Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 03 June 1892
A Scene in the Conisbrough Theatre
James Westwood, pit corporal, was charged with having assaulted Leonard Price, labourer, Conisbrough and also with having assaulted Harriot Price, his wife.
John Westwood was charged with having assaulted Leonard Price, and Daniel Edwards, pony driver was charged with having assaulted Leonard Price.
Mr Baddiley appeared for the complainant, and said that on the Saturday night in question the parties were all in the theatre at Conisbrough. The assault occurred during the interval between the drama and farce. The three defendants were going out of the theatre and pushed against Mr Price. He turned round and said, “Don’t push; either go out quietly or sit down.” Immediately one of the defendants struck him and got him on the floor and kicked him in the head; he got a black eye. The wife tried to take away the man who was then striking him, and James turned round and struck and kicked her in the face. The woman was near her confinement. She was knocked down and fainted, and had to be carried out of the theatre.
Police constable Truman was there and complaint was made to him of what had occurred. He saw the state the man and woman were in. Some witnesses who had promised to appear and give evidence, and the complainant had, like many others, not turned up, because they did not happen to have been summoned; so that he only had to call the complainants. He thought the bench would come to the conclusion that a shameful assaulted been committed, and it was rendered far worse in the woman’s case, owing to her condition.
Leonard Price was then called. He said he worked at Denaby Main, and the defendants worked at the same place. He was in the Paragon Theatre on the day in question. He saw the defendants there. While the people are leaving the theatre there was plenty of room for the defendants to pass him, but they were trying to make a disturbance, and endeavoured to shove him off his seat. Edward struck him first. Then they all got round punched him and knocked him to the ground. One of them said “Punched his – – – eyes out.” James kicked him in the eye and on the side of the head. James also struck his wife in the face and kicked her; her legs were black and blue from the kicks. She fainted away and had to be carried out of the theatre.
Edwards: She was carried out drunk. Complainant: No she was not.
James: how could I kick your wife when she was on the seat and I was on the platform? – You were on the seat kicking at my face. You said “Punch the – – – eyes out.”
Edwards: You struck me in the mouth – complainant denied this.
Harriot Price said she saw James punching her husband in the theatre and she stopped him. He then turned round punched her and knocked her tooth out. She fainted away and had to be carried out of the place. One of the men said “Let’s murder his – – – wife.”
Edwards: did you strike me? – No; you struck me.
Did you turn two Lodgers out because they would not come and swear false for you? – No.
Paul Shaw deposed to being in the theatre and seen the assault.
James: You “brought the woman round” with a pint of whiskey. (Laughter.)
John “(to witness): Were you drunk? – No; I only had tea with ginger beer in it. (Laughter.)
Police constable Truman said he was on duty in the theatre on the Saturday night in question. Mrs Price had fainted, and two or three persons were holding her and giving her ginger beer. She was bleeding in the mouth. Her husband had a black eye. He told the people to take the woman home.
Mr Baddeley: Was she drunk? – Oh no.
James Humphreys was called for the defence. He denied that they committed the assault.
Mr Baddeley: Then how did the man get the black eye?
While on the floor I expect; they were all on the top of him.
How did the woman get hurt in the face? – I did not see her bleeding. She was not bleeding in the face when she went out.
Frank Cartwright was also called. He also said he did not see the woman’s face bleeding. He got shoved on the ground himself.
The Chairman said there was no doubt an assault had been committed.
James was fined 20s and 13s 9d costs for the assault on the woman and 10s and costs for assaulting the man, and the other defendants had to pay 10s and 13s 9d costs each; one month’s imprisonment in default.