Mexborough and Swinton Times February 12, 1910
Saturday Night Row At Denaby.
Collier Gets Split Ear.
Alleged Use Of The Poker.
” I’ll Kill You.”
At Doncaster on Monday, Michael Kelly, miner, of Denaby, was charged on remand with unlawfully wounding Patrick Sheehan at Denaby, on Saturday, Jan. 29.
The case had been adjourned for a week, Sheehan being too ill to attend at the previous hearing. Complainant, who is a filler, residing at Barnburgh street, Denaby, said the prisoner was his brother-in-law. On Janaury 29th witness was lodging with him at 35, Cliff View, Denaby where he had been since Christmas. He left the night of the assault.
It was a little after ten when he got back to his lodgings that night, Kelly, the landlord, and Bernard McGuire being then in the house. Witness and McGuire were sober, but Kelly was drunk. He had never had a quarrel or disagreement with prisoner before, When he got into the house Kelly asked: ‘Why didn’t you come home with your wages” To which witness replied, “I have been home but you were out.” Then Kelly said, “Get out of my house.” At this stage witness was Just sitting down, -Kelly then rose from his chair, and
Picked up the Poker
(produced), and “struck off” at witness. The blow was warded off, and witness rose from the chair and tried to take the poker off him, but he struck again, inflicting a wound on the left side of the head, that “staggered” him. The blow cut the ear in two, and he lost a good deal of blood as the result. McGuire jumped up and ran out of the house, saying he would not stop to see murder committed. Kelly and witness were left in the house alone. While witness was on the floor Kelly picked up a fender and rushed at him shouting, “I’ll kill you.”
Witness wrenched the fender from him, threw it down, and they rushed out of the house. He went to a friend’s house, and from there to his brother’s in Barnburgh street. He saw a policeman and a doctor, and had the wound stitched. Dr. McArthur had attended him since.—Prisoner had no questions to ask, as he remembered nothing about it.
Not a Nice Fire.
Bernard McGuire, filler, lodging at 35, Cliff View, Denaby, with prisoner, described the events on the evening in question. Sheehan was drunk, and Kelly was not sober. When Sheehan came in he sat down and said to Kelly that this was a nice — fire to come to Kelly said “You look to have had enough fire all day.” Kelly then ordered him out, and Sheehan refused to go, whereupon prisoner tried, to push him out.
What did Nelly do with the poker?-I never saw him do nowt. He only had the poker it his hand.
Not Taking Sides
But you were there, and you mustn’t take sides. Tell the truth.—I’m taking no sides.
You saw Kelly pick up the poker?—Yes.
Did you see Sheehan get any injury—No. I didn’t see Kelly use the poker at all. Witness remained in the house about ¼ of an hour, but he left because he thought there was going to be a bother.
Do you mean to say that before you left there were no blows struck ?—I saw no blows struck at all, but there might have been since.
Where was the poker when you left the house? —I don’t know.
Murder Not Mentioned.
But you told us Kelly, had it in his hands?– It was still in his hands when I left for 71, Doncaster road. He said nothing about murder when he was leaving. As he found the door of No. 71 fast, he came back to Cliff View, and found Kelly in bed. Sheehan had gone. Witness was still lodging at Kelly’s house.
P.c. Glithro found Sheehan at 71, Barnburgh street at 11 o’clock on the night in question.
The wound on the left side of the head was bleeding profusely, and the man appeared to have lost a good deal of blood. There was a large bruise behind the left ear, the organ itself being severed. Witness rendered first aid, and remained with him till Dr. Harris came. Sheehan was not drunk, but he had had some liquor. At 12,30 the same night witness went to Kelly’s and found prisoner sat by the fire. He had had a lot of drink.
“Is He Dead?”‘
Witness charged him with unlawfully wounding Sheehan, and he replied, “Is he dead? I only tapped him.” Witness saw any amount of blood in the kitchen.
Kelly was arrested the same night and McGuire was present at the time.