Brutal Assault at Conisbrough

July 1898

Mexborough and Swinton Times July 15, 1898

Brutal Assault at Conisbrough

A rumour was circulated at Mexborough on Sunday to the effect that a man had been killed at new Conisbrough, and that he had left a widow and four children.

Enquiry at the police station resulted in a contradiction to the statement, although it was admitted that a man had been grievously assault and that a miner, named Harry Dove, aged about 35, was lying in a very critical condition as a result of an attack the previous evening.

According to statements made, Dove was in the employ of the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company, and he had been on double shifts. He left the colliery about 2 o’clock, on Saturday afternoon, and went home.

Subsequently he visited the new hotel. Shortly after 5 o’clock he went home from the hotel. Outside he saw some men playing with money on the ground. Unfortunately he interfered. It is said he kicked some of the money away from where it was lying. One of the men got up from the ground in anger, and gave Dove a violent blow in the face with his clenched fist. This caused Dove to spin round with the result that he fell, his head coming very forcibly in contact with the ground. While he was lying helpless and unconscious the same man it is said, and a friend of his, kicked the poor fellow repeatedly on the head. This was all the work of a few minutes, and the parties concerned at once made off, leaving Dove helpless and bleeding profusely. One of the assailants, who are believed to be Irishm through en was distinctly seen to kick Dove, and he walked away exclaiming “The man who did that ought to have three months.”

This assumed innocence, however, should not answer its purpose. Of course a large crowd, quickly assembled, and seeing the shocking condition of the injured man it was not surprising the rumour became circulated that he had been murdered.

Inspector Ambler, Sergeant Brown, and several constables came upon the scene. When Dove had been removed home he was attended to by Doctor Forster. The man was still unconscious, and presented a ghastly spectacle, as blood was issuing from wounds on the head and face, as well as from the nose and ear, the latter showing a very serious condition of things. At the base of the skull was a severe wound – which might have been caused by the fall – and at one side of the head with the equally dangerous whom which is there in the opinion of the medical men, was the result of a kick.

The wounds were skilfully attended to, and the patient was afterwards seen by Doctor Craik, of Conisbrough. At midnight, and again at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning, Doctor Forster called to see Dove. At the latter hour he had recovered consciousness and spoke a little, but, owing to loss of blood, he was extremely weak, and it was impossible to say whether he would rally.

Some persons suspected of having committed the assault are believed to have absconded, and a box of one of the suspected individuals was found at the railway station, label for Liverpool.

During the morning Superintendent Blake drove from Doncaster, through Denaby to Mexborough, the murderous assault have been reported to him.

There were several other assaults near the same place on Saturday, one man having a lip cut through, and another smash sustaining a severe gash one of his cheek. They were skilfully attended to by Doctor Forster.