Person:Eleanor Beeson (1)

Childhood

Eleanor or Ellen Beeson was born on 12th September 1848 at 10 Queen Street, Golden Square, in Westminster. She was the daughter of a domestic servant also called Eleanor Beeson. Her birth, marriage and death records all call her Eleanor, but in newspaper articles, electoral registers and censuses she was generally called Ellen, which is therefore probably how she was known. Young Ellen appears to have been brought up by her grandmother in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire; the 1851 census finds her living at High Street, Rickmansworth, with her grandmother and two uncles, and later in her life Ellen often gave her place of birth as Rickmansworth. Her mother was working as a domestic servant in nearby Harefield at the time of the 1851 census.

In 1855 Ellen's mother married a carpenter named George Croager. By the time of the 1861 census Ellen was living with her mother, stepfather and half-sister at Bricket Wood near St Albans. Some time between 1861 and 1871 Ellen's mother and stepfather moved to Coulsdon in Surrey.

Marriage to Thomas Lewis

Ellen's next sighting is on 4th May 1875 when she was married at Luton in Bedfordshire to a general dealer named Thomas Lewis. A year later they were living at Albert Road, where Ellen was involved in a dispute with her neighbours over whether a cart should be moved or not. Apparently a crowd of about 200 people gathered to watch the dispute. In court later Ellen maintained that she had been acting on her landlord's instructions in moving the cart, and her husband Thomas corroborated her case. She was found guilty of assault and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £1 0s 6d.

In the 1881 census, Ellen and Thomas were living together at 41 Brache Street, and they had a three year old son named Tommy or Thomas. His place of birth is given as London, suggesting that Ellen left Luton for a time around 1877/8. No trace of Tommy's birth or baptism has been found. In 1883 there was a court case where Ellen and Thomas accused a man for abusing their son Thomas, but the case was withdrawn before reaching court. It is not clear what happened to their son Thomas.

Ellen and Thomas separated some time between 1883 and 1885. Thomas set up home with a young woman named Susannah Priscilla Moss, and he went to live with her and her parents on Farley Hill in Luton. Their first child was born in August 1885. It is perhaps related to this that Ellen was convicted for willful damage in November 1884, spending eleven days in Bedford Gaol. Her gaol record describes her as being 4'10" tall with brown hair.

A newspaper report records that in June 1885 Ellen had gone to the Moss's house on Farley Hill, apparently to ask for her husband, and ended up smashing a window and trading insults with Mrs Moss (Susannah Priscilla's mother, Bethia). Mrs Moss said in court that Ellen lived with another man. The case was dismissed. A few weeks later Ellen is mentioned in the local press again; this time as a witness, but it makes clear that she was living with a man named John Nash.

Later life

Ellen appears to have lived with John Nash from some time before 1885 until his death in 1924. He worked as a fish hawker. Ellen was on several occasions prosecuted for using foul language and minor assaults, often against her neighbours. Examples of the language she used are not recorded in the newspaper reports, but in one case in 1909 it was reported that examples of her language were quoted in court "which made the Mayor blush, and caused him to hide his face with his hand."

Ellen is also reported as having taken in children to care for, with reference to an adopted son William Albin in 1912, although he does not appear in any of the censuses living with Ellen and John. Electoral registers shows that Ellen and John lived at 7 Hastings Street in Luton from at least 1918 onwards until their deaths.

John Nash died in 1924. Ellen lived to be 82 years old. She died on 28th March 1931 at the Luton Union Workhouse.

1. ↑ Birth certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   REGISTRATION DISTRICT REGISTRATION DISTRICT Saint James Westminster
   1848 BIRTH in the Sub-District of Saint James's Square in the County of Middlesex
   No.	When and where born	Name, if any	Sex	Name and surname of father	Name, surname and maiden name of mother	Occupation of father	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
   494	Twelfth September 1848 10 Queen Street, Golden Square	Ellenor	Girl	-	Ellenor Beeson	-	Ellenor Beeson Mother 10 Queen Street, Golden Square	Fourth October 1848	James Roberts Registrar

   
2. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1714; Folio 424; Page 14, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: High Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   Sarah Beeson, head, widow, female, 54 [1796/7], Pauper / Char Woman, b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   John Beeson, son, unmarried, male, 17 [1833/4], Lab[ourer], b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   Benj[amin] Beeson, son, male, 10 [1840/1], Scholar, b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   Alfred Burges, lodger, unmarried, male, 22 [1828/9], Gardener, b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   Ellen Beeson, granddaughter, female, 2 [1848/9], b. London, Middlesex

3. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 831; Folio 72; Page 15, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: Brickett Wood, St Albans (St Stephen), Hertfordshire
   George Croager, head, married, male, 38 [1822/3], Carpenter, b. Huntingdonshire
   Eleanor Croager, wife, married, female, 34 [1826/7], b. Huntingdonshire
   Sarah Croager, daughter, female, 6 [1854/5], Scholar, b. Middlesex
   Ellen Beeson, visitor, female, 13 [1847/8], b. Hatfield, Hertfordshire

   Although Ellen's birthplace here is given as Hatfield, it is clearly her as she is living with her mother and stepfather.

4. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 1648; Folio 15; Page 23, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 41 Brache Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   Thomas Lewis, head, married, male, 31 [1849/50], Pedlar, b. Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire
   Ellen Lewis, wife, married, female, 34 [1846/7], b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   Tomey Lewis, son, male, 3 [1877/8], b. London, Middlesex

5. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 1273; Folio 97; Page 31, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 5 Chase Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   John Nash, head, single [married crossed out], male, 28 [1862/3] Fish Hawker, employed, b. Luton, Bedfordshire
   Eliza [sic] Lewis, lodger, married, female, Bonnet Sewer, employed, b. Whatford [sic] Hertfordshire

6. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 1517; Folio 18; Page 28, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 16 Chase Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   4 rooms occupied
   Lewis Allen [sic], head, married, female, 44 [1856/7], Straw Hat Sewer, worker - at home, b. Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
   John Nash, lodger, single, male, 38 [1862/3], Farm Laborer, worker, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

7. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), (formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 9004; Schedule 351, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 24 Cobden Street, Luton, Bedfordshire
   4 rooms occupied
   Ellen Lewis, head, female, 61 [1849/50], married, Chairwoman, b. Watford, Hertfordshire
   John Nash, boarder, male, 50 [1860/1], Laborer, b. Luton, Bedfordshire

8. ↑ Death certificate, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   Registration District Luton
   1931 DEATHS in the Sub-district of Luton in the County of Bedford
   No.	When and where died	Name and surname	Sex	Age	Occupation	Cause of death	Signature, description and residence of informant	When registered	Signature of registrar
   419	Twenty eighth 1931 11a Dunstable Road, U.D.	Eleanor Lewis	Female	81 years	Of 7 Hastings Street, Luton UD Widow of Thomas Lewis, General Hawker	I(a) Erysipelas II Morbus Cordis (No pm) Certified by J. Andrew Clarke M.B.	Walter Richards Occupier 11a Dunstable Road, Luton	Thirty first March 1931	Edward Barnard, Registrar

   
   11a Dunstable Road was the address of the Luton Union Workhouse.
9.   Bedfordshire Record Office. Bedfordshire Gaol Register. (Bedford).

   Name: Ellen Lewis
   Record ID: 43124
   Reference Doc: BLARS PRIS2/2/3
   ID in Reference Doc: 4591
   Age: 33 [1850/1]
   Height: 4 feet 10 inches
   Hair: Brown
   Occupation: Charwoman
   Religion: Church of England
   Birth Town: Rickmansworth
   Offence: Wilful damage
   Committed: 8 Nov 1884
   Gaol: Bedford Gaol
   Sentence: 7 days hard labour of 23/6d
   Discharge Date: 19 Nov 1884

10.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Saturday 3 June 1876.

