After The Dinner Fracas At Conisborough Station.

April 1910

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 18 April 1910

After The Dinner Fracas At Conisborough Station.

On Tuesday March 22nd, there were lively scenes in a railway carnage of the train leaving Doncaster at 11.35 p.m.

In it were Samuel Gregson, pawnbroker’s assistant, and Charles Raynor, licensee of the Eagle and Child, Conisborough. Words and blows led to further trouble when the train stopped at Conisborough. John William Raynor who had come meet his father, knocking Gregson down on the platform.

The parties appeared at Doncaster Police Court on Saturday. Gregson charging the two Raynors  with assault.

In opening the case, which extended two hours. Mr. Baddiley, who appeared for complainant said that the elder defendant had been to the Licensed Victuallers’ dinner at Doncaster, and had evidently been dining too well and not too wisely. After words had ensued, Charles Raynor threatened to throw the complainant out the window, but another passenger intervened. When the train stopped at Conisborough, young Raynor, who had come to meet his father, knocked the defendant down on the platform and kicked him violently in the ribs. He was taken into the waiting room, and had his injuries attended to.

In the course of his corroborative evidence the complainant said he asked a friend for a good recipe cure a black eve, and was told saltpetre and whiskey.

The Chairman (Mr. G. B. C. Yarborough): Was that for inside or outside application? (Laughter.)

Complainant said it was for outside application. When he went to the hotel to buy the whiskey, in replv to question as to how he came his injuries, he said he had fallen from his bicycle, and the reply was ” You got knocked about.”

In answer Mr. Gichard, who defended, complainant denied that he was the worse for drink. He admitted, however, using bad language to another passenger in the carriage, but was emphatic in stating that the elder Raynor struck him with an ash plant stick without provocation. He denied that it was his habit to provoke trouble filthy conversation.

Son’s Defence of His Father,

Harry Parkes said that in the railway carriage Gregson, who had been offensive, got up in fighting attitude, and Raynor struck him with a stick. On the platform Gregson struck at Raynor, senior, with bicycle lamp and then Ravnor’s son came and said: “The man that  strikes my my father will have to strike me” and then “set in” to Gregson. The young man started kicking Gregson and the father was hitting him with the walking-stick.

In answer to Mr Gichard the witness said he heard Gregson to the elder Raynor. “I will kill you.” and that was then the young Raynor intervened.

Two railway officials gave evidence to the effect that Gregson only once offered to strike the older Raynor with lamp, and that subsequently the younger Raynor kicked Gregson while the latter was on the ground, and the older Raynor hit him about the head with walking stick.

Dr. Gibson., of Conisborough, said the complainant came to him for treatment. On the left side he had a fractured rib, his right eye was black and cut, he had bruises, his right ear was purple, and swollen, and he had a contused bone at the back of the head.

In replying Mr Gichard. who said from what had read of boxing it was possible for a rib to be broken by a blow, the doctor said he also took interest in boxing To his mind the injury was likely have been occasioned a kick, though men like Jeffreys and Jack Johnson might break a rib with a blow.

For the defence Mr. Gichard said could not conduct more indecent than that used by Gregson in the railway carriage. The man was wanting a row, and, small as he was, when he got into trouble was of the class of men who whine like whipped cur. He (Mr Gichard) compelled the spirit of the sun in interfering on behalf of his father. The only point was whether he had gone too far.

But, what could not be disputed was what every witness and admitted that there was a puncture wound in the face of the younger Raynor, inflicted probably by Gregson with the lamp, and thus no doubt would have caused him to lose his temper. All the party were excited and it was a general The Raiders brought a cross summons for assault against Gregson

Evidence was then given by the two Raynor’s and others showing that Gregson was the aggressor in the first instance.

The case against the elder Raynor was dismissed, but the son was fined 40 shillings and costs. Gregson was fined 10 shillings and costs.