Mexborough and Swinton Times November 4, 1939

Blow with Bottle
Scuffle Outside Thurnscoe Hotel
Man Sent To Prison

Allegations against the police which were strongly denied and which the magistrates decided had no foundation at all were made at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court on Tuesday by Ellis Heaton (40), a miner, of Windsor Road, Thurnscoe, when charged with causing grievous: bodily harm to George Holroyd, Common Road, Thurnscoe, by striking him on the head with a bottle.

Heaton was sent to prison for two months, the Chairman, Mr. Mark Nokes, telling him they did not believe a word he had said.

Police Inspector Waugh said on Oct. 13th Holbrook visited Thurnscoe Hotel and played several games of darts with a friend. At 9-30 he left the taproom and went into the concert room with two friends. While seated at a table another man started an argument. At ten o-clock as Holroyd left it was alleged he was struck by Heaton on the head with a bottle. Before this another man had threatened to strike Holroyd and in defence Holroyd struck him and it was then that he was struck on the head by the defendant who went back into the hotel. He was seen to re-enter by the landlord who had heard a disturbance. Heaton at that time had a bottle in his hand and this the landlord seized. One of the complainant’s friends said that he had hit George and the defendant was alleged to have replied “I have and I will hit thee as well.”

The matter was reported to the police and when seen by P.c. Sheard the defendant said, “It is there. I had had some drink and I cannot remember.”

Holroyd, a machine man employed at the colliery, said in the hotel a man named Stoyles from Houghton started an argument. When he left the hotel and was waiting for his friends Stoyles came up and made as if he was going to strike him but he kept him off and then felt three or four blows on the head. He did not see who struck him but the man who did it ran back into the hotel. He had to receive medical attention.

John Roper, a farmer, of Thurnscoe, said after he got outside and was returning to fetch his raincoat which he had forgotten, he heard someone say, “They have hit George.” The defendant then came up to him and said, “I hit him and I will hit thee.” He had a bottle in his hand.

Harold Jones, the landlord, said the defendant backed into the snug with a bottle in his hand and he took it from him. Heaton appeared as if he wanted to get away and a woman whom he was with, his landlady, asked him to let them out the back way, which he did. The woman remarked they would kill him if they got him out there. Witness thought Holroyd and Roper were in the doorway.

Heaton said there was a crowd of men outside the doorway and if he had gone outside they would have mopped him up.

P.c. Sheard said he interviewed the defendant on the following Tuesday, the 17th, and he said, “Well it is there. I cannot remember, I had had some drink.”

Heaton put in a doctor’s note to the effect that he had been treated by him for a black eye and other injuries which he alleged had. been caused by the Sergeant at the police office when he went there on the Tuesday.

Sergeant’s Denial

Sergt. Knapton, called by the Bench, denied the allegations. It was a very wet night when Heaton called.              He placed defendant’s overcoat before the fire to dry and he also made him a cup of tea and put a drop of whisky in to warm him up as he was shivering with cold. Jones and Roper were also sent for. Five minutes after they had left the defendant also left. He made no complaint of their conduct towards him. Defendant visited the doctor at 10-45 p.m. and the doctor had denied that he ever advised him to go to Doncaster. He had a black eye when he visited him.

Roper, recalled, said he did not see anything wrong at the police station. He did not see anyone strike Heaton. Jones was already there when he arrived.        When they left they stood talking for a time and Heaton came out and passed them. Had there been any disturbance in the station they have heard it. Heaton did not speak them outside. He had not a black eye when he was in the station.

Jones, recalled, said he was in the station at 8 o’clock, and Heaton was there. There was no disturbance.

Heaton told the magistrates that he would not say it if it were not true. He was sitting on a chair and first one and then the other of the officers questioned him and he supposed because he would not speak their way the Sergeant said he would put the third degree on him and struck him in the eye. Later he brought him a cup of tea which contained three parts of rum. He (defendant) was in a dazed condition.

P.c. Sheard recalled, also denied the defendant’s allegations. He left the station in the same condition as he entered it.

P.c. Phipps described Heaton’s story as being absolutely untrue.

The defendant, who did not give evidence on oath, denied that he ever struck Holroyd but repeated his allegations that the police sergeant struck him when he was at the station.

Miss Nancy Gough, daughter of Heaton’s landlady, said she was at the hotel and as she was leaving saw a crowd of men outside. She heard one say, “Whoever comes out first hit him with a bottle.” The men had flash lamps.

Margaret Gough, with whom Heaton lodges, gave similar evidence. She persuaded Mr. Jones to allow them to leave by the back door because of the crowd outside.

It was stated that Heaton had four convictions, three for having been drunk and disorderly and one for obstructing the highway by fighting.

The Chairman, Mr. Mark Nokes, told the defendant they did not believe his statements. They happened to know the police officers better than he did. If ever a policeman assaulted anyone without cause, unless he was defending himself, he would deal with him if he was brought before him but they did not believe a word the defendant had said. The officers would leave the court with their characters as clean as when they came in but Heaton would have to go to prison for two months.