The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-06-19 00:00:00

HALESOWEN.

CHA.RGE OF ASSA.ULT AGAINST A SER-
GEANT OF POLICE AT THE EAST WORCES

TERSHIRE ELECTION.

At the Police Court, on Tuesday, before Messrs.
E. Gem and, E. B. Phillips, Henry Raybould,
sageant of police, stationed at Halesowen, was
charged with as-aulting William Hackett, a nailer,
of Halesswen, on the 12th April. Mr. T. Homer
(Beesley Hid) prosecuted and Mr. W. S. Hayes
(Halesowen) defended.
Mr. Homer in opening the ens: remarksd that
there had been a serious a-sault committed, and if
it was proved that R cybould committed it, and he
(Mr. Homer) had no doubt bst that it wo dd be,
he ought to be punished.
William Hackett. the complainant, said h 3 wa3 .
in the Leopard Inn, on the day of the election for
that Division of the County. He left the above
Inn abou. 4.15., and proceeded down the road
towards the Malt Shovel Inn. When opposite the
rectory he saw a crowd of people and a body of
police near the Malt Shovel Inn. Ile saw the
police going towards him and turned back again
because he wanted' to get out of the row. SOMA
policemen ran past him and one of them went up the
Leopard Inn entry. He was going towards the
Le. paid Inn, when he was struck by a staff, which
knocked him down. When he was on the ground he
turned his head a little, and saw defendant who was
behind him going away. A man named William Brook c
ricked hi:n up, and he (complainant) then accused
defendant of striking him, on which the deigndant
replied he had not. Ile was thsn taken into the
Leoparl Ina The following morning a man named
Smatt told him lie was wanted at Neatles. He
went to the honse, which was a public house, and
there saw the defendant wi-h some ale on the table
before him, who asked him if he was in the same
humour that he wts, the previous night, when he
charged him with striking him. Complainant re-
plied it was defendant and nobody else. Ile then
went into the yard and showed defendant his back.
Defendant then said to him he never saw him do
anything to cause him to strike him. They then
went into the house together and had some ale. He
said to defendant that a quart of ale did not bey
him. Defendant then said to him that if he said he
struck him he should have him for obstructing hi ta
in the highway, and taking his staff off him.
In cross-ex imination by Mr Hayes he said he had.
been drinking in the Leopard Inn for two hours-
and- a-quarter. He also admitted that he had been
convicted of rioting in 1874.
William Brooks, miner, said that on the day in
question se was near the Leopard Inn, about 4
o'clock. He was standing near the rectory when he
saw The policeman. He saw the policeman running
and saw the complainant going towards the Leopard
lon, with his hands in his pockets. ' He saw Ray- -
bould strike him with his staff, and he also asked
him if he wanted the same dose. He was sure that
Raybould was the man that struck complainant
' Edward Adams, grocer's assistant , was stand-
ing on the step of the shop, where he was employed,
which was situated near the Leopard Inn, and said
he saw Raybould strike complainant with his staff
on the head .
William Jones, horse nail maker, and James
Guest also swore that they saw Raybould strike the
c .inplainant.
• Mr. Hayes then addressed the Bench for the de-
fence, and said there was no doubt a very great dis-
turbance, and the police .were ordered out by their
superior officers to clear the streets, and if defend-
' at had struck complainant he was not liable.
iMr. Phillips: If I had been passing down the
f street would Raybould have been liable for ettiking
I me.
4 Mr. Hayes : Every one passing down the street
I was liable to be hit. - _ - .

Mr. Hayes then called Police-const3.blo;.Jenkins,
of Birmingham, who slid that on the 12th April he
was withga number of otl e • policemen stationed a',
Halesowen. Iu the afternoon a disturbance tothlc
place anu they had orders from their supericr 0f6.-cars
to clear the street. He did not see Hackett .struck
He her.trddtfendatit ac use a Birmingham policeman
Of ing struck him.
Polior•-conAaule Taylor said ilia-, o t day
About 4
qtr.stim he was stationed in. the towo. ,
o'clock there was a disturbance, and he re2eive.
orders to proceed towards the Malt Shovel
He saw Police-constable Birrainghtlw.
strike
complainant, and not the defendant.