A Rough Assault

Norman Morrell and John Hall, both living in Doncaster Road Denaby, were charged with having assaulted Walter John Robinson, farmer of Denaby, on September 10 and 11.

Mr HH Hickmott prosecuted, and said the defendant had committed a most unprovoked and brutal assault on the complainant.

Mr Robinson was the occupier of a 20 acre field between Denaby and Conisborough. The population of the neighbourhood had latterly greatly increased, and the miners had made a road across the complainant’s field for a near cut to Hill Top, and very serious damage had been done.

The complainant on September 10 saw the defendant and two other men crossing the field, and he asked them to stop. They began to swear at him, and said they would do as they like. They were walking on when the complainant took hold of Hall to prevent him, and he requested him to turn back. Morrell then took off his coat and hit Robinson, breaking his nose and felling him to the ground. When he got up again both the defendants got hold of him. He broke away, and the defendants resumed their walk across the field in the direction of Hill Top.

On September 11 the complainant was in a light cart in a private road running by the side of the field. He then met four men, one of which was Morrell, and they were going in the direction of Hill top towards Denaby. Robinson asked them what they were doing there, Morrell reply that he could deal with him, and seized him by the legs and tried to pull him out of the cart. Robinson struggled and got away, but Morrell again rushed up and seized him by the legs. Robinson then struck Morrell with a manure fork, inflicting a wound on his head, and that put an end to his violence.

Both defendants pleaded guilty and said they were sorry.

Morrell was fined £2 or one months, and Hall £1 or 14days.