Mexborough and Swinton Times October 25, 1895

Conisborough Policeman Violently assaulted
The Use of a Poker

At the West Riding Police Court, Doncaster, on Monday, Patrick Madden, described as a plasterer, living at Conisborough, was away for two months, with hard labour, for assaulting Police Sgt Ambler and Police Constable Evans.

Madden, against whom there are been many convictions, was recently sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by the magistrates for having been drunk and disorderly and for threats, and the offices had gone to the house for the purpose of taking him to Wakefield.

Seeing them, he rushed upstairs to a bedroom, first of all getting possession of a poker, and locked the door and held it. When the policeman entered the room, after bursting open the door, eager the sergeant a severe blow on the head and on one hand and kicked the Constable.

The prisoner in court took off his coal showed a black place on one harm, which he said was caused by the sergeant, and the officer said he did it in self defence.

A married woman named Dawson entered the witness box, but it turned out that she did not see what occurred upstairs. Cross-examined by Supt Blake, she admitted that her husband was living in America that she was living with the prisoner. A son was also called but he was also unable to speak as to the bedroom scene.

Capt Dove (chairman) said the assault was of a very serious character, was committed upon the police whilst in the execution of their duty.