Satish Times December 1, 1956

Please note the names have been changes

Kicked Older Man
Denaby Miner’s Violent Assault

After being attacked by a 34-year-old Denaby miner a 40 years old man was off work for a month, he told Doncaster West Riding magistrates on Friday. The 34-year-old miner admitted that in his temper he knocked the man down and kicked him several times.

Norman Smith, of Clifton Street, Denaby, was fined £10, bound over for a year and ordered to pay £5 9s 6d costs for inflicting grievous bodily harm on Matthew Christopher Noble, of Blyth Street, Denaby. He pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate dismissed the charge against Noble of assaulting Smith and occasioning actual bodily harm. Noble had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

This the Chairman (Mr AE Pemberton) told Smith, “We take a very grave view of this offence. It was a brutal assault you did not care where it finished, whether it maimed him for life or killed him.”

Noble told the magistrates that on October 9 it was in the taproom of the Denaby Make a hotel and was followed into the toilet by Smith passed an obscene remark. Noble said he replied, “I don’t want any trouble.” Two men who were in the toilet left and Noble try to reason with Smith but he was struck under the eye and then grabbed by the hair. He said he struck back at Smith and they both fell and were parted by a Mr Dowling. Noble said he returned to the taproom but after about 10 minutes he heard someone shout, “Look out, Chris.” He said that Smith struck him with something and they both fell.

Later, said Noble, when he was walking to his daughter’s house in Clifton St, Smith struck him on the head with something and he fell. Noble tried to close with Smith but had to run away followed by Smith who struck him several blows on the back, until he reached his daughter’s home. Noble said he was treated at Fullerton hospital for a cut on the head, an injured wrist and plasters were placed on his back. On account of his injuries he was off work for a month.

Noble’s daughter, Mrs Mary Mee, said that when she went into the street she saw Smith carry something like a stick about as thick as her wrist.

James Gilmore, of Windmill Ave, Conisbrough, said he heard Noble say, “I don’t want any trouble. I want to be friends.” He said Smith passed a remark to the effect that Noble had not got his friends with him now.

Thomas Francis Dowling of Ferry Terrace , Conisbrough, said that after he parted the two men Noble sat at the table with him when Smith came in carrying an empty bottle with which to strike Noble.

Smith alleged that he was attacked by Noble in the toilet and was struck unconscious. He said he remembered someone clawing his face. As a result of the attack, he said he had two black eyes and bruises. He said the next thing he knew was staggering down Clifton Street, but he went to the police station where he was advised to go home and stay there. He said he went home but when he saw his face in the mirror he decided to look for Noble and asking the reason for the attack.

When he saw Noble in Clifton Street, he alleged that he used abusive language and came rushing at him with his head down, so he sidestepped him and put him on the floor. He attacked, “In my temper I started kicking him.” He said that when Noble ran away he followed him. He denied using anything to Noble

Police Sgt Theaker said he found a pick shaft in Smith’s living room, but Smith denied using this, and a poker. The Sergeant said Smith made a statement in which he said, “I knocked him down several times and put the boot in.”