Assaulting a Denaby Publican

Before the rev. J. G. Jubb and Mr S. Skinner, at the Second Court of the West Riding police, at Rotherham, on Monday, Joseph Paul, a rough -looking fellow, was charged with unlawfully wounding Thos. Western the landlord of the Reresby arms, Denaby, on Monday, 7 December.

He was further charged with being disorderly and refusing to quit the above house on the night in question. Mr H. H. Hickman at prosecuted.

Thos. Weston, Reresby arms, Denaby, said that on 7 December, about 9:30 at night, he was in his large taproom; the prisoner was also there. Witness had to complain of prisoner’s noisy and quarrelsome conduct. He asked him to leave the house but he refused. His conduct was such that he was compelled to eject the prisoner. He was put out four times, but returned every time. When witness put him on the fourth time he advised him to go home, and walked him on to the highway, saying he would not have him in the house again that night. He then threatened to cut witnesses eye out.

Witness saw him (prisoner) stoop and pick up a piece of stone, and he threw it with all his power. The stone caught witness on the top of his head. Witness was afterwards attended by Dr Twigg, and was still under his care. The stone caused a severe wound on his head, which bled badly.

Frank Chadwick. Barman, Reresby Arms, Denaby, deposed that on the night of 7 December he heard a noise in the large taproom, and went to see the cause of it. He saw prisoner there. He had been put out two or three times, and had again returned. Witness assisted the landlord to put him out again. They led him into the middle of the road and advised him to go home. The prisoner made use of a filthy expression and threatened the landlord. He corroborated the throwing of the stones. The blow stunned Mr Weston, and he fell against a wall.

F.G. Twigg, M. D., deposed that he was in practice at Denaby, and was called in to see the prosecutor Weston, at about 11 o’clock on the night in question. He found him suffering from a star -shaped contused wound about 1½ inch in diameter on the right hand side of the top of the head. The wound penetrated to the bone and was bleeding profoundly. A blow from a stone similar to the one produced might have caused such a wound. The wound was still unhealed, and for two or three days Mr Weston’s life was in danger.

PC Midgley said he apprehended the prisoner at Denaby, on a warrant, on 8 December. The prisoner made no reply at the time, but he afterwards asked how Mr Weston was. Witness replied that he was not very well. Prisoner then said “I am very sorry, I don’t know what possessed me to throw a stone.” – Committed to take his trial at the sessions. – The last charge was adjourned.