WHISTLING THE 'MASHER', EXETER, 1884

The Exeter Flying Post of 26th March 1884 reported how a young lad's complaint caused the Rector of St Olave's church, the Rev.John Ingle, to be summoned before the Exeter Police Court to answer a charge of assault.  It was affirmed in court that two boys, William Denham and Fred Harper,:both telegraph messengers with the Exeter Post-office, ....:

"...were walking up Fore-street on Wednesday afternoon.  Denham was whistling the familiar air of the 'masher' and on arriving outside St. Olaves Church they met the Rev. John Ingle.  The defendant then went near to the complainant, and said 'I don't pay you boys for whistling in the streets.' and he thereupon, as complainant stated 'fetched' him a blow in the mouth.  His fist was half closed,  The blow caused his mouth to bleed,  Complainant exclaimed 'That is the second time you have hit me today, and I shall report it this time.'   The complainant [in fact, the defendant!] rejoined, (wringing his fist) . 'If you don't go along I will give you another in the 'chops''   The boys then went on, followed by the rev. gentleman, and at the corner of Mary Arches-street the latter demanded Denham's number.  Denham subsequently complained to a constable that he had been assaulted, and he also went to the Station-house, where he saw Inspector Wotton.  His face was bleeding a little at the time."  

To their credit the police and subsequently, reluctantly, the Court , accepted young William Denham's claim that he had been assaulted by the Rector of St. Olave's and the Reverend.John Ingle was fined 5s and the expenses.  The magistrates made it clear that they were unhappy that the case had been brought forward.  The fine was nominal but the principle that grown men, even reverend ones, ought not to assault boys when they whistle in the streets had been established at the Exeter Police-court..

I wonder how it goes, that familiar air of  the 'masher'.   Does anybody know?

The chops = chaps, and, according to my Lloyds Encyclopaedic Dictionary, 1895,  means, curiously enough, the jaw.