Frederick Wright,
and William Allen, living in Colva-street, Highgate New Town, were
before Mr. Curtis Bennett. at Marylebone charged by the St. Pancras
Borough Council with stealing an iron tank trolley from a field at York
Rise Mr. Whelan, an industrial schools officer, put in a plea on behalf
of the boy Arthur Waller. aged nine years, on account of the exceedingly
bad home influence under which be had been brought up.
His father, a
bricklayer, he said, had not contributed to the home expenses for
eighteen months, and such, apparently, was his character that his own
son, a lad of twenty years of age, who was now undergoing ten years'
penal servitude at Dartmoor for highway robbery, had written home
attributing his downfall to the father's bad influence, and advising his
mother to leave him.
Mrs. Waller, who was described a respectable
and hard-working woman, explained. with tears in her eyes, that what her
son meant was that if the home influence had been different be might
have been a free man instead of a convict. Her husband, she said, had
been a burden to her all her married life.
Mr. Curtis Bennett: Why don't you leave him?
Mrs. Waller: Well, I want to do the best for my home and children.
Continuing, she entreated the magistrate not to take the boy now before
the Court from her. Whatever her husband might be, she was willing to
work for her children, and to take this boy from her would be to deprive
her of her one object in life. Mr. Curtis Bennett remanded the boy to a
home, and ordered the other three boys to receive twelve strokes of the
birch.
ILLEGALLY REMOVING GOODS.
John Claridge, of
Colva-street, Highgate New Town, was summoned for frandulently removing
his goods to avoid distraint.—Mr. A. M. Forbes supported the
summons.—Mr. Fraser, of the firm Messrs. Fraser and Heigh, said that the
defendant owed 13s rent and moved the goods after notice.—The wife
appeared and said her husband had been out of work in consequence of the
coal strike, so when distraint was threatened she moved the goods for
the sake of her little children. —The Bench ordered defendant to pay 2s.
per week off the arrears, and consented pay the costs out of the poor
box. Luke Harrap, of 30, Colva-street, Highgate New Town, appeared to
similar summons
ADJOURNED CASE.
John Whiting, 18, of 20,
Winscombe - street, Highgate New Town, and James Mellasan, of 17,
Colva-street, Highgate New Town, were charged together with stealing a
shilling from William John Heulett, of Doynton street, Highgate'New
Town.— At the previous hearing Henlelt, who is errand boy, said that the
prisoners stopped him and his brother the previous Wednesday night and
demanded some tobacco. As they were unable to comply with the request,
the prisoners set upon him and threw him to the ground. In the meantime
Heulett’s big brother had fled from the struggle, and the prisoners did
likewise after having a shilling out of tbs younger brother’s waistcoat
pocket. —The prosecutor did not appear at the present hearing, and
Inspector Kennedy said he had reasons to believe he did not intend to.
—The Bench insisted upon the case being proceeded with, and adjourned it
for a week for the attendance of the prosecutor.
VIOLENT ASSAULT. Yesterday, at the Clerkenwell Police-court, Elisabeth Miles, 39, married, of Colva-street, Highgate New Town, was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Junction-road. Charles Miles, 39, a labourer, and Michael Draper, 40, were charged with assaulting Wm. Mosey, a School Board officer. When Mrs. Miles was taken into custody she struggled violently with Police-Constable Jane, 692 Y, and her husband made an attempt to rescue her. The complainant Mosey went to the officer's maistance, when Miles struck him a heavy blow in the right eye. Draper afterwards struck him, felling him to the ground, and while he was down kicked him in the jaw. Mr. d'Eyncourt ordered Elizabeth Miles to pay 21s., or 14 days ; Charles Miles 40s. and 20s. costs, or one month ; and sent Draper to gaol for two months
THREATENING TO KILL A WIFE.
At the Highgate Police Court, William Brooker, gardener, of Colva
Street, Highgate Newtown, was summoned by his wife for threatening to
kill her.— Esther said she had been married to the prisoner for years,
and there were five children. Three months after they were married he
threatened to kill her, and through that was discharged from his
employment. He was continually drunk, and the other day he stood over
her with knife and threatened to kill her. He had told her he would "
swing for her." She could really live with him longer, and asked the
Bench to grant her a separation. —Defendant denied the allegations made
against him.—The bench said they not grant a separation for threats, but
the prisoner would be bound over for six months keep the peace, himself
in £10 and one surety in £10.—Defendant said he could not find the
surety, and the Bench said that in default he would be imprisoned for
three months with hard labour.
