Hospital Depositions – Constable’s Action Criticised at Doncaster.

March 1930

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 18 March 1930

Hospital Depositions.

Constable’s Action Criticised at Doncaster.

A Denaby miner whose depositions were taken in hospital when it was feared he would die was the complainant at Doncaster yesterday against Dominic Finan (57), another Denaby miner, who pleaded not guilty of causing, grievous bodily harm to John Alfred Lawrence.

Mr. Bracewell defended.

Mr. G. S. Ward, prosecuting, said Lawrence and a man named Farrel came to blows at the Denaby Main Hotel. Finan, without any reason, it was alleged, struck Lawrence from behind.

Lawrence fell and knocked his head on the wall. As he was falling prisoner struck him another blow. Finan and Farrel left Lawrence, who, as a result of the attack, was for a considerable time unconscious.

Lawrence got worse, and developed a swelling to the face and neck. He was removed to the Fullerton Hospital, and for time it was question of whether he would die. His depositions were taken by a police-constable in the presence of magistrate.

The Assistant Clerk (Mr. Preece): What, in the absence of the Clerk to the magistrate? Who took them?

Mr. Ward: Mr. Roberts. Those are instructions.

Mr. Preece: It highly dangerous thing for a police constable to do.

Mr. Ward said, at any rate, the matter was urgent that this was done. The man was discharged from hospital on March 8th.

The prisoner said that Farrel was his cousin. The two exchanged blows in the hotel and were ordered out. Witness followed, fearing there would be further trouble. He saw Lawrence standing over Farrel, so he knocked Lawrence down. There were two other men to attend to Lawrence, whom he thought was not seriously injured.

The magistrates reduced the charge to one of common assault, and committed Finan to prison for one month.