Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 30 November 1909
Pugilist and Police.
Brutal Assaults at Conisborough.
Two West Riding police officers were badly assaulted at Conisbro’ on Saturday night whilst engaged in apprehending man named Wattam, and at Doncaster yesterday, Richard Finney, described as a pugilist, of Conisbro’, was charged with assaulting the police. Sergeant Ramsey, who had a broken nose, appeared in court with two black eyes, and P.c Brearley had a cut over the left eye.
According to the evidence of the constable, he and the sergeant were trying to apprehend a man for being drunk and disorderly. There was a crowd of 50 or 60 people when prisoner rushed out of crowd and struck him on the eye and chest. He next rushed the sergeant and struck him in the eyes, knocking him down. He had something on his hands which witness took to be knuckle dusters.
He was apprehended at home on Sunday morning in bed, and had to carried to the police station as he would not walk.
Superintendent Hicks: He is a fighting man? Witness: —Yes.
He was perfectly sober?—Yes. We had one hands fast with the other man, and he took advantage of the fact to assault us.
Supt. Ramsey said he noticed something on prisoner’s hands which glistened in the light.
John Henry Hutchley, pit corporal, who tried to assist the polioe, said he was knocked down and prisoner kicked him on the head, inflicting a wound 2 ½ inches in length. He had been attended a doctor, who said he would not be well for a fortnight.
Prisoner alleged that he was in bed between half past nine and ten o’clock.
Supt- Hicks said it was most unprovoked assault, and he asked the magistrates to make an example of the prisoner. It was a rough district, and on Saturday night the police had great difficulty in keeping order.
Prisoner was prison for three months hard labour, being one month for each assault.