Did Clint Eastwood character knew that other lady (obviously NOT Locke's character) was not only unpleasant but a...

... guilty criminal?

Is that why in this movie at least 2 or 3 times, even before he found out she may have been guilty in the co-conspiracy behind the terrible violation of Locke's character and her sister, he hit her several times? Was he in the right to do it, no matter how unpleasant she was, if he wasn't privy to such information? Thanks.