Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1878-08-03 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT WITH A MALLET IN ASIITON.  On Tuesday morning, a most eerious outrage was committed in Ashton. The particulars, no an can at present be ascertained, are . follows—A man. named Eli Edwards. • working etonemanon, living at Droylelen lute for the last three weeks been working for Mr Thomas I. raokstoae, stonemason, Berkeley-street. Cavendish.street. During the past few days Edwards has been drinking, and as a ....Nunnoo has neglected his work. Frequent disputms arose between him and his employer respecting this, and all remonstrance being ia vain Mr Crackstone ordered him that morning to go off the place, and never return again. A serious quarrel arose, and high words were exchanged. What • sulysequentlN i• ilialoult to clearly understand, but it would seem that Mr Crack..ss struck the man in the mouth. Following this blow a great, deal of bad language was exohanged, and Mr era :ketone turned away, when Edward. took up • mallet which was lying to his hand, and streak Mr Craelrdons a heavy blow with it on the back of the heal. The weapon with which the blow was struck was a most formidable ono. It weighed about =amen or eight pounds, and Edwards is maid to ha. wielded it with considerable force. Mr Crackstone dropped to the ground immediately that he was struck, and his assailant ran off. Chase was given by some of the other men employed in tile yard. Edw.,' • ran in the direction of the Moss, crossed the railway and made off towards Drtiyla den. The pursuit was kept lip for some distance and the man was once steppe I but his pursuer. floe putting in au appear.oe he wan allowed to go again. For the time he got clear away, hut was •uos.que, tly apprehended by Sergeant Snell. and locked spat the Town Hall. In the ineantime Mr Crackstoue hail been carried into the house, and Dr. Gardiner had been sout for. He found that very severe injuries had been inflicted. Yince the occurrence Mr Craokstone has had an epileptic an indication of injury to the brain. At the present be is considered to be in a danger°on con. ditiou. _  It is slate I by the men employed in the yard who witnessed what passed that after the quarrel bewarn Mr Crackrtone and Edwards the latter con tinned to loiter shout the yaid, awaiting. it wontsow warn. his opportunity to strike the injured man. After talking to one and another of the men for a long time he aaddenly went behind Mr ,'rook. stunt sub. was at work and took up the mallet which lay upon the crone at which he was "at work.'' and with it struck the blow. Edward. has elated oboe he has been in custody that he threw the mallet, but tee men saw him put it down at the gale before running off. Mr Crackstone's injuries were dressed as stated, and he afterwards returned to Lis wdrk While he was at his “banle. —as the place upon which the arose rests was called—he suddenly became very strange in his manner. lie was in fact seized with an epileptic it, and before assistance could be nudered he fell forward over the "hank" on to the stone chippings en the ground. His face was very lunch cut and braised. It was reported that he was slightly better on Taraday evening.