Aggravated Assaults at Conisborough – A Woman Stabbed

September 1886

Mexborough and Swinton Times September 10, 1886

Aggravated Assaults at Conisborough.
A Woman Stabbed

John Hayes, collier, of Conisbrough was brought up on remand charged with committing an aggravated assault upon his wife, Mary Jane Hayes, on the previous Saturday.

Complainant said the defendant was her husband, and on the previous Saturday morning he ought to have appeared at Doncaster, instead of that he sold a pig and spent all the money. She asked him for some when he “punched” her and asked her to go to Mexborough. She went, whilst he went to Denaby colliery to draw his wage. When he got to Mexborough he was beastily drunk, and struck her there with his fist on her head. He used such beastly language that she got her ticket to go home. He only “catched” her once but struck at her several times. Before she left to go to Mexborough he threatened to kill her. He said “I will kill you when I get to Mexborough.”

When she got her ticket at Mexborough he got in the same compartment of the train, and when they got out of the train at Conisborough she stopped at the station before she dared go up the village for fear of him. The week previous defendant got up to her at night, and struck at her with a knife, but one of her stay bones stopped the blow. She was in fear of her life. Defendant had often assaulted her; kinds without number, she had been married to him about seven years. She had had him up once before but did not appear against him. Now she asked that the bench should give her a separation order. She did not want a maintenance order as she could keep herself. She had only one child – a daughter, married. The reason why she did not ask for a maintenance order was because she always had to keep herself when she lived with him. From what she knew of her husband she believed a policeman had taken him up for an assault in Barnsley market.

Defendant was a collier, and carned sometimes 50s, and sometimes 12s per week. She did not know exactly what he got at the present time. He varied a great deal.

By the defendant: did I insult you on Saturday morning,? Yes

When? Did you not punch me for taking a penny from you.

How many husbands have you had? (Laughter) – I have had thee

How many have you lived with? – The clerk: she is not obliged to answer that question.

Witness: I have had only one husband.

Defendant: I never touched her. – Witness: I have marks upon me. I have one witness but he went to get his money and did not catch the train.

Superintendent Blake said in the other case defendant was charged with unlawfully wounding Mary Elizabeth Orton by stabbing her at the back of the head at Conisborough, complainant was still in a very critical state

defendant: then you allow them to break into people’s houses and do as they like, and carry everything out of the house.

The case was then adjourned to allow the attendance of complainant’s witness.

Prisoner was in charge with the second count.

Supt. Blake said that complainant and her husband were lodging up to recently with the prisoner and his wife. On the night of the assault Orton’s wife went to prisoner’s house and found the door fast, and wanting to get inside proceeded to go through the window, when she got inside she found the prisoner waiting for her. He stabbed her with a knife and kicked her shamefully, and when she got inside he pulled her down on the floor by the hair of the head. She screamed and Police Sgt Noble who was passing heard her, and broke into the house.

Sgt Noble said on the 31st ult. He was on duty in Conisborough about 2 o’clock in the afternoon unhurt cries of “murder” he ran to the prisoner’s house, and there saw Mary Elizabeth Orton attempting to get back out of the window of prisoner’s house, and crying out “murder” and “help.” Blood was running down her neck. He knocked the door open and when he got inside so prisoner standing at the back of the door. He had his hand in his pocket. He took him to the police station, and there searched him, and found a knife in the pocket in which she had first seen his hand. There was blood on the knife, (produced) which was then wet. Before witness left the house Mrs Orton did not make a complaint. She fell down on the floor insensible, and in consequence of her condition was not able to be present in the court that day.

Defendant said when Mrs Orton came through the window he was coming downstairs having heard a noise, and he was “vexed” as soon as he got to the bottom of the stairs he saw her jump through the window. He said to her “you can go back that way if you don’t mind.” He then jumped at her, and after getting her down jumped on her to 3 times. He did not seem to care what he was doing. He never stabbed her. That was God Almighty is true.

Police Sgt Noble said the wound was done by a knife.

Defendant. If it is me God never let me speak again. If she had not at the door I would have let her in, but coming through the window I did not like it. I had only out half an hour and they had nearly emptied the house.

Dr Hill’s spoke to the injuries inflicted on the woman. He found her almost pulseless loss of blood, and for several days her condition was very critical.

The prisoner was committed for trial and in October received a sentence of 18 months with hard labour.