Mexborough & Swinton Times, March 24 1893
Jumping on the Policeman’s Chest
Frederick Smith, labourer, New Denaby,was charged in custody with having been drunk and disorderly at Mexborough, on March 4tb, and with assaulting P.c. Croft.
This P.c. Croft said he was on duty in Doncaster-road, Mexborough, on Saturday week about half-past eleven in the evening. P.c Swann was with him. They heard a disturbance caused by some drunken navvies and no sooner did they try to quell it than they were set upon and struck. One man was very violent, and they got him handcuffed, and were putting a second pair on him, and getting him into the waggonette with the assistance of Swann, when prisoner interposed and struck witness. They closed and rolled about the road together, and prisoner proved the stronger, eventually freeing himself as they got to the hedge bottom.
Prisoner then seized hold of the railings with his hands and jumped on witness’s chest and body, injuring him very severely.
P.CThe. Swann came up, and between them they collared him. The other man they had almost got into the wagon had escaped. Prisoner was not drunk, although he had had something
P.c. Shawn corroborated the evidence. Ian been too much engage with the prisoner whiskey, but only for when he saw prisoner you belong Croft. Peter was not drunk, I was aware of what you are doing.
The charge of drunkenness was withdrawn.
Both constables show signs of the fray, Crossland limped considerably, and had marks on his face,, and his body bore this evidence of prisoners violence. Swan proved n had a patch of plaster on his head.
Prisoner was sent to gaol for a month with hard labour.