    LUTON BOROUGH SESSIONS.
    MONDAY LAST.
    Before the Rev. H.B. Smyth and Mr A.P. Welsh, County Justices.
    FEMININE QUARRELS.
    Ellen Lewis, of Albert-road, sewer, was charged with assaulting Martha Morgan at Luton, on May 23. There was a cross summons, and Lewis was further charged with assaulting Newby Smith, on May 29.
    Mr J.G. Shepheard appeared for Lewis and Mr W. Neve Morgan.
    Martha Morgan said she was a sewer, working at Mr Crick's, Albert-road, and was in the work room on Tuesday, when she heard a noise. She went down to the gateway, with Mr. Crick, and found defendant making a disturbance, when Lewis hit her on the cheek, and she became senseless, and did not recover for an hour.
    Isaac Marrioner, manufacturer, was standing opposite Crick's, and saw him put the cart in the gateway which Lewis's had previously put out. Both men and their wives came out, one party trying to put in the cart and the others to keep it out. Mrs Lewis said she should like to fight Crick, and bad language was used. Defendant struck Martha Morgan, and she was knocked down senseless.
    George Marshall, blocker, corroborated.
    Newby Crick spoke to the "good lady" (the defendant) striking Martha Morgan, and to her this morning spitting twice in his face.
    Thomas Coole, dyer, also spoke to the spitting.
    The cross-summons was then heard, and a charge against William Andrews, of Church-street, blocker, for assaulting Ellen Lewis.
    Mrs Lewis said that in consequence of authority from Mr Pledge, the landlord, Crick's cart was put out from their gateway, and the gate fastened. Crick then broke it open with an axe, and then a disturbance occurred. She went down, when Martha Morgan pushed her, on which she struck her. Andrews made himself very forward, and gave her a black eye without saying anything. As to the alleged spitting, she was not guilty – she spat on the ground, but not at him.
    Thomas Lewis said he was a tenant of Mr Pledge's and by his orders turned out Crick's cart. A distrubance followed, and 200 people flocked round like a flock of sheep. He corroborated his wife.
    Annie Saunders, sewer, introduced as "Warned this morning," corroborated.
    Mr Neve re-called Isaac Mariner, who said the evidence given by the Lewises and their witness was quite false.
    George Marshall was also re-called, and spoke to the same effect.
    Mr Shepheard re-called Mrs Saunders to say what she had previously stated was true.
    The Chairman said there seemed to have been a great deal of hard swearing and bad temper, but they decided to convict Ellen Lewis of assaulting Martha Morgan, fining her 1s. and 10s. costs, allowing 3s. to Morgan; also for assaulting Crick, and she was fined 9s 6d. costs; and the charge by her of assault by Andrews was dismissed.

11.   Luton Reporter, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 4, 25 Aug 1883.

    BOROUGH SESSIONS.-The only case before the Bench on Saturday last that did not seem to be connected with the Salvation Army proceedings was a summons against Arthur Dell, labourer, of Langley-street, Luton, for assaulting a little boy named Thomas Lewis. There was a cross-summons, charging Thomas Lewis and Ellen Lewis, the parents of the child, living in Brache-street Luton, with using abusive language towards Dell. Mr. Ewen appeared for the Lewises, and before the case was heard it was agreed between the parties to withdraw the summonses, each party paying the other's costs.

12.   Luton Reporter, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 4 Jul 1884.

    LUTON BOROUGH SESSIONS.
    SATURDAY, June 20.
    Before: Mr. W. Phillips (chairman), Mr. J. Higgins, and Mr. J.J. Kershaw
    CHARGE OF DAMAGING A WINDOW.
    Ellen Lewis, residing in Dorset-street, was charged with doing a shillings worth of damage to a window in the house of William Moss, Farley Hill on the 23rd. She tendered a plea of not guilty.
    Mrs. Moss said that the defendant came to her house in the evening of the day in question, and after having some altercation with witness at the door she shoved her fist through a pane of the window. She had broken one of her windows on a previous occasion.
    Defendant said she went to Mrs. Moss's to ask for her husband, but this plaintiff denied.
    Two daughters of the plaintiff gave corroborative evidence, saying that the defendant called their mother "all the names she could lay hold on." She also alluded in bad language to her married sister.
    Defendant alleged that her husband lived with a daughter of Mrs. Moss and she went and asked her for him. She had done some work and she went to ask for payment.
    The case was dismissed.

13.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 3 Jul 1885.

    LUTON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
    SATURDAY, June 27.
    Before W. Phillips, Esq. (chairman), J. Higgins, Esq., and J.J. Kershaw, Esq.
    LOW LIFE.
    ELLEN LEWIS, Dorset-street, was summoned for damage to a window, the property of Wm. Moss, 184, Farley Hill, June 23.
    Mrs. Moss said that about 8.30p.m. the defendant came to her house, and without and provocation, shoved her hand through the window, smashing it all to pieces. It cost 1s. to repair. Defendant "called her everything she could lay her tongue to," "the nasty blackguard," added the witness.
    Defendant said that she went there to ask for her husband.
    Witness said she did not on that night.
    Defendant said her husband lived there with Mrs. Moss's daughter.
    Mrs. Moss retorted that "she (defendant) lived with another man."
    Defendant said she had done some work, and went to ask her husband for 5s. for it, when Mrs. Moss called her a foul name.
    The Bench dismissed the case.

