The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-04-26 00:00:00

BRUTAL ASSAULT OF A RAILWAY SERVANT

AT CRADLEY HEATH.

At the Old Hill Police Court, on Wednesday, before
Major Smith, and Messrs. F. W. G. Barris and N
Hingley, Benjamin Westwood was charged with indict-
ing grievous bodily harm on Wm. GA., a isioalman,
in the employ of the Great Western Railway Company,
at Cradley Station, on the 31st of March. Mr. Stokes
appeared to prosecute. and Mr. Addison defended, and
the company was represented by Inspectors Ledbrook
and Lock. Mr. Stokes, in opening the case, said he ap-
peared on behalf of the Great %%astern Railway Com-
pany, to support the charge aeainet defendant. The
complainant. one of their servants had bcen brutally
treated wililst engaged in the execution of his duty. It
appeared that the defendant was summoned at that
Court at the instanco of the stationmastar a. fortnight
ago for causing a disturbaniiii, and at that time the
present coruplinuaut war a witness against defendant.
The stationmaster then felt it his duty to take more
serious titeps and applied for a warrant to be issued for
defendant'ir appreliensiou, and charge him with a more
serious offence. The facts of toe case were as follows:
Un the ast of March, being 13ridgeuorth Races, a
special traiu was deapatched to Bridgenorili with exam-
ownists and returned to Cradley about 10 30 p.m. When
it stopped at Cnelley Station, the defend.int who was
very drunk, got out, rolled on to the platform, began
kicking everybody auti everythnig within his reach and
ultunateiy rolled between tue platform and the wheels
of the carriages. stationmaster had the presence
ot mind to atop the train from proceeding, or the defen-
dant would most probably have been cut to pieces.
Some of the passengers pulled him up from his precarious
position and uraggea him onto the platform. Wuen be
got ep he went to one end of the platform, got over some
palings into • held. The stationmaster ordered cow-
plainaut to tollect defendant', ticket, and he went after
him for that purpose. Ile asked defendant for his
ticket when he turned round and etruck lion a violent
blow under the ear, knocked him down and then kicked
him in a brutal manner, and also triee to strangle him,.
and it was with the utmost difficulty that he was pulled
eff complainant. Complainant had been very ill since,
and had been under medical treatment and had not been
able to renume his duties. If he proved the above facts
to the satisfaction of the Bench, he would ask them to
deal with it in a severe a manner as possible. He then
called tt nu. Osika who said : I am • sigunloiau in the
enap.oy of the Great Weriteru Railway Company, and
stationed at Cradley Station. On the night 01 the Slat
of March, 1 was oil only at the station when a train
Arrived Irons Brichounti about half-past 10 o'c.ock. The
tiefeudeut was over inc rails outside the station whets 1
first saw 11103. I lolooed him over the rails and asked
him for Ins ticket. He was running in a field off the
company .0 premises He said he bad not come by the
tram, sad he hail Sot got • ticket. I had my lamp in
my left hand. I bind trim he must come back to the
stationmaster. I caught hold of him by the collar. Be
then struck me at toe back of the ear. tie knocked me
down and commenced kicking me on the back and ribs,
and on the left sore. 1 called for assistance and George
Taylor, the yardsmaffiand George Wilkes came up. They
searched defendant auu found the ticket in his pocket.
We bait bused defendant and told him to go shunt his
business, when be ran at me tied struck me with his fist.
He knocked me down, tell on the top of use anu tried to
throttle me. Taylor and Wilkes got him clime. I then
came up to the station and reported the case to Mr.
Roach. 1 have suffered a great deal and have been in
great pain. I nave tern under the oare of Dr. Camp•
bell tit stourbridge, ever since. I was badly bruised
Irons the kicks and I have not been able to attend to my
work shine the /Mat of March.

Cross-exansuied : I had not done any work since that
time. 1 have not been gardening. I know Moves DOlll2l.
public-house. I have not been there. hal uue glass
of ale there the funowing morning. I did nut have two
pints of ale and some Dread and cheese. I had not got a
*tick to waik with tnem asl did hut feel the effect, so
badly. 1 had not been in Mrs. Cartwright-a eince that
time. I dm not threaten to split defendant's head with
the lamp.
tticuard Roach said : I tun stationmaster at Cradley
Station. On the evening of the lint of Itlarcn, the ex-
cursion train came in from Britignorth about 10.30.
saw defendant ou the platform. He was lying down and
was Inciting at every one that came near him. lie got
up and staggered tuwartis the train and felt down head
that between the platform and toe train. I saw him
dragged out by the paeaengera that were standing by.
Toe train was ready to start and I ehuwei a signal to
stop it. Toe passengers held uefendant until the train
had left the station I lett him in charge of the
passengers. links was at the gate collecting tickets at
that time. I inked Lim to collect defendant's ticket,
and the other persons who had gut hold of him. Whilst
was on the platform I heard the complainant call
"George," that was meaning the yardsman. Complain-
ant came to me alttovreoda aid his Overcoat was torn
down the side. lie appeared to be very much ex:-
attested. I have seen him from time to time since the
glair and he seemed eely ill. lie has not yet been able
to resume his duidea.

George Taylor deposed : I am yardamen at Cradley
Station. On the night in question I was on duty on the
return of the Bridguorth train. I did not .0 defendant
before I was called into the field. I heard my nsme
called out by lilacs. I went down and found complain-
ant and defendant together in a field. Oilks was ou his
back and Vi estwood was kicking hita in the Bide. I caught
hold of defendant anti said, Don't serve the man like
that. He said I will kick his b- head oft—
George W.lkes caws, up and we pulled defendaot off
complement. He had got hold of complaisant by the
throat. Defendant challenged me to lista. We found
lite ticket in ins pocket. I heard elm asked for the ticket
and he sald he had not come by train. He was druuk.
George Wilkes corroborated Taylor.
befeuttaut was committed to t Ike his trial at the next
Stafford Sessions, bail being auepted in two sureties of
£25 each, and himself in one surety of £5O.
Air. Addison intimated to the Bench that he should
reserve Ms defence.