From the Mitcham Advertiser – Tuesday 8th June 1923, via the British Newspaper Archive.

MITCHAM FEUD.
19 Summonses for Assault.
Peacemaking in Court.
Reluctant Handshaking.

The troubles of the Dixie family, and their friends, have often come before the Croydon County Bench, but never before in such a complicated form as on Saturday, when there were 19 summonses for assault down for hearing. All the trouble came to a head on the same date – May 19th.

Sir Arthur Spurgeon (Chairman of the Bench) acted on Saturday as peacemaker and prevailed on the defendants to shake hands. The summonses were as follows :

Leonard Dixie, 4a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by William Smith, 3a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, for assault at Mitcham on May 19th. He was also summoned by Alfred Hudson, 3a, Seaton-road, on behalf of Alice May Hudson, for assaulting her. The same complainant summoned Britannia Dixie, 4a, Seaton-road, for assault, who was also summoned for assault by William Smith. Mercy Sparrowhawk, 6, Portland-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Amy Deakins 6a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, for assault, and she was similarly summoned by Britannia Dixie and Leonard Dixie. Phobe Smith, 3a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Britannia Dixie, and also by Leonard Dixie, for assault, William Smith, 3a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Britannia Dixie and also by Leonard Dixie, for assault, and Leonard Dixie summoned William Smith, jun., for assault, John Smith, 3a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Leonard Dixie for assault. Alice Hudson, 3a, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Amy Deakins, 6a, Seaton-road, for assault, and was also summoned for a similar offence by Britannia Dixie and Rose Deakins. Mary Deakins, 19, Seaton-road, Mitcham, was summoned by Alfred Hudson, 3a, Seaton-road, on behalf of Alice May Hudson, for assault. Mary Stevens and Thomas Edmund Stevens, 19, Marion-road, Lonesome, Mitcham, were summoned by Louisa Stevens, of the same address, for assault on May 21st. Louisa Stevens did not appear, and these summonses were struck out.

Mr. R. J. Clark appeared for one of the Deakins family, and Mr. Wilberforce Jackson represented Mr. and Mrs. Dixie in eight of the summonses.

Mr. Jackson said the proceedings arose out of a general fight. “What led to the fight?” asked the Chairman. “Was it a wedding or a funeral?”

“I don’t know,” answered the solicitor, “It certainly was not due to hot weather. The fight was going on when my clients came on the scene.”

Mr Clark suggested that all the defendants should be bound over.

The Chairman said he had no idea who was to blame. Supposing the Bench heard all the cases. They knew pretty well what the result would be. What advantage could the parties really get? “My suggestion,” added the Chairman “is that they should shake hands all round and go home.”

There was a general laugh among the Mitchamites in court.

“Of course,” said Mr. Clark, “the best thing would be to bury the hatchet.”

The Chairman, with the parties lined up, asked if they were prepared to let bygones be bygones,

“I always wanted to do that,” remarked the elder Smith. The question was put to each, and with the Warrant Officer’s enforcement in a style before which reluctance gradually melted.

The only one to give a decided “No” was Alice Hudson.

“I will be answerable for my daughter,” Smith explained.

Incidentally, the Chairman said some medical certificates had been put in. Some of the defendants had got bruises; others had lost hair. (Laughter.)

The defendants having all agreed and shaken hands, but with no particular exuberance, the summonses were marked “Withdrawn.”