The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1880-06-26 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ASSAULT CASE. John Broughton, Edward Broughton, and George Broughton, three young men living at Potter's Cross, Kinver, was charged with assaulting Robert Blis,, of Kinver, on the Bth inst. Mr. Waldron appeared for complainant and Mr. Clulow for the defendants. Complainant, who is an agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, said he was returning from Stourbridge to Kinver and when he get toia Potter's Cross heZsaw three men. One of them said to him "Good night moonlight When he had got a little way past the men two of the defendants, George and John rushed A him and struck him in the face. They knocked him down and whilst he was on the ground they began to kick him and beat him. Complainant got up age:in aid asked defendants to leave him alone. He went a short way towards his home and the defendants went up to him again and commenced to kick him. Complainant then drew a life preserver which he had with him and used it. He shouted murder several times, The defendant Edward caught hold of his hand and held him and ",Let him have it, Jack." Camplainant then got away and went home. He went the same night to Police-sergeant Stevenson and toca him to the place where bthe affray took place. Their attention was drawn to a house where there was a light, and there saw a basin standing on the table with blood and water in it. Complainant's wife said that when her husband came home on the night in question he was bleeding from the mouth and nose. Policesergeant Steveson said the complainant pointed out to him the place where the affray took place. They went into a house that was near awl there saw the defendants and complainant said they were the men that had assaulted him. This ended the ease for the prosecution.—Mr. Clulow then brought a crosssummons against Robert Bliss, charging him with a-saulting George and John Broughton The first witness called was Edward Broughton who said he . lived at Pott,r's Cross. On the night in questi.)n he was in his home going to bed. He had his boots and jacket off. He heard some one groaning outside. He went outside and at the bottom of the entry saw somebody lying in the road and went to pick him up and found it was his brother John. He then gave him o his mother, who had run out on hearing the disturbance. He saw Bliss with a s iek in his hand with which he was going to strike his brotr.er George, and he caught hold of it. He loosed again on defendant promising not to strike him. He went away from him and went up the entry. When he went into the house, both his brcthers were bleeding very much. George Broughton was next called and said that on the night in question he was returning from The Hyde, and when near his 1-r me saw Bliss and said "Good night, Hr. Moonlight." He did not know bet that was his proper name. Bliss replied to him that he had something in his pocket that would settle them. ' Miss first struck his brother John and then struck witness, Joha Broughton said that Bliss struck him and knocked him down insensible. Harriet Watkins and Mary Corfield said that 6Bliss struck the complainants. The Bench retired to consider their verdict and on returning into court said they had given the case a careful consideration and had decided to dismiss both the summonses.