Denaby Miner Seriously Assaults his  Wife

November 1908

Mexborough and Swinton Times October 17, 1908

Denaby Miner Seriously Assaults his  Wife

David Cunliffe, miner, Denaby, was brought up in custody on a charge of having committed an aggravated assault on his wife, Sarah Jane Cunliffe on Sunday night.

At the previous hearing on Monday the charge was one of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutrix said that about 9 o’clock on Sunday night he was in a neighbour’s house and prisoner sent for her to get his team ready. When she got home her husband was on the couch, and as she was prepared his tea he caught hold of her by the throat and pulled her towards the sofa. He held her there for two or three minutes and she fainted

She became unconscious and the next thing she knew that she was in a neighbour’s house . Later she had to go to a doctor, and her husband was arrested.

William Westwood who lodged with the prisoner, corroborated these statements.

Alfred Beckett said he saw Mrs. Cunliffe stood outside her house and he saw her face turn black. Her throat was bleeding. He carried her into the house and she was gasping for breath and seemed to be in great pain.

P.Q. Metcalf stated that he arrested prisoner and when charged he replied “Alright.” Prisoner said his wife had been drinking all the Sunday, and called him by foul names when she returned home.

Prisoner said they had two children aged five and seven respectively.

The Chairman said that it was a very bad case, and prisoner had committed a very serious assault. He would have to go to prison for three months with hard labour, and had it not been for the children he would have been committed to prison for six months.