Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 01 April 1922
Tragic Sequel to Conisboro’ Quarrel.
Miner Knocked Down and Killed.
Brother’s Attempt to End Dispute Falls.
An Unfortunate Accident.
The circumstances of the tragic sequel to the dispute between a party of Conisbrough miners on Saturday week last, as result of which John Wilkinson (41), of 50, West street, Conisbrough, died from injuries through being knocked down outside a public home, were the subject of an inquiry held by the Doncaster Coroner, Mr. Frank Allot, at Conisbrough, on Thursday. The inquest had been opened the precious 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 inspected 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 alter 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 reached. Wilkinson must have had now 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 Iacerated wound must have caused by force, but the bruise on the right cheek was slight and did not indicate excessive violence.
A Family Quarrel.
John Thomas Thompson, of Edlington, miner, said he was a nephew of the dead man. On Saturday March 24, he went to the “Eagle and Child” Inn and went into the bagatelle room about 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 cold beer and all were sober. At 10 o’clock, they came out of the room and an argument arose between Walter Wilkinson and witness about family affairs. Walter got hold of witness’s arm and the dead man interfered, 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 about 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’s Capacity
The Coroner: What is your capacity, then ?
Witness : About eight or nine pints, I should say.
Does it take eight or nine pints to make you drunk’—Yes.
By lnsp. 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 untill ten at 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 it 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 them us if to part them. The deceased raised his list as if to strike, but witness could not say who he was going to strike. James said “Hold on, that’s above a joke.” Witness saw James’s hand go up as if to guard a blow. He did not see James strike a blow, but on turning round alter hearing a thump, he saw the deceased on the door. A crowd gathered and 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 struck at witness’s brother several times. Witness went up to deceased and said “‘That’ll not do, Jack’ He’s 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 blood 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 “Tha mustn’t say that again!” The man who was dead started all the striking.
Richard Greenhough, 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 pushing the other down the bill. The blow landed on the right jaw and the man fell to the door 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 his 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 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 struck 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 up and struck a blow full In the face of the men who was crying with the result that he was knocked down backwards. Witness, identified Jane’s Wilkinson as the main 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 taken home and laid on the sofa.
lnsp. 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 several times and then the latter was taken away. The deceased started on Fred Thompson and struck him three times. Witness 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 off the cheek sad he fell. Witness did not intend to strike and when he did fall witness was very upset.
The coroner, summing up, pointed out to jury, the law regarding manslaughter, and also dealt with the affair from the point of view of an accident.
The jury, after a few minutes deliberation, returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” and the Coroner, stating that his sympathies were with the brother of the dead man, expressed his opinion that the jury had come to a wise decision and one with which he quite agreed.