14.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 10 Jul 1885.

    A MARKET QUARREL.
    JOHN NASH, Dorset-street, fish dealer, was summoned for assaulting Edward Curtis, 105, Newtown-street, fish dealer, July 4.
    The parties were at stalls in the fish market on Saturday evening, working for the same master, when complainant asked defendant for change for a shilling. Instead of giving it defendant struck him in the eye, and since then he had threatened he would "do for him."
    Defendant said some words arose between them about the position of complainant's haddocks, which spoilt his market, when he said he would "send him to his mate at Bedford."
    Fined 15s. including costs, or 14 days' hard labour, and bound him over to keep the peace for 6 months in £5.
    Mrs. Lewis, a woman separated from her husband, assisted the defendant in making up the fine, and he was liberated.

15.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 14 Aug 1885.

    LUTON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
    SATURDAY, August 8.
    Before W. Phillips, Esq. (chairman), and A.T. Webster, Esq.
    SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NEWTOWN.
    JOHN NASH, AND JAMES FACER were summoned for assaulting Charles Bigg, August 2nd. Bigg was charged with assaulting Facer.
    Complainant, an elderly man, said that on Sunday afternoon, at 2.30, he was in Newtown-stewart, near the "Sugar Loaf," when Facer came behind and hit him on the back of the head. Asked him what he meant, when he said he could have another, and hit him in the eye. He was knocked down. At 6p.m. he was in New Town, he was talking to Benjamin Mead when Nash called him, and said he heard that he was going to summon him. He said no such thing. On that Nash gave him a bit of a shove, but he didn't think he did it intentionally, and he fell on his back.
    Clerk: On the 6th you said Nash struck you in the eye, knocking you down, and cutting your head?
    Witness: Yes, I did, but he shoved me in the chest.
    Nash admitted the showing, but said he didn't mean to hurt to the man.
    Benjamin Mead gave evidence of the affair, to some extent supporting Nash's statement.
    Facer deposed that Bigg cam up and struck him knocking him down, and then kicked him.
    Bigg said he had no chance to anything of the sort.
    Charles Barton said there were 14 or 15 outside the "Sugar Loaf;" one of them said something to Bigg "in the New Town way," when Bigg struck Facer without any cause and then they had a scuffle and both fell.
    Cross-examined: Did not see Facer strike you.
    Bigg declare that he never struck anyone, but as soon as he could get up he went off home.
    The Chairman said there was a long list of offences against both of them. They were convicted of the present charge, and fined Nash 15s. including costs, and Facer 12s. or 14 days hard labour. Both of them being under recognizances to keep the peace, might be sent to prison for the whole of the six months. They thought Facer had also committed an assault, and fined him 10s. including costs, or 7 days' hard labour.
    The Clerk informed Nash and Facer that they were at the mercy of anybody in the town who chose to estreat their recognizances, on which they would be sent to prison for 6 months.
    LOW LIFE IN LUTON.
    ALFRED DIMMOCK, aged 17, of 42, Albert road, was summoned for assaulting and threatening Joseph Clark, Dorset-street, labour, August 5.
    This was a squabble between two boys of an extraordinary nature.
    Complainant, who is 16 years of age, said: On Sunday morning Dimmock came into our house, asked me why I hadn't finished the peas I was shelling, and said he would punch my - head for me. He also said that he (defendant) had heard I was going to tell father about his coming to sleep there with mother (Mrs. Goodman) while father was away in the hay country, and if I did he (defendant) should knock my head off. Owing to these threats I left home, and stayed away for a week being afraid of him.
    Ellen Lewis (a married woman separated from her husband, and living in the same house with the defendant Nash in the previous case) was present, and heard the threats and corroborated complainant as to the reason of them.
    Defendant said he accused complainant of telling falsehoods about him, and said he should hit him if he did so any more, "and so he should," he added.
    Complainant said he came and slept at the house three nights running one week.
    Defendant said it was only done out of spite, because he (complainant's) father daren'ts say anything to him (laughter).
    Mr. Webster: Oh! are you so dangerous a character as that? (laughter).
    Defendant is a diminutive lad for his age.
    The Chairman observed that defendant had been summoned before for assault, and for his present misconduct he would be fined 15s. including costs, or 14 days' hard labour. If he came up again, his father would have to be bound over for his better behaviour.

