Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 21 February 1914
His Last Challenge
Pugilist’s Fatal Fight at Denaby
Kinsley Man’s Serious Position
Inquest Stories
A Verdict of Manslaughter
The circumstances surrounding the Denaby fracas, which ended in the death of Patrick Hopkins, alias Kelly, alias Jimmy Doolan, a miner, of no fixed abode, were fully investigated by Mr. Frank Allen at an inquest held in the Denaby Main Fullerton Hospital, on Friday night. Daniel Wildman, miner, of Balby Street, New Conisboro’, who is under arrest in connection with the affair, was present.
A Past Pugilist
The first witness called was Arthur Colclough, 37, Hirstgate, Mexboro’, a miner, who said he knew the deceased about six years ago, and identified the body as that of Patrick Hopkins, also known as Jimmy Doolan. He would then have been about 24. He used to be a professional pugilist and a miner. “Anything to make money,” added the witness.
Medical Evidence
Dr. James Forster deposed to being called to see deceased outside the Denaby Main Hotel on Wednesday about nine o’clock. He was lying on the footpath, and witness rendered first aid and then had him removed to the Denaby Main Fullerton Hospital. He was suffering from concussion of the brain, and was unconscious. This was the consequence of a fracture of the skull and internal hemorrhage. He saw him next morning about 11-30, when he appeared more deeply unconscious. He died the same day. Witness made a post-mortem examination of deceased, and discovered that he had a fracture on the right side of the head and on the base of the left side. In witness’s judgment both these fractures were consistent with a heavy fall or a heavy blow.
The Coroner: Supposing the deceased was struck under the jaw would that leave an external mark?
Not necessarily. There was no mark on the jaw.
The cause of death, witness added, was concussion of the brain, due to the fractures and the hemorrhage.
By Supt. Minty: He could express no opinion as to the man’s sobriety. He did not smell of drink, nor was there any indication that he was drunk.
The Woman’s Story
Thomas Doolan, 34, Cliff View, barman at the Denaby Main Hotel, stated that on Wednesday he was in the dramshop about 7-45 p.m. when deceased came in. Witness saw him have a pint of beer and take it to a table and sit down. He sat there about ten minutes, and after drinking some of the beer he came to the top end of the bar and got into conversation with some of the customers. This conversation witness did not hear, but he did hear deceased say he had “been travelling with Jim Watson’s boxing show.” Witness then heard him challenge a man named Richard McGrath to fight. McGrath told him to go away about his business, and deceased then shouted a challenge to anyone in the room. He challenged Wildman, and they both left together at witness’s request. This would be about 8-30, and two men named Vaughan and Walton followed them. Witness heard nothing of the disturbance outside, but about 9-30 Wildman came back by the front door, and witness heard Mr. Gibbs (the landlord) tell him to go home.
By Supt. Minty: Both deceased and Wildman were quite sober?
Witness ordered deceased out directly he heard him challenge to fight about 8-20, and he left after witness had again asked him to leave, about 8-30.
A Persistent Challenge
Thomas Edwin Vaughan, of 3, George St., a miner, gave corroborative evidence, and mentioned that he once saw deceased boxing in a booth in Conisboro’. He heard him challenge McGrath several times, but the latter refused. He also challenged Wildman, and he, too, refused. He pressed the challenge two or three times, and finally asked him to have two or three rounds. Wildman consented, and they went out together with witness and David Walton. They both got into fighting attitude, and Hopkins struck Wildman first on the face. Wildman retaliated, striking deceased on the left jaw with his right fist. He dropped on the causeway, and his head struck the pavement “with a rattle.” He made no attempt to rise, and Wildman did not attempt to touch him while he was on the ground. Both men, in his opinion, were under the influence of drink, but were not drunk.
By Supt. Minty: Wildman went back into the hotel, “supped his beer,” and went home. He did not go to deceased’s assistance immediately after he fell. He made no remark on what had happened.
David Walton, a New Conisboro’ miner, also corroborated. Hopkins, he said, twice challenged Wildman to fight, and he refused the first time. Hopkins hit Wildman whilst he was going down the steps, and the only other blow struck was that which knocked deceased down. Both men had had some drink, but were not drunk.
The Coroner: They were what the Irishmen call “better for drink, not worse.” (Laughter.)
