Tragic Sequel to Conisboro´ Quarrel – Miner Knocked Down and Killed

April 1923

Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 07

Tragic Sequel to Conisboro´ Quarrel

Miner Knocked Down and Killed

Brother Attempt to End Dispute Fails

An Unfortunate Accident

The circumstances of the tragic sequel to the dispute between a party of Conisbrough miners on Saturday week last, as a result of which John Wilkinson (41), of 50, West street, Conisbrough, died from injuries through being knocked down outside a public house, were the subject of an inquiry held by the Doncaster Coroner, Mr. Frank Allen, at Conisbrough on Thursday. The inquest had been opened the previous Monday and, as reported in our last issue, adjourned.

Dr. James Forster, of Doncaster, said he was called to Wilkinson´s home on Sunday. Wilkinson was in bed and was completely unconscious. Witness examined him and found symptoms of compression of the brain. He expected a fracture of the base of the skull, and he found a lacerated wound on the upper lip, which was the only external mark he could find. Wilkinson died a few hours after witness saw him. On Tuesday witness made a post-mortem examination and opened the skull. He found a large blood clot on the surface of the brain and there was a fracture of the skull. The chest and abdomen were healthy. The cause of death was fracture of the skull, hemorrhage of the brain and compression. Witness thought a blow would scarcely inflict the injuries received. Wilkinson must have had some violent force in order to receive the injuries, which, however, might have been caused by a fall backwards.

By Insp. Dance: there were some marks and there must have been some violence used. The lacerated wound must have been caused by force, but the bruise on the right cheek was slight and did not indicate excessive violence. The blow which split the lip must have been violent.

A Family Quarrel

John Thomas Thompson, of Edlington, miner, said he was a nephew of the dead man. On Saturday, March 24 th , he went to the “Eagle and Child” and went into the bagatelle rooms almost 7 o´clock. He saw his brother Fred and the dead man, and later, Charles, James and Walter Wilkinson came in. His brother Fred and his uncle James played a game of bagatelle and all were on good terms with one another. They had several drinks of old beer and all were sober. At 10 o´clock, they came out of the rooms and an argument arose between Walter Wilkinson and witness about family affairs. Walter got hold of witness´s arm and the dead man interjected coming forward and striking witness. Walter took witness away to below the Post Office, a distance of about 20 yards from the scene of the quarrel. Witness did not see anything happen to his uncle John. He stayed there almost ten minutes and then returned to the front of the “Eagle and Child” and saw some men carrying his uncle John home. He did not see his uncle James there at that time. Witness had had about five pints of beer and was not drunk.

A Witness “Capacity

The coroner: What is your capacity then?

Witness: About eight or nine pints, I should say.

Coroner: Does it take eight or nine pints to make you drunk? – Yes

By Insp. Dance: The reason he went back to the front of the public house was to get his brother Fred. There was no “rowdyism”

Frank William Wood, 18, Wellgate, Conisbrough, miner, said he was in the bagatelle room at the “Eagle and Child” about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday, and saw James Wilkinson and Fred Thompson playing a game. He stayed till ten o´clock and went out sober. The other two appeared to be sober. Witness was away a few minutes and then returned to the front of the hotel, where he saw the dead man Walter Wilkinson and John Thomas Thompson.

Walter Wilkinson had hold of Thompson as if he was trying to get him away. The deceased struck at Thompson about seven times. Thompson said as he struck him “That´s one, that´s two, that´s three” and deceased went on striking and said “that´s five, that´s six, that´s seven” Thompson could not strike back, as Walter was holding him. Walter took Thompson away. The deceased went towards Fred Thompson, who stood in the middle of the road. Whether anything was said or not he could not say, and then deceased struck three times. He saw one blow land on the face and Thompson said “What´s all this for?” But witness heard no reply. James Wilkinson then went towards thema as if to part them. The deceased raised his fist as if to strike, but witness could not say when he was going to strike. James said “Hold on, that´s above a joke” Witness saw James´s head go up as if he took a blow. He did not see James strike a blow, but on turning round after hearing a thump, he saw the deceased on the floor. A crowd gathered sand he was picked up. Witness caught up to James on the way home. James appeared to be sober, and he was crying. He said “I am sorry it´s brother Jack.” When James went up to his brother he did not appear to mean mischief, and was not excited. He was trying to part the two men.

By Insp. Dance: He saw James raise his hand for a blow, but did not see the blow delivered. He could not see how deceased was after the fall as the crowd gathered round.

Frederick Charles Thompson of Edlington, said he was at the “Eagle and Child” from about 6 o´clock till 10.10 p.m. Deceased strick at witness´s brother several times. Witness went up to deceased and said “That´ll not do Jack” He said nothing wrong as I know of. Deceased struck at witness two or three times. He did not see any more blows struck. Witness was covered with blook and walked away. James also told deceased “That´ll not do Jack” When witness told deceased his brother had done nothing wrong the deceased said “The mustn´t say that again!” The man who was dead started all the striking.

Richard Gresbough, of Edlington, miner, said he was outside the inn about 10.15. He saw some men in the street but did not know any of them. He had never seen them in his life. One man was pushing another down the street. A man came out of the crowd and struck the man who was puching the other down the hill. The blow landed on the right jaw and the man fell to the floor backwards. Witness heard the man´s head strike the floor and his assailant began to cry and another man took him away. The man who was knocked down was taken into the backyard of the inn. Before the blow was struck nothing was done by the man who was knocked down to provoke the attacker. He could not identify the man at all. Witness was a stranger to the district.

By Insp. Dance: He saw the blow struck but could not say if it was accidental.

Israel Buffin, of Edlington, said he was in the street near the “Eagle and Child”. There were several people in the street but witness knew none of them. Two began to quarrel and one man astruck seven or eight blows and counted them as he struck them. The man who was struck was taken away and the assailant started crying to another man. A third man came up and struck a blow full in the face of the man who was crying, with the result that he was knocked down backwards. Witness identified James Wilkinson as the man who struck the blow. Witness did not see the deceased raise a hand in provocation of the blows he received. Later, witness assisted to pick up deceased, who was unconscious. James Wilkinson put his hands up to his face, started crying and said “Oh dear, what have I done?” James was taken home and laid on the sofa.

Insp. Dance: Was the deceased sober?

Witness: He was and he was not. He had had a good drink, but I would not say he was drunk.

Joseph robinson of Edlington, said he was with the last witness, and identified James Wilkinson as the man who knocked the deceased down. He corroborated Buffin´s evidence.

The Brother´s Story

James William Wilkinson, 17, Wellgate, Conisbrough, miner, brother of the deceased, said he was with him at the “Eagle and Child” on Saturday night. They all came out at 10 o´clock, and his brother Walter started arguing with John Thomas Thompson. His brother struck Thompson sereral times and then the latter was taken away. The deceased started on Fred Thompson and struck him three times. Witness got across to them and told deceased not to strike him again as he had done nothing. Deceased got his hand up to strike again and witness put his arm out and caught him on the cheek and he fell. Witness did not intend to strike him and when he did fall witness was very much upset.

The Coroner, summing up, pointed out to the jury, the law regarding manslaughter, and also dealt with the affair from the point of vieew of an accident.

The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a verdice of “Accidental death”, and the Coroner, stating that his sympathies were with the brother of the dead man, expressed the opinion that the jury had come to a wise decision, and one with which he quite agreed.

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