Derby Mercury, November 30, 1881
UNRULY BOYS AT SHIRLEY.— Three boys, named Walter Cooke, 13, Benjamin Hall, 14, and John Beeston, 14, were charged by Mr. Wm. Maskery, farmer, with an assault committed on Sunday, 20th November, at Shirley.— It appeared that for some time complainant had been annoyed by the village lads jeering him, he having become unpopular through ordering them off his premises, and to keep the footpath which passes through his yard.— Mr. Maskery and his wife stated that on the day in question the lads came to the yard gate and used bad language, calling Mr. Maskery names. He went towards them, when they threw stones that hit him, and Cooke hit him with a stick.— Mr. Kingdon, the chairman, severely reprimanded the boys, but said that although no doubt an assault had been committed, the magistrates would, in the exercise of the discretion given to them by a recent Act of Parliament, avoid the record of a conviction against them, and dismiss the summons on the defendants paying the costs."District News." Derby Mercury 30 Nov. 1881. 19th Century British Newspapers. Web. 18 May 2016. URL http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/3QHnG1Gale Document Number: GALE|BA3202782760