Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1865-03-31 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BRUTALOUTRAGEB IN SOUTII STAFFORDSIII RE. —At the Wednesbury Police-court, on Tuesday, seven miners, principally Irishmen, were placed before the Stipendiary- Magistrate charged with having been concerned in one of the most cowardly and brutal outrages short of actual murder perhaps ever committed by sane men. he offence took place on Monday afternoon, on the main road between Wednesbury and NValsall. Owing to an accident at the pit at which the prisoners worked, they, and eight or nine of their companions, had spent the morning at a public house, and had intbided strong drinks copiously, the result being that high words ensued, fohowed by a genuine Donnybrookfair sort of melee in the high road. While they were thus engaged a constable, named Asbury, happened to come in sight, and straightway (although he was dressed in plain clothes), one of the drunken Irishmen, recognising him as a policeman, shouted out "Let us finish the bobby.' Half a dozen knives at once gleamed in the air, and eight or ten hedgestakes were wielded by as many brawny arms. Before Asbury could place himself in a defensive position he was felled to the ground, his assailants crowding round him and striking at him, some with knives and some with bludgeons. He defended himself with his staff until he lost it. and afterwards with his handcuffs. These the cowardly ruffians endeavoured to wrench from his grasp, but he held firm, and rather than let go allowed himself to be dragged along the ground a distance of upwards of 150 yards. A woman who was passing entreated them not to murder the man, and they at once turned furiously upon her, threw her down, and with shocking brutality beat and kicked her on the most sensitive parts of the body. Other persons who interfered were treated in the same manner, and for some time the entire neighbourhood was kept in a state of terror. At length, however, probably tired out, or their brutal passions sated, they moved off, and the sufferers promptly received proper professional assistance. Asbury's coat and trousers were found to be cut with knives in many places, and on his body were several ugly wounds, one of the principal—a gash upwards of three inches long, and I inches deep—being close to the main artery at the back of the thigh. Had this artery been severed death from lose of blood must have taken place before assistance could have reached the unfortunate man. His head and face were also shockingly cut and bruised. The poor woman who interceded for him sustained serious if not dangerous injuries. The prisoners were remanded.  M 3, (ill the caused tit. having been authorities cause is believed will brink " RAISING Tit E I) r, tells the following amusine, Shields " medium :"—A gent. hundred miles from the Market pi.. to be a medium, and for some time has. hare the secrets of the spirit world to a st. his most intimate friends, free of charge. . night a goodly company Of his friends had asserne . his parlour, where, by the grim flickering of the fire ... the fitful glances of the moon, they caught dim glimpses of one another across a round table of the most approved te. spiritual fashion. Dead silence prevailed in the apart- toge. ment, except when the grave and solemn voice of the man is . medium broke the silence, which he did by conjuring well dresse. , any vagrant spirits who might be within reach of his well to do me voice to declare themselves. At length there was a per. looking. and they ceptible movement of the table, a kind of trembling