Cowardly Attack on an Old Man at Conisbro’

A labourer named William Cotton, living at New Denaby, while sitting by the roadside at Conisbro’, leisurely smoking his pipe a few days ago, was accosted by two young fellows—Henry Taylor and John Hepworth, labourers, of Conisbro’. They commenced to chaff Cotton, who is an aged man, and then asked how much money he had.

He replied, “Very little, and none for you.” He then got up and was in the act of walking away, but looked round, being suspicious as to the men’s movements. He then saw that one man had gone a short distance in front of him, and that the other was creeping up behind him.

The latter at once gave him a severe blow on the side of the head, causing him to fall down violently. When trying to get up the other man, by means of his feet, tried to prevent him, but he succeeded in running away, and seeing two women a short distance off, he told them what had happened, and afterwards informed the police.

He found that the men had stolen 2s. 6d., which he had in his waistcoat pocket. At Doncaster on Saturday the two fellows were charged with highway robbery at Conisbro’, and were both committed for trial.