16.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 28 Aug 1885.

    LUTON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
    SATURDAY.
    Before W. Phillip, Esq. (chairman), C. Mees, Esq., and J. Higgins Esq.
    ASSAULT
    ALFRED WALLER, labourer, of Langley-street, was summoned for assaulting Ellen Lewis, August 17.
    Complainant said about 10p.m. she was against the "Sugar Loaf," Newtown-street, when she saw the defendant having a few words with John Nash. She went up and said "you won't hit him," when defendant struck her in the chest and knocked her in the road. She denied being drunk.
    John Nash corroborated.
    It was defendant's 15th appearance.
    Fined 10s. including costs, or 7 days' hard labour.

17.   Luton Reporter, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 3 Jun 1893.

    NO APPEARANCE.
    John Nash, 13, Chase-street, was charged with assaulting and threatening Ellen Lewis, of 13, Chase-street, on the 25th May.-Prosecutrix did not appear, defendant remarking that she would not appear.-Defendant was discharged, and Sergeant Haines said the defendant was wanted on a committment for 1s.-This money was paid, and the defendant then left the Court.

18.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 29 Jun 1894.

    LUTON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
    SATURDAY, JUNE 23.
    Before the Mayor (Mr. A. Hucklesby), Mr A.T. Webster, Mr. J. Higgins, and Major Carruthers.
    A ROW IN CHASE STREET.
    HENRY BARTON, Chase-street, was charged with having used threats towards Ellen Lewis, 21, Chase-street, on the 19th June.
    Complainant stated that on Tuesday afternoon, about four o'clock, she was seated on the door step of No. 19, Chase-street, opposite her house, with a piece of needlework in her hand. The defendant came up the worse for drink, but she did not see him until he commenced blackguarding her. She did not, however, know he meant her until he had walked down the street, and came back with two iron-tipped sticks in his hand. He came up to her and said, "The 15s. sticks here (pointing to his breast): I will do for the - old -" She said "Do you mean me?" He replied "Yes," and aimed a blow at her with one of the sticks, which, instead of hitting her, broke one of her windows. She feared he would do her an injury.
    Daniel Dillingham, Sarah Dillingham, and Annie Hole corroborated, and added that the defendant threw the sticks at the window and broke three panes.
    Mrs. Lewis, recalled, said the allusion to the 15s. was a fine imposed on the defendant's son for having broken a window, when she was summoned as a witness by the landlord of the house.
    Defendant said the complainant insulted him as he was passing her, and provoked him to the assault.
    Louisa Walker corroborated.
    Defendant was ordered to pay the costs £1 8s. 6d., and bound over to keep the peace for six months in the sum of £5.
    The Mayor said the case reflected on the conduct in Chase-street. He hoped the inhabitants would try and bring about a better state of things. From time to time in that Court they had cases before them which were a disgrace to those living there.

19.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 14 Jul 1899.

    LUTON BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.
    WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH.
    Before Messrs. R.S. Tomson (in the chair), J. Higgins, H.O. Williams, and Lieut.-Colonel Carruthers.
    CHASE STREET AMENITIES.
    EMMA BUTTERFIELD, of Chase-street, was summoned for using insulting words towards Ellen Lewis, of 108, New Town-street. There was a cross summons.
    Mr Lathom appeared for Mrs Lewis.
    It appears that the parties are neighbours, and on the very frequent occasions they saw each other in the privacy of their back gardens they employed the time in hurling invectives at each other. It was alleged by Mrs Butterfield that Mrs Lewis, not content with merely using vituperative language, caused ash dust to fly over her clean clothes which were hanging out to dry.
    Both were bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for 6 months, and to pay the costs.

20.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 26 Oct 1900.

