Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 21 December 1909
Struck With a Jug.
Denaby Man’s Head Cut Open.
Miner Sent For Trial.
A charge of unlawful wounding which has been, adjourned several times owing to the dangerous state of the injured man, came before Mr. J. W. Hodgson and other magistrates at the West Riding Court, at Doncaster, yesterday.
The prisoner was John Cahill, filler at Denaby, and he was charged with unlawfully wounding Fred Kay, labourer, Denaby, Saturday, November 27tlt, by breaking a jug over his head.
The evidence of Dr. Ram, of Mexborough, was taken first. He only assumed charge of the case on December 13th, after the death of Dr. Twigg. He found the man had two wounds on the forehead, one on the nose, another under the left eye, and one on the index finger of the left hand. The wound on the forehead near the right eye was about three inches long, and was deep and dangerous. Six stitches had been inserted, but had been removed when he saw the man. The wound had closed in some parts, and was mattering in the others. A smaller wound on the left side of the forehead was very ragged, but was progressing favourably. During the first few days the man was in danger of losing his life.
Superintendent Hicks: Is he out of danger’ Dr. Ram: There is no immediate danger except a remote possibility of an attack of epilepsy or effusion on the brain.
Story of the Attack.
According to the evidence of Tom Ridge, labourer, Kay and prisoner formerly lodged with him. On Saturday, November 27tb, Kay was in the house, and sent for quart of beer. About quarter-past six o’clock prisoner, who was drunk, came into the house, sat down on a chair for a minute two, and then fell asleep on the sofa, remaining’ asleep until a quarter-past nine, when witness woke him and asked him to go to bed. Kay said to him, “If I was you, Johnny, I should to bed.”
Prisoner jumped eff the sofa and picked a quart jug, which contained some milk. He struck at Kay with the jug, hitting him on the forehead. The jug was broken to pieces. Some of the fragments were produced in Court. Part of the jug and the handle remained in his band. The blow knocked the man down. Witness lifted him up and put him in a chair. Cahill then struck him again with the part of the jug still held in his band, hitting at his forehead. Prisoner made another blow at him, and witness put up his band to ward off the blow’. Kay’s finger was severely cut.
What happened to Cahill? —My son put him out the house. He was not sober.
Fred Kay, labourer, residing at 7. Melton View, Denaby, gave his account of what occurred. When the assault took place he was sitting with back towards the prisoner. He bled very much from the wound. He received a second blow, and got to defend himself, when prisoner struck at him again and he tried to ward off the blow, receiving a blow on the hand. Witness fell from the chair from loss of blood and fainted. He had known the prisoner for about two months.
Supt. Hicks: You have given him no provocation?—No.
Prisoner: win think I should have done it if I had been sober? —Witness: No, you wouldn’t.
Prisoner; The first thing I remember is the young man fetching cut of the house.
Other evidence was given, and when P.-c. Shuker apprehended prisoner and charged him with unlawfully wounding Kay he replied, I know nothing about it.”
Prisoner; Was I right drunk? —Witness: You weren’t right drunk, but you were under the influence of drink.
Prisoner, who persisted that he knew nothing about the matter, was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.