The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-08-22 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

PEI  A MIDNIGHT SCENE IN NESTON, ASSAULT ON THE POLICE.  ---§es7r— At the estonPetty ions, on Monday, before Mr. T. Comber, and Colonel Lloyd, Thomas Price was charged in cuxtody with being drunk and diaorderlyon the previous Saturday night, and also with assaulting Constable James Dawson in the execution of his duty.—The officer stated that at midnight on the previous Saturday he was on duty in company with Constable Dutton, when they heartl a disturbance in Pyke's Weint, and on proceeding to the i spot, they found the prisoner drunk, and n the act of kicking at the door of a cottage occupied by a man named Weaver. Witness told the man to go home, and he went a few yards and stopped. Constable Dutton then told him to go, but he refused and rushed at the officer to fight him. They then took him in the direction of the police station. When they reached the top of Babyroad, he refused to go any further' but threw himself down, and kicked and struggled so violently that witness was compelled to strike him on the arm with his staff.—Constable Dutton, in corroborating, stated that the prisoner kicked right and left, and they had great difficulty in putting the handcuffs on him until William Molyneux came to their assistance.—Sergeant Wilson stated that he came out of , the house on hearing the row and assisted to push Price into the police station. The prisoner was I drunk.—Elizabeth Weaver stated the row at her house was owing to a dispute about a kitten, which prisoner alleged belonged to him. He kicked two spars of the door loose before the officers came.— Joseph Evans, for the defence, said he was standing at the top of Baby-road when the officers and prisoners came up. The latter ea id "Let me go, and I'll go quietly," but the officers threw him down and heat him unmercifully with their etaves.—Crose-examined by Superintendent McDonald: He knew nothing of what had taken place previously, or of the row in Pyke's Weint.—Sarah Ouldred, slater of the prisoner, stated that the latter was nearly murdered by the officer, and Constable Dutton struck her with his fist. She denied that she was pulling the constable away from the prisoner. She only boozed his fingers from prisoner's throat. She did not see the prisoner striking the officet.—Jane Price, mother of the prisoner, stated that she heard her eon's cries in her house. He was shouting. •• Oh, my mam." She went out and saw the officers abusing him. His clothing was almost stripped from him, including a torn waistcoat, which she produced in court —Mary Barry, another sister, said that the officers' staves were used to such an extent that they "struck fire." —Mrs. Bell, another sister, and a woman named Betsy Newton gave similar evidence.—The magistrates deferred their decision until the close of the next case, in which Richard Evans, Baby-road, also in custody, was charged with assaulting police constable Dutton while in the execution of his duty, and with attempting to rescue the prisoner in the previous case.—Constable Price stated that when taking Price into cuotody they were surrounded by a cmwd, and Evans kicked him on the hip. Witness turned round and said, "If you do such a cowardly thing again I will use my staff." The prisoner again kicked him, and tried to pull constable Dawson away. Cross-examined by prisoner, witness repeated his statements.— Constable Dawson stated that he saw the prisoner kick ,Constable Dutton and Sergeant Wilson stated that when he came upon the scene Evans was polling at Dawson 's arm, and witness caught hold of him and threw him aside. In rep:7 to Mr. Comber, witness said he was sure as to the identity of prisoner, as he had known him several years. Joseph Evans; the witness in the previous ease, swore distinctly that the prisoner 'levec went near the officers. He knew who had committed the assault, and it was not committed by a man at all. The Bench ordered Evans to pay 10s. and costs for the assault, and committed Price for fourteen days with hard lalcur.—Addressing Joseph Evans, Mr. Comber said that if he saw the officer assaulted it was his duty as an Englishman to waist the officer.— Evans in reply said he did not see the assault.  RInnENHKAD Rana-UGH Hosrrrmi.—W73ek ending August 15th: Admitted 12; discharged 20; died 1; brought in dead 0: remaining 31; out-patients admitted (new cases) 63 number of attendances (old and new) 146; easualtiee admitted (new cases) 67; number of attendances (old and new) 144; homepatients admitted (new cases) 54 ; number of visits (old and new) 129; dental-patients admitted (old and low) 26; total =CO January Ist, 7,331.