Gambling and Stoning the Police.

At the West Riding Police Court, Doncaster, on Monday, Robert Farrell and Martin Kennedy, both colliers, living at Denaby, were brought up in custody on a charge of gambling on the public highway at Conisbro’, on Sunday last.

The facts appear to be that for a long time the practice of Sunday gambling had been carried to such an extent that the nuisance had become altogether intolerable. On Sunday last Police-constable Joseph Kendall, who was dressed in plain clothes, saw the two prisoners and a great number of others playing at pitch and toss on the highway and watched them for about ten minutes.

Police-constable Codington, Sergeant Cleart, and Police-constable Leeson afterwards closed in on the gang, and were apprehending the prisoners, who were the ringleaders, when the men called upon the crowd to rescue them. The result was that a free fight ensued. The men also pelted the police with stones that lay on the road, and it was with the greatest difficulty possible that the men were taken to the police station. All the other men got away.

There was no defence, and the full penalty of 20s., including costs, was inflicted against each of the prisoners.

Kennedy was also charged with resisting the police whilst in the execution of their duty, but as there was only one magistrate present he was bound over to appear on Saturday on that charge.