South Yorkshire Times, November 3rd 1933
A “Terror”
“He’s the terror of Kilnhurst, he’s always fighting,” said a Kilnhurst boy, aged 15, in a case at Rotherham on Monday, when Harry Lane (17), of Kilnhurst, was summoned for having assaulted the boy on Oct. 8th. The boy told the magistrates that he and several other boys were coming out of the recreation ground at Kilnhurst when they met Lane. They told him twice they did not want him with them.
Lane said he had some knuckle-dusters in his pocket and he wanted to try them. “He made no more to do, but hit me twice in the eye,” said witness. In answer to the chairman (Mr. J. S. Colton Fox) witness said marks under his eye were the remains of a black eye. He thought that Lane hit him with his fist, but he could not say whether he had a knuckle-duster on. The boy’s mother said that as a result of the blows she had to take her son to be examined by an eye specialist. Two other boys, one 13 and the other 14, gave evidence in support. They said that Lane had something on his fingers. Lane pleaded that he struck in self-defence. The other boy had a bicycle clip in his hand and threatened to strike him. Witness struck first with his fist. He had nothing on his fingers.
The Chairman said it was quite clear that Lane struck the boy a violent blow and undoubtedly he must have had something in his hand. He would be fined 20s., which he must pay at the rate of 2s. per week, and he would be bound over in the sum of £3 for 12 months.