Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 19 May 1893

Highway Robbery and Assault at Conisborough

Henry Taylor and John Hepworth, labourers, Conisborough, were charged in custody with highway robbery from the person of William Cotton, labourer, New Denaby.

William Cotton said that on Monday last he walked towards Conisborough about nine in the morning. He went as far as Conisborough Wood and into the fields a little way from the Doncaster road. He sat down on a stone beside the footpath leading from the Doncaster road. Whilst he sat there the two prisoners came to him, and he did not notice them until they were close upon him.

Before he had sat down he had half-a-crown in his vest pocket. He had noticed it when he pulled out his pipe to light it. Taylor said he was trespassing—the field belonged to his father. He said, “All right, I’ll be walking,” and he walked down the field. Taylor said, “You’ll have to pay for this.” They said, “What money have you?” and he replied, “Very little, and none for you.”

He had got near the gate when he noticed Hepworth coming behind him. Taylor, who was in front, then turned round and said, “I want your money,” and he hit him on the side of the head and knocked him against the wall. The little man (Hepworth) then put his legs behind him as he was getting up and threw him again. He struggled with them, and then he felt one searching his waistcoat pocket. He shouted for help, as he had seen people in the lane just before he sat down. He struggled free and got away, but when he felt in his pocket the half-crown was gone. He had been so upset he had not been able to go to work since the occurrence. Two women in the lane knew the men, and their names were communicated to the police.

Cross-examined: It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when the men first came to him. He was not drunk when he got over the wall. He had not had beer enough. He did not fall down; he sat down.

Walter Lister, miner, Conisborough, said he was down Minniemoor Lane on the Monday in question with his wife and sister-in-law. He saw Cotton seated inside the Minniemoor field. The two prisoners were close to the wall and near the complainant. He saw Cotton get up from his seat and walk down the footpath. Taylor got over the wall into the lane, and Hepworth followed the old man down the footpath. Taylor ran to the bottom and got under the wall into the field again about three or four yards off the complainant. He saw Taylor strike the complainant in the face, but he did not see Hepworth do anything but stand behind him. The blow which Taylor gave to the complainant knocked him against Hepworth. He saw the complainant try to get away, and heard him shout, “Hello! Stop! help!” as he came running towards them. When complainant reached them he was some time before he could speak. Taylor then hid behind the wall, but Hepworth sat on the top of the wall. The two prisoners walked along the Doncaster road, and then he heard Hepworth shout to Taylor, who was a little in front, and pull something out of his pocket and show it to him, and then return it to his pocket. They both then went to Dean View Terrace, where Taylor lives.

Elizabeth Crabtree, wife of William Crabtree, Conisborough, said she was with Lister and his wife in Minniemoor Lane. She saw the prisoners and the old man, and saw Taylor hit him in the face and saw Hepworth put his foot against the old man’s feet. She shouted to them, saying, “What are you going to do with the old man?” and the complainant shouted for help. When they had shouted the prisoners let the man go.

P.C. Parker arrested Taylor at his lodgings. He charged him, and the prisoner said, “I never touched the old man.”

P.S. Ambler apprehended Hepworth at the Star Inn, Conisborough, on Monday evening, and he made a long statement to the effect that he and Taylor went into the Minniemoor and saw the old man drunk. Taylor rubbed his face against the prosecutor’s, and then the old man went down the field. They asked him for money, and when he refused Taylor pushed him. They took his money and the old man ran up the field.

The prisoners were committed to the Quarter Sessions for trial.