Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Thursday 27 March 1902
The Conisborough Shooting Case
Prisoner Committed For Trial.
The Conisborough shooting case was again brought forward at Doncaster West Riding Court yesterday, Joseph Shaw, collier, Cliff View, Denaby being accused of shooting at his landlady, Ann Cocksidge, widow, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm, on the 14th inst.
Mr. Tovey appeared for the prosecution, and the prisoner was represented by Mr. Baddiley.
Prisoner lodged with the prosecutrix, and at dinner time they had a few words. Prisoner fetched his gun from upstairs, loaded it, and prosecutrix, who was engaged in her household duties, heard a click. Turning round, she saw the gun pointed at her, and seized it by the barrel. In the struggle the gun went off, and the shot went into the wall or floor.
Additional evidence was given by Benjamin Turner, 45, Cliff View, Denaby Main, who stated that whilst in his kitchen, which adjoins prosecutrix’s house, he heard someone quarrelling, and a quarter of an hour later he saw prisoner come out of the house with a ferret and gun. He saw prisoner load the gun, and return to the house, and directly afterwards he heard the report of a. gun-shot. Prisoner ,came out of the house, and witness heard prosecutrix say, “You coward, you caused it to go off.”
Florence Lyons, domestic servant, employed by the prosecutrix’s brother, said prisoner came to the house about four o’clock, and handed a gun and some cartridges to her, and asked her to take care of them until he called for them.
A witness named George William Fretwell, grocer, said that at prosecutrix’s request he went for a policeman, and Inspector Watson deposed that he visited the house and saw a hole in the brick floor, and on removing the bricks he found a piece of cartridge wadding and three-quarters of an ounce of shot.
P.C. Richardson stated that he apprehended the prisoner at ten o’clock at night, and charged him, but he made no reply.
Mr. Baddiley submitted that there was no case. The only evidence of intent was by the prosecutrix, and she took the ground away, because she said she did not believe prisoner intended to shoot her, and only wanted to frighten her.
The Chairman : The Bench must say an what charge the prisoner shall be committed for trial.
Mr. Tovey: It is immaterial what she said afterwards.
The Chairman: The Bench must judge of the man’s actions, whether there is a prima facie case.
Mr. Baddiley : I am not going to call evidence, and upon the evidence of the prosecutrix there is no, evidence of intention to shoot.
The Chairman: We think we must commit the prisoner for trial—certainly if not for shooting with intent, then for attempting to shoot.
Prisoner was then formally committed for trial, and admitted to bail, himself in £50, with two sureties of £25 each.