Mexborough and Swinton Times January 6, 1928
Assault on Police
Thurnscoe Constable’s Rough Time
Vain Denials.
At Doncaster, on Monday, Ralph Atkinson, miner, of 1 Briton square, Thurnscoe, was charged with indecent conduct, and with assaulting P.-c. France.
Prisoner was represented by Mr.-Lindsay Crawford, and pleaded ” Not guilty.”
P.-c. France said that at 12.30 a.m. on Sunday he told prisoner he would be reported for indecent conduct. Five minutes later, while in another street, Atkinson caught hold of his cape and tried to drag him back. Witness told him to go home, but he refused, and getting hold of witness’s’ legs, threw him to the ground. Two friends of the prisoner were about 30 yards away, and when witness had overpowered him he called to his friends. At that time witness ‘had the prisoner against a garden wall. Atkinson’s friends came up from behind, and knocked him into the garden. He did not know the names of the two men, but he knew one of them by sight. Witness added that prisoner got free, and then, with the others, started to kick him. While witness was on the ground Atkinson said “Let’s do the —- in.” He was kicked on the head, face and body by the prisoner, but managed to regain his feet, and blew his whistle for assistance. He was instantly knocked on to the ground again. A youth named Norman Turner came to his assistance, and the prisoner and his friends ran away.
Witness said he was badly kicked in the mouth, received a severe cut on the lips, had three teeth loosened, and there were marks on the small of his back and head caused by kicks. Turner went for further assistance, and witness received treatment at Dr. Boyle’s surgery. At 2.15 a.m. witness arrested the prisoner and took him to Goldthorpe police station, and charged him with being concerned with others in an assault on the police. He replied ” That’s —- right.” Witness said he was still unfit for duty.
Mr. Crawford: I suggest that while this man was talking to his friends you came to them and said “It’s all right, Atkinson?”
Witness : No. I told him he would be reported.
Did you get hold of him by the shoulder, and push him, and was the ground slippery, and did he fall?—No.
I suggest that another man then came up and committed the assault on you?—No.
Was this man sober?—As far as I am aware.
Can you suggest any reason why this man should assault you?—No.
There has been a certain amount of feeling between you and this man for some time, hasn’t there?—No.
Were you concerned in a case in which he was drunk and disorderly?—Yes.
I suggest that since then you have taken every opportunity to ” chip ” this man?—No.
Norman Gerald Turner (17), 15, Norman Street, Thurnscoe, said he saw the policeman and two men. together. One of the men was of similar build to the prisoner, but it was dark, and he could not swear it was Atkinson. Witness said he heard one of the men say, ” One, two, three, let’s go at him,” and they kicked the constable several times. The constable was in a garden, and witness pulled one of the men off him. The men then went away.
Supt. Minty : What sort of kicks were they giving him ?—Witness : They were taking running kicks at him.
Witness added that the prisoner was a stranger to him.
P.-c. France, re-called, produced his cape, on which were bloodstains.
Sergi. Downs said when he visited Dr. Boyle’s surgery he found the constable bleeding from the mouth. His clothing was very dirty, and he looked as if he had had a very rough time.
Witness said he was present when prisoner was arrested, and he corroborated the constable’s evidence as to what the prisoner said in reply to the charge.
Prisoner, giving evidence, said that on Saturday night he went to his club at about 20 minutes to nine, and left at 10 o’clock. At the corner of Lancaster Street he was talking with a man named Dixon when the constable came across and said ” It’s all right, Atkinson.” Witness said “What is all right?” and the constable replied “I am going to report yon for indecent conduct.” As far as he (prisoner) knew he was not guilty of any indecent conduct. The constable pushed him, and as the ground was slippery he fell.
Mr. Crawford: Did you commit any assault on the constable?—I did not.
Did anybody else?—Yes, there was a smallish ” bloke ” who landed at him right ‘ and left.
Do you know who he was?—I should know if I saw him.
Would you be prepared to give the police assistance in identifying him?—Yes.
When this man assaulted the policeman what did you do?—I walked away.
Prisoner denied that when charged with assault he said ” That’s right.” He said ” All right.” He thought he would just say “All right” and shut up.
Cross-examined by Supt. Minty prisoner said “Mr. France has followed me about like my shadow for about three monthss.”
John Davis, 31, Chapel Lane, Thurnscoe, said he saw the constable cross the street in the direction of two men. Something was said, but witness did not hear what it was. He saw the constable push Atkinson who fell on his back,
Mr. Crawford said the only independent witness could not identify the prisoner, whom he suggested should be given the benefit of the doubt.
The Chairman (Mr. G. B. Shiffner) said the Bench considered there had been a very bad assault committed. The policeman was only doing his duty, and the police should not be knocked about in this way by people who behaved like hooligans. The magistrates would take steps to stop it.
Prisoner would have to go to prison for three months’ hard labour for the assault, and would be fined 12s. for indecent conduct.
The Chairman called Turner before the Bench and said they thought he behaved very well.