Assault at Conisborough

June 1897

Mexborough & Swinton Times, June 4, 1897

Assault at Conisborough

Thomas McHale, collier, Conisborough was charged with assaulting Annie Dalton at Conisborough on May 23rd.

The complainant said on the day stated between 3 and half past, she went down to her brother’s house, her brother being the defendant. She went to see her sister who had come from Balby.

Defendant defined that her sister was there.

Witness as she was going away met defendant’s wife, and asked if shed had seen her sister, Maggie and as she did so her brother came behind her and hit her twice in the temple and once in the mouth, knocking her silly. When he hit her in the mouth he knocked out the two teeth which she produced. Witness had given him no provocation.

Defendant her asked the complainant to speak the truth and said whatever he got he would do it.

Complainant in reply to questions denied that she called defendant “a rotten soldier” And said she had got a revolver to shoot him and Jarvis with. She did not call defendant’s wife names either.

Elizabeth Kerrass said she saw the complainant speak to the defendant’s wife. McHale then came behind complainant and struck her and knocked her senseless. Complainant did nothing to defendant. When the complainant fell on the floor defendant kicked her once or twice.

Catherine Gray said she saw the assault take place and corroborated the story told by the other witnesses.

The defendant said they were all telling one tale because they would get a good drink out of it.

The defendant stated that the complainant came down to his house, and tried to make a bother about his sister She afterwards called defendant’s wife a bad name, and then his temper got the better of him and he struck her.

Ellen Shaw, who was called by the defendant, said the complainant used threats as to what she would do to the defendant for getting her husband six months. The complainant struck the defendant before h raised a hand to her.

Maggie McHale said the complainant caught the defendant’s wife by the throat, and used language not fit for any Christian to hear. /the defendant did not strike the complainant until she had first put her fist in his face and had hit him in the chest. He complainant was a disgrace to their family and has brought nothing but trouble to them since she went to Denaby.

The Chairman said the bench beloved a very violent assault had been committed but they believed there had been considerable provocation.

Fined £2 including costs or one month.

Defendant: “I’ll have to go down the line, because I haven’t a penny.