South Yorkshire Times, October 30th 1943

False Teeth Damaged

Kilnhurst Disturbance

Kevin Flamnery (21), miner, of 85, Highthorn Road, Kilnhurst, was at Rotherham on Monday fined £1 for each of two assaults, and ordered to pay £4 damages caused to the artificial teeth of one of the men he struck. A summons for an alleged assault on a woman by kicking her was dismissed. Flannery was given a month in which to pay. Summonses against John A. Watson, steel worker, of 137, Kilnhurst Road, Ryecroft, and his brother, Eric F. Watson, of 4, Deacon’s Bank, Rawmarsh, for alleged assault on Flannery were dismissed. Mr. C. D. Burgess, solicitor, appeared for the Watsons, and Mr. P. J. Crehan, solicitor, for Flannery.

The evidence showed that on the night of Sunday, Oct. 10th, after all the parties had been at a licensed house at Kilnhurst, some trouble arose in the highway. The Watsons asserted that Flannery came up to them as they were walking home with their wives, and taking John A. Watson by the arm, pulled him round, and asked, “De you fancy your chance?” Almost immediately after, according to the story told by the Watsons, Flannery struck John A. Watson, causing him to fall to the ground; he also struck Eric S. F. Watson, who found afterwards that six of the upper teeth in an artificial set had been broken. This damage had been estimated at £4.

The version given by Flannery was that all the parties, then not known to each other, were in the same licensed house on the Saturday night. Afterwards Flannery’s young wife complained to him of John A. Watson as having made a remark to her which she regarded as an insult. On the following night Flannery approached John A. Watson with the object of asking for an explanation. In his evidence, Flannery stated that both the Watsons struck him first, and that there was a struggle.