Melee at Conisborough Station

April 1905

Mexborough and Swinton Times April 29, 1905

Melee at Conisborough Station

At Doncaster west Riding Court, on Monday, George Redfearn, miner, Denaby, was charged with obstructing the stationmaster at Conisborough Station on Saturday night. He was further charged with assaulting PC Thompson and Sgt Horton.

Detective Hall of Nottingham, appeared to prosecute on behalf of the G.C.Railway Company.

It appeared from the statement of Charles P Richards, stationmaster at Conisborough, that on the arrival of the 11:25 pm train from Doncaster there was a disturbance in one of the carriages, and when the parties got on the platform the fighting was resumed. Witness tried to separate the parties and defendant seized him by the hands and shoulders and knocked him about, and threatened to serve him as he had done the other man. The police had to be called in and defendant refused to give his name and address, and assaulted the police, a general melee taking place.

PC Thompson said there would be 30 or 40 men fighting. Defendant seized him by the throat and kicked him on the ribs and hands. He tried to bite witness and drew blood from his hands. Sgt Horton was kicked on the chest, and they were engaged for a quarter of an hour with the defendant.

Horton said he was kicked on the hands, chest and legs. Prisoner shouted to his mates, “Are you going to see the – – – – take us,” and endeavoured to incite them to interfere. The officers were kicked from all sides.

Defendant was committed to prison for two months on the two charges.