Disturbing the Peace

John Wilks, police-constable, charged John Panther & Michael George with disturbing the peace in Desborough on the night of the 9th inst., and Grig Higgins with attempting to break the peace at the same time. It appeared that the defendants Panther & George were thought to be fighting, as they were without their coats, and one of them was marked on the face with blood. Several persons were gathered round them, but neither complainant nor his witness saw either of them strike the other. The latter stated that he saw them scuffling. The two defendants denied that they were fighting, and said that one of them had a waistcoat which the other was trying to get from him. They were dismissed; but Higgins, who it was alleged repeatedly challenged some one to fight, was required to find security for his future good conduct.

 Northampton Mercury, Saturday 23 July 1842