Grace Jessie Petch (1865-1943)

Research Notes

Articles

EDUCATIONAL.

Frederick George Porter was summoned for not sending his child regularly to school. Information was given by school attendance officer, Revill, and a fine of 5s. was imposed.

Retford, Gainsborough & Worksop Times (18 September 1896)

LARCENY AT GAINSBOROUGH.

At Gainsborough Police Court on Wednesday, before Messrs. S. Hawksworth and F. Mercer, Grace Jessie Porter, a married woman, was charged with stealing a piece of terra cotta, the property of John Woods, builder, value 8d. Mr. Woods missed the article from his yard, which is near prisoner’s house, and he found it in her yard. She was bound over in £5 to come up for judgment when called upon.

Lincolnshire Echo (11 November 1897)

ALLEGED NEGLECT OF CHILDREN.

On Monday, at Gainsborough Police Court, before Mr. S. Hawksworth, Frederick George Porter was charged with neglecting his three children. Superintendent Edgley said on Friday he visited the prisoner’s house, and found it in a most destitute and unhealthy state. Prisoner, who was apprehended on a warrant, was remanded.

Lincolnshire Echo (16 November 1897)

A HALF-WITTED WIFE.

GAINSBOROUGH MAN’S HEARTLESSNESS.

At Gainsborough Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, Frederick George Porter, a Derby confectioner, but recently employed as a labourer in the boiler-making department of the Gainsborough Britannia Works, was charged with neglecting his children, aged four, six, and 11 years. It was shown that the wife and children had only what they could beg from the neighbours to subsist upon, that defendant beat his half-witted wife, and that even while his furniture was being sold for rent he was the worse for drink, and was smoking a cigar.

The Bench sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment.

Hull Daily Mail (17 November 1897)

NEGLECTING CHILDREN AT GAINSBOROUGH.

At Gainsborough Police Court on Monday, before Mr. S. Hawksworth, a man named Frederick George Porter, was brought up in custody, charged with neglecting his three children. Superintendent Edgley said on Friday he visited prisoner’s house, and found it in a most destitute and unhealthy state. Prisoner, who was apprehended on a warrant at Gainsborough, was remanded.

On Tuesday the prisoner was again charged with neglecting his children, aged four, six, and eleven years. According to the evidence of Dr. Wilkinson, Superintendent Edgley, and others, it appeared that the defendant had refused to continue his work as a labourer at 17s. per week, stating that he was just as well off without it. His house was minus furniture, and next to no bedclothing, and what there was of that was in a filthy condition, and the stench was bad. Only about three ounces of bread was found in the house, and the wife and children had only what they could beg from the neighbours to subsist upon, It was shown that defendant beat his half-witted wife, and that even while his furniture was being sold for rent he was the worse for drink and was smoking & cigar.

In answer to the superintendent’s question, prisoner denied that his home had been broken up through gambling, but a letter was read from his brother which showed that on one occasion he had sent him a cheque for £14, and in that letter he asked him to put the money to good use, and reminded him that he had already broken up three homes through gambling.

Prisoner said part of that was not true. He was a jolly sight better off when he was gambling than he was at the present time. It was true that he was not a bit better off on his 17s. than he was without it. He wanted work at his own trade, and had tried to get it.

Eventually the Bench sentenced him to two months imprisonment.

Sleaford Gazette (20 November 1897)