    Luton Borough Petty Sessions.
    WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24.
    Before the Mayor (Alderman A.J. Hucklesby), Mr. J. Higgins, Mr. R.S. Tomson, Mr. L. Gidding, and Mr. G. Warren.
    "BESTIAL" LANGUAGE IN CHASE STREET.
    Fredk. Warner, Chase-street, was summoned for using obscene language in that thoroughfare on Oct. 20th.
    Mrs. Lewis, of Chase-street, was the complainant.
    Defendant excitedly exclaimed that he could bring "three parts of the street" to prove that this lady was the cause of the disturbance. He admitted that he had called her bad names, but nothing so bad as she was (laughter).
    Defendant (to complainant): Didn't you smash our windows a little while back? - No.
    Defendant (despairingly): She'll break anybody's windows. It's no good asking her any questions. I wish I had never knowed who she was. She would make anybody carry on.
    The Mayor said that the defendant was convicted of using "shocking and bestial language," and he would be fined 15s., or 7 days.

21.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 6 Sep 1901.

    Luton Borough Sessions.
    SATURDAY, AUGUST 31.
    Before the Mayor (Alderman L. Giddings), Mr. W. R. Phillips, Mr. J. Higgins, and Mr. W.T. Lye.
    NOT OBSCENE.
    JNO. CAPEL, Chapel-street, was summoned for using obscene language in Hitchin-road, on August
    31st.
    Matilda Toyer gave evidence as to the language used, but the Bench held that the expression was not obscene and dismissed the case.
    THE RESULT OF "BLACKGUARDING."
    ELLEN LEWIS, 16, Chase-street, was summoned for a similar offence on the same day.
    Defendant pleaded not guilty to using obscene language, but "guilty to blackguarding."
    Sarah Waller, 21, Chase-street, proved the case.
    Defendant: I'm fairly crushed into the earth.
    The Chief Constable: This is her 14th conviction. She has been here 4 times for using abusive language.
    The Mayor told her that she would have to "stop it," and fined her 15s. including costs.
    Defendant: I have no means whatever.
    The Mayor: Seven days is the alternative.
    Defendant: I will take the decision of the Court.
    Chief Inspector Rogers: Come this way then.
    Defendant: Thank you, if I may.

22.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 6 Jun 1902.

    Luton Borough Sessions.
    SATURDAY, MAY 31ST.
    Before the Mayor (Alderman L. Giddings), Mr. James Higgins, Mr. W.R. Phillips, and Colonel Carruthers.
    NEIGHBOURS AT WAR.
    ELLEN LEWIS, 20, Chase-street, was summoned for using abusive words towards the complainant, Sarah Waller, next door neighbour, on May 19th.
    There was a cross-summons.
    Witnesses were called on both sides, and a wordy harangue ensued. Expressions alleged to have been used were given openly in Court, causing the Clerk to remark: You are a very nice lot of people up there, I must confess (laughter).
    Eventually the Mayor said: We have decided to dismiss the cases, each part to pay their own costs, 3s. We think one is as bad as the other. Go home and conduct yourselves properly.

23.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 7 Jul 1905.

    Luton Borough Sessions.
    SATURDAY, JULY 1st.
    Before: Mr. J. Higgins (in the chair), Mr. G. Warren, Mr. W.T. Lye, and Mr. J.H. Staddon.
    INSULTING WORDS.
    ELLEN LEWIS, Chase-street, was summoned for using insulting words towards Elizabeth Jackson, a neighbour.
    Mr. Lathom appeared to prosecute.
    The evidence of the complainant and a witness went to show that on Friday night, defendant came out of her house and called defendant all the bad names she could think of. No provocation whatever was given.
    Defendant denied that she said Mrs. Jackson was a thief, but she asked her "if she was not a thief" (laughter).
    The Clerk: That is a neat way of putting it. Even supposing she was a thief, what right have you got to call her one?
    Mrs. Lewis: Then she ought to leave me alone.
    Defendant was bound over, and ordered to pay 12s. 6d. costs.

24.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 24 Sep 1909.