CABMAN'S SINGULAR STORY
A
cabman told a singular story at Highgate, on Saturday, to the effect
that he drove three men for three hours, and the only "payment" he got
was with a shovel. On Friday "night a working man hired him from the
Highbury Station rank, and the cabman drove him and two companions about
Holloway for three hours. The man then ordered him to his house at
Colva Street, Highgate New Town. The cabman drove there, and was invited
in to supper, " a common thing," added cabby, "but I said, I don't want
no supper ; I want my money.' " He eventually went in for his money,
and refused repeated invitations to sup. "I'll show you," said the man, "
how we pay cabmen," and struck him on the head with "a great big fire
shovel." A wild scene ensued, during which a woman forced open the room
door "with a spoon," and he escaped. Mr. Glover granted a summons for
the fare, and another for the alleged assault
THREATENING A CONSTABLE
Alfred Kelly. 23. a labourer, of Noel Place ,Wood green, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly in Colva street. Highgate New town,
Salurday evening. Police-constable 19s Y. who proved the offence, said
Kelly used very bad language. and was very violent when arrested, and
large crowd collected and endeavoured to rescue him from custody, the
constable being badly illtreated . On the way the station the prisoner
threatened 'blow the constable's brains out' when he was released from
prison. Kelly admitted being the worse for drink, but denied using bad
language. Called as witness was Mrs, Allen, a laundress, who said the
man was perfectly innocent. He was the worse for liquor, but did not use
bad language. A fine and costs was inflicted.
A HOOLIGAN.
Alfred Johnson, 18, a bottle washer, of Colva street, Highgate, was
charged with assaulting: Police-constables Gaynor. 669 Y, and Smith, 747
N, at Chester-Road. Highgate New-town. The officer, Gaynor saw prisoner
and a number of other lads amusing themselves by pushing pedestrians
from the pavement. Gaynor seized Johnson, and he struck the officer
several in times in the face and kicked him on the left leg.
Police-constable Smith came to Gaynor's assistance. and Johnson kicked
him on the leg. The officers were followed by a disorderly gang in their
passage to the police - station and were hustled and threatened. Mr.
d'Eyencourt sent Johnson to gaol to do a month's hard labour.
ALLEGED ASSAULT.
Edward Amos Giddy, Colva street, Highgate New Tom, was summoned for unlawfully
assaulting and beating William Endersby.—Prosecutor said that on
October 21st he was in Brunswick road, when defendant, who was passing,
stopped his horse and abused him. Witness told him to wash his month
out, and defendant drove away. Half an-hour later, witness met defendant
in Colva street. He at once threw down his stick and after challenging
witness to fight struck him in the month. The cause of the trouble was a
judgment which witness had obtained against defendant in the County
Court.—Mrs. Livings, of 4, Colva street, who was subpoened for the
prosecution, said she was passing at the time and saw two two men face
to face, but although she saw defendant's arm up she saw no blows
struck.—Defendant elected to be sworn, and denied striking prosecutor.
On the other hand he alleged that Endersby was continually annoying and
insulting him.—Defendant was eventnally bound over to keep the peace for
six months, and ordered to pay the costs.
ONLY BOXED HIS EARS.
Thomas Roberts, of Colva street, Highgate New Town, appeared to a
summons for assaulting Robert Liddall, a lad 12 years old.—The lad
stated that he was playing ball in the High-street and accidentally
knocked defendant’s son down. Defendant rushed at him and struck him on
the eye and ear. His eye was blackened and his ear had discharged
since.—Defendant did not call witnesses but said complainant frequently
ill - used his children. Once he pushed a little girl down some steps,
and on another occasion threw some flour in his boy's eyes. On recent
occasion be also struck pony belonging to defendant, cansing it to bolt.
He also denied that be did no more than box the boy’s ears.—The
Chairman said defendant had taken the law into his own hands, and would
be fined 10s and 5s 6d costs
MANSLAUGHTER
John William
Peters, 20, French polisher, of Bertram-street, Highgate New Town, was
charged with the manslaughter of William Meard, of Colva- street,
Highgate. — lt appeared that the two men were in a public-house at
Junction-road, when they quarrelled over a game of " shove-ha'penny,"
and the Prisoner struck the deceased. The quarrel was subsequently
re-newed in Bicker ton road, when Prisoner was alleged to have struck
Meard behind the ear, and the latter fell on the ground. This happened
on the 19th inst., since which the injured man had died. A detective met
the Prisoner in Junction-road on Wednesday, and told him he should take
him into custody for the manslaughter of Meard. The Prisoner replied, "
All right call and tell my father l am locked up. He is in the Junction
Arms. He has been and seen the deceased. He told my father he brought
it all on himself. I have been in this neighbourhood ten years, and only
had about four fights. I don't like it." — Mr. Paul Taylor granted a
remand.
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.
Henry Willian Picppiatt, of
33, Colva street, Highgate New Town, was charged with violently
assaulting Joseph Joshua Kipping by throwing a paraffin lamp and
striking him on the head.— Joseph Joshua Kipping, who wore bandages all
over bis head, said he lived 33, Colva street, Highgate New Town.
