Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 01 March 1899
Rough Party at Doncaster Railway Station.
At Doncaster Borough Police Court, yesterday, two brothers, named Edward and Bartholomew Prendergrast, colliers, of New Conisborough, were charged with obstructing a Great Northern Railway official on the previous evening. They were further charged with assaulting a borough constable.
On Monday night there was a large crowd of colliers the platform, who had come to witness the Crampton- Wilford boxing contest.
At about 11.15 some men were dragging a collier to the railway officials, and as they were about to hand him over to Railway Detective Berry, the prisoners attempted rescue the man.
So violent was their conduct that the traffic was interfered with, and in the melee that ensued several porters were injured. Assistance was summoned and Police constable Ealand arriving on the platform, was violently struck upon the neck by the prisoners.
Subsequently two West Riding constables arrived, and the trousers of one them were torn to shreds.
Each prisoner was ordered to pay 20s., and costs 10s. and costs in each case.