    Luton Borough Sessions.
    WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND.
    Before the Mayor (Mr. H. Arnold), Mr. R.S. Tomson, and Mr. F.J. Brown.
    THE AMENITIES OF COBDEN-STREET.
    LILY MORGAN, married woman, living in Cobden-street, was summoned by Ellen Lewis, also a married woman, living next door, for using language calculated to cause a breach of the peace on Sept. 14th.
    The offence was denied.
    Mr. H.W. Lathom, in opening the case for the complainant, explained that Mrs. Lewis was slightly afflicted, as she had lost one eye. The parties lived next door to one another. Since taking out the summons, Mrs. Lewis had had to seek police protection. It was a case where the complainant had no witness, as the only person who saw the disturbance, was the woman next door, and she was the defendant's landlady.
    Mrs. Lewis told the Bench that between 9 and 10 o'clock on the night in question she was having her supper, and had two friends in the house. Mrs. Morgan came and listened under witness's window. What they were talking about did not concern the defendant, and witness went out and told her to go away. It was then that Mrs. Morgan called her bad names, and threatened to knock her eye out with the scrubbing brush.
    A long argument took place between the parties as to the precise words that were used.
    Defendant denied that she threatened complainant; it was the woman next door. Mrs. Lewis called her all the filthy names imaginable.
    Alfred James Morgan, the husband of defendant, declared, in so many words, that complainant started the row, and when he went to see her about using filthy names towards his wife, Mrs. Lewis politely invited him into the house, assuring him that he would meet with a "warm" reception.
    Jane Hall, who said she lived in the same house as the defendant, stated that Mrs. Lewis caused the disturbance by her bad language. The witness gave a few choice specimens, which made the Mayor blush, and caused him to hide his face with his hand.
    Sergt. Duncombe, called, said after the summons was issued complainant called at the office and complained about being molested by the Morgans. In consequence a constable was instructed to give special attention to that particular locality.
    Defendant remarked that it was Mrs. Lewis who always upset the peace of the neighbourhood.
    The Bench ordered defendant to pay the costs, amounting to 10s. 6d., and be bound over in the sum of 40s. for six months.
    The Mayor said the magistrates did not think that the fault was all on one side. There seemed to have been a certain amount of bad language used by both parties. Therefore, in the interests of the neighbourhood, the Bench had decided to also bind the complainant over in the sum of 40s. for six months, and to pay 3s. costs.
    Mrs. Lewis said she had not the slightest objection to being bound over, but she should certainly not pay any costs.
    The parties were then formally bound over, and on the advice of her solicitor, complainant agreed to pay the costs of that proceeding.

25.   Luton Times and Advertiser, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Friday 28 Jun 1912.

    Luton Borough Sessions.
    WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH.
    Before the Mayor (Mr. H.O. Williams) in the chair, Mr. R.S. Tomson, and Mr. G. Ordish.
    AN AXE, A JUG, AND A SAUCEPAN.
    ELLEN LEWIS, of 24, Cobden-street, was summoned for assaulting George Punter, on June 22nd,
    and pleaded guilty.
    The complainant said that between one and two o'clock and Saturday he was going to fetch a pail of water from the tap when the defendant hit him behind the head, and as he was going into the house to prevent her striking him with a chopper, she hit him on the head with a jug, breaking the jug.
    The Clerk: What did she do it for? - I don't know, I haven't spoken to her for eight months.
    The defendant said that what happened was that he struck at her, but she happened to have first blow. "He came into my house, and got me up a corner, and likewise his son."
    A lad named Walter Albin, the adopted son of defendant, said that the water tap was running and the water went into their barn; Mrs. Lewis looked out and said that if Punter came in she would hit him with an axe. He did go in, and she hit him on the head with a saucepan. The cause of the trouble was that Mrs. Lewis adopted Punter's child, and she sent it home: ever since then there had been a lot of ill feeling.
    The Clerk: Is this woman licensed to take in children?
    The Chief Constable: No.
    The Clerk: Then the Corporation's attention should be drawn to it.
    The Chairman announced that the case would be dismissed, but told the parties they must live at peace.
    Mrs. Lewis: I have lost the sight of one eye, and has he the right to threaten to knock the other one out?
    The Mayor: You must agree to live side by side without any more trouble.

26.   Luton Reporter, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 6, 1 Feb 1921.

    Luton magistrates on Saturday dismissed a summons brought by Mrs. Ellen Lewis, 7, Hastings Street, a 71-year-old widow, stated to have been bound over on several occasions, against Mrs. Emily Barnes, 20, Spring Place, a member of the Salvation Army, for alleged threats on Thursday. Trouble was stated to have arisen out of a complaint by Mrs. Barnes, of Mrs. Lewis's alleged treatment of children playing near her house, and on Mrs. Barnes' behalf Mr. F.W.F. Latham withdrew a cross-summons.