A Brutal Assault At Denaby

James Hughes, Denaby, was charged on a warrant with assaulting Geo. Maxwell, of Swinton, and his wife, on Aug. 10th.

Mr. Rhodes appeared for complainant, and in opening the case said he believed he would be able to prove that the assault was a most unprovoked one, and that it could not in any way be justified. It appeared that there had been some words between the parties in reference to child. Mr., but at night defendants and his brother Wm. (who has since absconded) went into complainant’s house and committed the assault complained of.

The next morning they used some terrible threats, and the complainant and his wife had to go out of the neighbourhood for 8 or 10 days.

Complainant said: On Aug. 10th, I was living at Denaby. I was in my house with my wife when the defendant and his brother Wm. came in, defendant making use of an oath, said he would kill me. He then knocked my wife down with his fist, and kicked her on the thigh whilst she was on the ground. He next came to me and knocked me down on the fire place. Both he and his brother struck me when I was down. Defendant struck me on the head, and his brother on my breast 2 or 3 times. To the Defendant: I did not throw a cinder at your head and render you senseless, nor did I open your brother’s head the length of your thumb with a carving knife. You were not “smothered” in blood. The defendant: You are a false man, and there is no good in you nor in your wife.

The complainant’s wife deposed: I was in my house with my husband when defendant and his brother Wm. came in. Defendant said he would fell or kill my husband, or used some expression of that kind. Defendant struck me and injured my face. He knocked me down against the back door, and kicked me once or twice on the thigh when I was lying prostrate. I ran out of the house as soon as I got up, and did not see what they did to my husband, and I was afraid to return until the policeman came. The defendant said that when he came home that night, he was told that the complainant’s girl had been going to his child. He went into the backyard and saw the complainant’s girl and said to her “if you don’t let my child alone, and if your parents don’t control you, I shall have to do it.” She then went into the house crying, and complainant came to the door and said “now then, what are you making this noise about.”

He defendant said, “come here, I want to speak to you.” The complainant then threw a cinder at him, and caught him on the forehead, “smothering” him in blood. The defendant also struck the defendant’s brother with a carving knife on the back of the head, causing a long cut. “If that is not the truth,” concluded the defendant, “it is time for me to expire.”—Fined £5 and costs, or three months imprisonment.