Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 02 November 1912
Assault at Denaby
Dispute Over Money Leads To A Fight
A charge of assault was preferred against William Whalley, a miner of Denaby at the instance of Michael Patten.
The complainant alleged that October 19 he was walking in the pit yard at Denaby when the defendant came rushing up to him “like a roaring madman.” He made use of filthy language, and sent to Nokia said to a brick wall. The next thing he did was to strike the complainant before he had time to protect himself. In self defence he retaliated because he believed Whalley meant to kill him.
Defendant: Did you say that I’ve stolen your half sovereign?
Witness: You boasted of it.
You said that I stole it, didn’t you?
Your Worship: What he has just said is a “get off.”
Didn’t you say you would do seven years for me? – No, I did not.
PC Mowbray stated that he saw the complainant struck by Whalley several times. The witness had to try and pull him off, which he did with some difficulty. He was in a drunken condition.
The defendant said the complainant had annoyed him by saying that he had stolen his half sovereign.
Ordered to pay 5s and costs.