Prisoner lived in the same house. On Saturday night when preparing for
bed he heard a noise downstairs, and prisoner saying that be
(complainant) lived on his daughters. He went down to the kitchen and
told defendant he ought to be ashamed of himself for making such a
statement. Prisoner picked up a box lid and attempted to strike
complainant, but he warded off the blow and struck prisoner in
self-defence.
Complainant’s daughters then persuaded him to
upstairs, and while leaving the room prisoner threw a lighted paraffin
lamp at his bead. A wound was caused by the blow, and all his hair was
burnt off. He walked the police-station, and his injuries were dressed
by the police divisional surgeon, and prisoner was charged. Complainant
added that prisoner after the first assault picked up a piece of burning
lamp and threw it at his eldest daughter, causing injury to her face
and arm. He could not say whether prisoner was drunk or sober, as it was
all done in minute. Prisoner cross-examined complainant, who denied
that he was drunk. He also denied that the lamp was pulled down with
shelf during violent straggle.
Rosina Kipping, daughter of
complainant, was in her bedroom at about 12 o’clock when she heard
prisoner abusing her father alleging that he lived on their wrong-doing.
There was struggle, and prisoner attacked her father with piece of wood
a yard square. He defended himself against prisoner, who deliberately
threw lighted paraffin lamp his head. His hair was in flames, and she
put the flames out with her hands. Prisoner then threw the lighted wick
her sister, burning her face and arm. She led her father to the station.
Prisoner was charged, and asked witness to persuade her father not to
press the charge and then he would settle all expenses. —Prisoner denied
that he made this offer.
Emma Kipping, another daughter, was in bed
on Saturday night and heard some one screaming, ’ Fire. ’ She rushed
downstairs. Prisoner was there with lighted burner in his hand, which he
threw her face. She was burnt on the cheek and arm. The first assault
was committed before she arrived, she saw prisoner assault her father
earlier in the evening.
Acting- Sergeant Morris, 55S V, was called
to the house, 33, Colva-street. He heard screaming and shouting. There
was crowd outside, and a woman screaming. She said, “For God’s sake
inside.” He saw complainant with his head and face covered with blood,
and sheet partly wrapped round his head. He said prisoner did it.
Witness found prisoner in one of the rooms on the ground floor nursing a
baby, and told him the charge. made statement then, but at the station
he said, “I did not throw the lamp. It was quite an accident it slipped
out of my hand.” Prisoner made some statement the prosecutor the station
to the effect that he would pay.
Mary Ann Aldridge, a lodger in the
same house, came home from shopping about 12.10. Prosecutor was holding
prisoner by the throat, and his danghters were calling out, Pay him,
father.” She went upstairs, and a quarter of an hour after she beard
screams of " Fire,” and found that lamp had been broken.
Prisoner,
in his defence, said the prosecutor was a noisy man, and on Saturday was
quarrelling with his family. Prisoner called to him not to wake the
children, and he came down with his daughters and brutally assaulted
prisoner in his own kitchen. There was a violent struggle, and the
mantle-shelf and lamp were pulled down and the prosecutor was injured.
The Bench, after consideration, fined prisoner for the assault, 7s 6d
doctor’s fee, and 10s 6d coats, or in default one month with hard
labour. —Prisoner asked for three days in which to get the money, and
the application was eventually granted.
THE BIRCH FOR BAD BOYS. Albert Hearst and Albert Ford, of Upper Holloway, and Albert Thompson, Highgate New Town, schoolboys, were each ordered to receive six strokes with the birch for stealing from No. 22, North-hill, Highgate, a collecting box, containing 2s., for the Metropolitan Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital. Cecil Tilley, 13, William Day, 12, William Hillman, 11, and Albert Thompson, 11, all of Balmore-street, Highgate New Town, were ordered receive six strokes with the birch for being concerned in stealing and receiving the sum of 8s. from shop till at 46, Northroad, Highgate, the property Ada Appleton
"NOT HALF HUNGRY."
Alfred
Hallam, 13, schoolboy, of Balmore-street, Highgate New Town. was
charged with stealing a loaf of bread, worth 2d., from the shop of
Herbert Claude Frisker, of Retcar street. The prosecutor said the
prisoner and other boys were outside of his shop on Tuesday night, when
this lad went in, stole a loaf, and ran away. He dropped the loaf, and
then said he had been induced to take the loaf by other boys' who said
they were not half hungry. They had also (he said) taken a cake. The
boy's mother gave him good character—a regular attendant at school, and a
member of the Church Lads Brigade. Mr. Fordham told him it was
fortunate he had this good character. Eight strokes with the birch rod.
Also, for a flavour of the times