As evidenced by the video above , one should never presume that a poise , well - dressed new woman from thirties London is incapable of breaking a neck .
The lady cheerfully threatening to dislocate the human elbow of her assaulter is Miss May Whitley , and for a period of time in the thirties , she entertained Londoners with a degree performance demonstrating the intricacies of ego - defense . Whitley ’s spar spouse — whose dialog consist primarily of moaning in torment — is Charles Cawkell , amemberof Britain ’s first external Judo squad .
By 1934 , however , Whitley and Cawkell ’s spar was taking property in a court . For ground lose to clock time , Whitley had divested herself of Cawkell and was now performing with another Judoka , James Harrison ; an indignant Cawkell assay an enjoinment against their show . He did n’t come through , as newspaper publisher accounts of the geological era feature Whitley promoting her performance along with several other act , including trapeze creative person Blondie Hartley and magician Amac Terin .
The show , ads call , would display “ how promiscuous it is to plow old bag snatchers and refractory husband . ”
According to a March 17 , 1935pieceinThe Straits Times , Whitley ’s deed catch the attention of Ahmed Abdullah , a millionaire from Turkey . “ Ju - Jitsu Girl to We d Rich Turk , ” the newspaper headline blared . The article explained that Abdullah ’s don was a wealthy tobacco merchandiser , making Whitley the eventual inheritress to a luck . Though Abdullah ’s family was initially against the spousal relationship , Whitley was quoted as saying she was ready to convert to Islam : “ I am to be accepted into Muhammedanism . ”
After that dictum , media reportage of Whitley come along to have ceased . accord to soldierly arts historian Joe Svinth , “ May Whitley ” was possibly an give up stage name , and any further newspaper mentions of her adventures likely died along with it . Then again , so did belief about the so - call feeble sex .
