The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

Brutal Assault by a Policeman at Bramley,

Oa Saturday evening last, Police-officer Linfoot,
who was on duty in the Rodley district, Bramley,
called at one or two public-houses, where he asked
for ,a hiskyi &c., tendering no payment in return for
it. He then proceeded to some of the shops in the
village, and at Mr. B. Gott's went behind the counter,
helping himself to figs, nuts, &c., in a most officious
wanner. The night being very cold, the liquors
appear to have had a powerful and exciting effect
upon him, for he afterwards threatened to take
into custody nearly every person whom he met.
Between 10 and 11 o'clock he met Joseph 13 ernes, a
wool scourer, of Rodley, who was quietly proceed.
ing home, and. pounced upon him, and in a most
cruel manner felled him to theground with his staff,
cutting his head in several places,and breaking his
jaw-bone. Sume persons residing is the neigh-
bourhood hearing a noise, went out to see what was
the matter. Barnes was crying out, "Lord have
mercy upon me, he is killing me," the officer at the
same time kicking him in the ribs with his heavy
shoes, and replying, "If I haven't killed him, I will
do so before I have done with him." The man was
bleeding most profusely, and the neighbours assisted
him into Mr_ Thackray's, shopkeeper, the officer
beating his staff against several doors, making in-
dentations an inch in diameter. He then went
into Mr. Thackray's and insisted on taking Barnes
a prisoner to the police station at Bramley, a dis-
tance of more than a mile. The neighbours remon-
strated with the officer, but to no purpose, the
brutal policeman asserting that, .'lf he (Barnes)
died on the road he would take him." They arrived
at the police station about one o'clock, and the ser-
geant was called up. Barnes was found to be in a
very exhausted condition, and some stimulants were
provided by his friends who had followed. Mr.
Laycock, surgeon, was sent for, and on examination
he found seven cuts on the head penetrating to the
bone, the lower jaw broken, and many severe bruises
on other parts of the body. Under his direction
the injured man was removed shortly afterwards to
the Infirmary, and Liufoot was taken into custody
v esterday, and conveyed to the Town Hall, at Leeds.
Our correspondent adds, considerable dissatisfaction
exists at Bramley, in consequence of the overbearing
conduct of some of the police officers stationed there.
During the past week, a ratepayer, holding an
official position in the town went to the police
station to complain of the conduct of one of the men,
when the sergeant, withcut any just cause, forcibly
took him by the neck andshoulders and pitched him
out of the office into the street. Another account
states that Barnes was perfectly sober when Lin-
foot—who, it appears, had been teased just pre-
viously by some men, one whom. had escaped from
his custody—came up to him and at once felledhim
by a blow on the head with his staff, and then re-
peated the blows in a most determined manner
whilst the man was on the ground. There are
numerous cuts on the head, all reaching to the bone,
and in one place the skul, is fractured ; the lower
jaw is also broken. The man is in a very dangerous
condition, but was able yesterday (Sunday) to give
his evidence before the Mayor, who, with Mr. Barr,
attended him at the Infirmary.—Leeds Mercury.