Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 10 November 1909
A Conisborough Disturbance
Police Sergeant Assisted By Crowd.
The Doncaster West Riding magistrates have intimated on many occasions that they will support the police when in the execution their duty, and a collier named James Connell, of New Conisbro’, who was brought before them yesterday has been taught a lesson which should be a warning to others.
He was charged with being drunk and disorderly and with assaulting Sergt. Hayes, on Monday night.
The man was drunk, and creating a disturbance, a crowd of 50 people having assembled. He had also assaulted another man, and when told to away he refused and declined to give his name. When the sergeant proceeded to arrest him he struck the officer on the nose, and felled him. The policeman, in self-defence, retaliated, and a struggle ensued.
Eventually the crowd showed their sympathy with the sergeant, and assisted him secure the man, who was locked up. His wife, however, incited him to resist. The officer was covered with mud, and suffered from injuries to one hand and his nose.
For drunkenness the defendant was fined 2s. 6d. and costs, but more serious view was taken of the assault, and was committed to prison for 14 days.