Assault at Denaby

Edwin Burton, a miner of Conisbrough, was summoned by Harry Goodlad for assaulting him on 21st August. The complainant stated that the incident occurred in Sprotboro’ Street at about nine o’clock at night, as he was preparing to go to work. Hearing a disturbance outside, he went into the street and found the defendant’s wife holding his own wife down in the gutter. As he attempted to assist her, the defendant struck him twice.

He was walking away when the defendant followed and dealt him two heavy blows on the head with a poker, allegedly using threatening language referring to the strike. Ernest Adamson gave similar evidence in support of the complainant’s account.

The defendant denied striking the complainant or using the language alleged. He claimed that Goodlad had knocked his wife into the house, after which she picked up the poker, but he took it from her, and the complainant then seized it from him. Robert Bagnall stated that he was present but saw no blows struck, only a struggle between the two men.

The magistrates ordered the defendant to pay 30 shillings, including costs.