Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 May 1892

A Wombwell Miner Waxes Violent in his Cups.

Police-sergeant Williams and Police constable Harnwell, whilst on duty about half-past eleven o’clock on Saturday night in Park-street, Wombwell, came across Thomas Hunsley, miner, of Ship Croft, in the street drunk. They ordered him off and he went a few yards. A bicyclist was coming along, and prisoner remarking, “I’ll upset that _____” seized the wheel and tried to upset it. The bicyclist was almost upset and prisoner fell on his face on the road. The two officers seized prisoner, who at once kicked the sergeant in the leg. He had a bull terrier dog with him, which he set on the sergeant, whose leg it bit, but did not break the skin. Police-constable Todd joined them, and they took prisoner to the station, he kicking as they went. When they got into the police station, prisoner took the bottom of a tumbler glass from his pocket and threw it at the sergeant’s head. It struck his shoulder and cut his coat. Another struggle ensued in which prisoner kicked the sergeant, and the constable, and also tried to bite the latter.

When brought before the magistrates on Monday morning at Barnsley prisoner denied any assaults and accused Harnell of having assaulted him him, and his wife said she had been told that the police struck her husband on the head with a stick and kicked him.

Defendant was fined 5s. and costs on the first charge. and 20s. and costs on each of the other charges, or ten weeks’ imprisonment.