The Recent Game Trespass at Denaby

The Gamekeeper and a Landlord Assaulted

A batch of summonses for assault arising out of the recent game trespass at Denaby were adjudicated upon by the Rotherham Borough magistrates yesterday.

William Coxedge, Joseph Shaw, and James Shaw, miners of Denaby, were charged with assaulting John Bolter, gamekeeper to Mr. J. S. H. Fullerton, J.P., of Thrybergh Hall, and John Edward Topliss, landlord of the Grapes Inn, Dalton Brook. Mr. Hickmott, solicitor, prosecuted, and Mr. Read, solicitor, of Mexborough, defended.

Mr. Hickmott said the assaults arose out of a case of game trespass which came before the West Riding Court on May 27th, when Mr. Fullerton, through his head gamekeeper Bolter, proceeded against Coxedge and Joseph Shaw and two others for trespassing in search of game. On that occasion evidence was given by four policemen, and Bolter was simply put in the box to prove that game existed at the place where the trespass had occurred. Coxedge and Joseph Shaw were fined 20s. and costs each.

James Shaw was called as a witness for the defence, and the case concluded between one and two o’clock. At twenty minutes to three o’clock Bolter and Topliss were returning in company to Thrybergh. Topliss went into a shop to make a purchase, and Bolter waited outside for him.

James Shaw came up and said, “I will kill you for telling lies in court,” at the same time using foul expressions. Bolter replied, “I have said nothing.”

As a matter of fact the whole of the evidence against the defendants was given by the four policemen, who were at the time of the game trespass had been secreted for the purpose of obtaining the defendants. Joseph Shaw struck Bolter a blow on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground. He was getting up when James Shaw hit him on the head, again knocking him down.

While he was on the ground they kicked him, Coxedge being one of the men who did so. Coxedge also struck Bolter a severe blow on the head. Topliss, hearing the noise, ran to the door. Coxedge ran up to him, remarking that he (Topliss) was one of the men who had given evidence in the case. Topliss was struck, but he knew nothing at the moment, it being dark. Coxedge struck him blows on the head and side.

The injuries to Bolter were somewhat severe, and when he reached the police offices his face was covered with blood. Topliss was also hurt in the side. Mr. Hickmott asked the Bench to make an example of the defendants so that persons giving evidence in a court of law might feel that they would be protected.

The complainants, John Lambert and Police-inspector Powell, were called as witnesses. Mr. Read, for the defence, stated that the defendants were on their way to Parkgate Station intending to take the train to Mexborough. They met Bolter, and it was alleged that the latter was the aggressor. The evidence he had to call was very conflicting as compared with that for the complainants.

George Coxedge was called. He said there was only one blow struck, and that was by Topliss himself when Topliss was coming towards him to hit him.

In cross-examination witness said each time the wrong brother had been summoned. He (witness) was the man who was guilty of the game trespass at three o’clock in the morning at Denaby, for which his brother—the defendant William Coxedge—had been fined, and there was now another mistake, for it was not his brother who struck Topliss.

William Coxedge was fined 40s. and costs, and Joseph Shaw and James Shaw were fined 20s. and costs each.