Richard McGrath, 2, Cliff View, Denaby, miner, also spoke of the challenging in the hotel. Deceased challenged witness, and said he had been at Goldthorpe, at Watson’s boxing saloon. Witness said “Pick your pair then,” and as he would not bother with Hopkins, the latter then challenged Wildman. The men had had some beer, but were not drunk.
By Mr. Gibbs: He heard them ordered out by the barman. They went out and came back again. He did not hear them ordered out a second time.
What a Child Heard
Catherine Johnson, a fifteen-year-old day-girl, living at 5, Sprotboro’ Street, New Conisboro’, said she was outside the hotel at 8-40. Two men came out of the dramshop, and witness heard one of them say, “Come on, now.” The man who was standing up struck two blows, and she did not see the man who fell strike a blow at all. She heard his head strike the pavement, and the man standing up said, “That will put him right for a bit.” The man who stood up then went into the “Drum,” and two men came to the assistance of the man who had fallen. She could not identify the men, as it was dark.
Supt. Minty: Did you make a statement to the police, and was it taken down in writing?
Witness: I didn’t tell the policeman I could identify the men.
Nurse Steele, charge nurse, said deceased was admitted to the Fullerton Hospital on the 18th inst., at 9-20 p.m., suffering from a fractured skull. He died of his injuries the following day, at 5-10 p.m.
“He Well Deserved It.”
Sergeant Lewendon, stationed at Conisboro’, said in consequence of information received he proceeded to the house of Wildman on Wednesday, and told him he would take him into custody for inflicting grievous bodily harm on a man then unknown, whom he had seen at the Fullerton Hospital at Denaby. He replied, “I expected you coming. Is the man dead?” Witness told him the man was seriously hurt, and he said, “I admit striking him, but he asked for it. He had been on to me for some time in the pub. He deserves to be dead.” Witness took him to Conisboro’ Police Station, and charged him with doing grievous bodily harm to the man mentioned. He replied, “I only struck him once. He —— well deserved it.” The man, in his opinion, was under the influence of drink when witness went to him at 10-50 p.m.
By Supt. Minty: Wildman reeled as he was being taken to the police-station.
Wildman: I walked to the station by myself.
By Mr. Gibbs: That would be about an hour and a half after he left the hotel, and he would have had time to get drunk elsewhere.
The Sergeant added that an insurance card was found on Wildman, bearing the address of Back Road, Balby.
The Summing Up
Summing up, the Coroner said the law did not recognise what was called “fair fights.” A boxing bout was a different thing altogether. It was looked upon as a contest of skill in which no harm was intended. But when two men agreed to settle their differences with a fight to a finish with the intention of inflicting as much harm as they could on each other, it was not a legal contest at all. That was an arranged fight. There was another kind of fight in which two men violently quarrel, and fight in the street, and one received injuries which result in death. The third kind of fight was where one man was the aggressor, and set about another man, and the latter retaliated and killed him. With regard to Wildman there was no necessity for him to fight at all. He could have avoided the man by leaving the room, but he chose to take the other course. He could not advise them to bring in anything less than manslaughter. There was no element of accident or self-defence in the affair.
The jury, after a few minutes deliberation in private, returned a verdict of “Manslaughter,” and added a strong recommendation to mercy.
Wildman was committed to take his trial at the next Leeds Assizes, and was allowed bail, himself in £20, and two sureties in £10 each.
Police Court Proceedings
Prisoner Again Remanded
On Saturday morning, Daniel Wildman appeared before the magistrates at Doncaster West Riding Police Court charged with manslaughter.
Supt. Minty explained that on the previous Thursday the prisoner was charged with causing grievous bodily harm, but since that day the injured man had died, and at the inquest held the previous night a verdict of manslaughter against the prisoner was returned. He asked for a remand till Friday.
The Chairman (Mr. J. W. Hodgson): Have you any objection to this case being adjourned till Friday?
The prisoner: I want to know if you will let me have bail?
The Chairman: We shall have to know more about it before we grant bail.
Sergeant Lewenden, who arrested the prisoner on Wednesday, said he was present at the inquest, when medical evidence was given that the deceased man died from injuries received at the time of the assault. He (Sergt. Lewenden) had that morning charged the prisoner with the more serious charge of manslaughter, and he made no reply.
The Chairman (to prisoner): You can be let out on bail, yourself in £20, and two sureties of £10 each.
The father of the prisoner, a grey-haired old man, who said he was an old-age pensioner, living at Fitzwilliam Terrace, Kinsley, and his (the father’s) son, John Thomas Wildman, of the same address, stood sureties.