1875 Sheffield Telegraph, 1 st February
The Murderous Assault by South Yorkshire Colliers
At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court on Saturday, Robert Wharmsley and Joseph Wattam, two young Colliers, belonging to Conisbrough, were charged with committing a violent assault on George Booth, a sickle manufacturer, at Conisbrough, on Monday night, 11th January. Mr Hall appeared for the complainant, Mr Peagam for the defendant Wattam, and Mr Coates, of Chesterfield, for the defendant Wharmsley. The case lasted several hours, but the facts briefly stated, are as follows:
About nine o’clock on Monday night, 11 January, the complainant, accompanied by his partner, Mr Himshull, and a friend name McCaskie, went to the Castle Inn, Conisbrough, to pay for some Mutton. While in the bar parlour the three heard a quarrel going on in the kitchen, and they went to see what was the cause. They found the two defendants there, and the landlady was accusing Wattam of having taken some liberties with the servant girl. Just as the complainant and his friends got there Wattam was holding his fist in the landlady’s face. Mr Booth and his companions interfered, and told him that he must not assault the woman. Ultimately, Wattam was put out of the house, and Walmsley soon afterwards followed him.
On complainant and his friends going out of the Inn they found the two defendants at the door. Wattam, on seeing the complainant, remarked that he would fight any two men in Conisbrough. Mr Booth told him that they were not fighting men, and he advised him and Wharmsley to go quietly home. On this Wattam retorted, “let us go at the – with boulders,” and immediately complainant was struck on the mouth with one that was thrown, causing him to bleed very copiously. Immediately afterwards Wattam went towards the complainant and his friends as if to assault them, but was driven back by Mr Hemshall. Whilst this was going on a second boulder was thrown, and striking complainant on the head, caused him to fall to the ground senseless.
As to who through the second boulder there was no direct evidence to show. At the moment before it was thrown Mr McCaskie saw Wharmsley raised his hand and fling it forward, leading him to suppose that he was throwing something. Complainant beginning to moan the defendants ran away. Mr Booth was removed to his house, where he lay senseless for a week. The first night he bled so bad that it was said the bedclothes were covered all over with blood. The second week he was only partially conscious, and the week following he suffered very severely from his injuries – indeed, at one time was thought that the defendant would have to be tried on a charge of murder.
In reply to the defendants advocates it was denied that the complainant and his friends were intoxicated, or that Mr Booth struck Wattam, or did anything to provoke the defendants. The bench having intimidated that they should send the case to Leeds Assizes for trial, Messrs Peagam and Coates reserved their defence. The case was not completed until after seven o’clock at night.
1875, April 1st, York Herald
Leeds Spring Assizes.
Crown Court. – Wednesday. (Before Mr Baron Amphlett)
Wounding at Conisbrough.
RobertWharmsby (28), Collier, and Joseph Watham (19), Collier, were indicted for feloniously wounding George Booth, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, at Conisbrough, on 11 January. Prosecutor is a sickle manufacturer at Conisbrough, and on the night in question he, along with his partner, Mr. JobHemshill and a Mr. McAskell, went to the Castle Inn where some quarrel ensued.
As the prosecutor and his friends were returning home together, the prisoners came suddenly upon them, and Mr. Booth was immediately struck over the mouth with a stone, and afterwards over the left eye with another, knocking him down.
He was very much hurt, and was partially unconscious the whole of the following week. The blow on the eye caused concussion of the brain, and his life was in danger for a considerable time afterwards.
The jury found both the prisoners guilty and they were each sentenced to 10 years penal servitude.