Assault Case At Conisborough

John Stafford, junior, was charged with committing an assault on Elizabeth Oldfield, a married woman, of Conisborough, on May 6th.

Complainant said that on the night in question she saw the defendant and another man, who stopped to speak to witnesses for some moments. Defendant shouted to his companion to come on and not to stop speaking to the witness, at the same time using some disgusting language about her.

When his companion did not move, the defendant came up, and after abusing the witness swung his arm round and knocked her down flat on her back. Complainant’s story was corroborated by two boys, Charles Oldfield and Bartholomew McHale.

The defendant said that the complainant annoyed him by following him, and not wishing to have anything to do with her he pushed her away from him. She stepped on the causeway edge and having on a pair of very old boots she slipped and fell, but if there had been an egg underneath her she would not have broken it because she fell so lightly.

The bench considered the assault proved and fined the defendant 1s. and 17s. costs.