The Atherstone, Nuneaton, and Warwickshire Times. — 1882-09-02 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

WARWICK.  VIOLENT ASSAULT ON %.* CONSTABLE  • At the Warwick Borough Police Court on Saturday, beer() the Mayor (Mr. re. W. Arkwright), and Major Mason, William Bennett, a private in the 6th Regiment, at Budbrook, '.Tames WetlturKid, private in the 6th, Thorno.s George, and ott my George, Union Buildings, and Ann Kibblie, Leamington, were brought up in custody charged with having violently assaulted Police-constable Griffin, in the execution of his duty, ,on the race common,on Friday afternoon, All the prisoners pleaded not guilty—Policeconstable Griffin stated that lie was stationed at Wellsboume, and was on duty on the race common the previous Friday. A man came to him and said murder was being cried on the common. He went across the common where he saw ten or twelve people, amongst them the prisoners.—The two George's and Kibblie were fighting and shouting murder. When they saw witness they ran away. About half-an-hour afterwards he saw them all fighting again and making a disturbance. The female prisoner George came across to him, and said,"Here's one Her brother followed and struck witness a blow on the eye. He attempted to take him into custody, When all the prisoners set upon him. The primer Thomas George said, "open that knife," at the same time handing something to his sister. Witness could not swear it was a knife. The prisoners go ts wit nese down and punched him with their fists and kicked him. He also received a blow with some blunt instrument whilst lie was on the ground. They all set to thumping and kicking him. Kibblie shouted, "Let him have it, he's got no witnesses." Witness got up and got away. He shouted, but got no assistance.— Police-constable Burbidge said on the day named he met Griffin near the gate on the common. He appeared to have been badly used. They went together to the bottom of Linen-street., where they saw the two prisoners Thomas and Kvily George. They ran away up the yard. When they got up to them, Gri n said, "That is the man and woman." Witn 83 told them they would be charged with assaulting Police-constable Griffin to which Thomas George replied, "I wish we had given him a bit more." Griffin then took hold of him and lie became very violent. Witness took hold of him and handcuffed lihn. The female prisoner Kibblie resented and did all she could to prevent his being taken. Witness then went to Kibblie's house and found the soldiers Bennett and Westwood in the cellar. They dared witness to go down and told him if lie did they would do him a thick one. They were all charged with assaulting Griffin. Westwood said, "We never assaalted him, it was some other soldiers." Both of them were covered with mud and blood,  and appeared as though they had been in a severe struggle.—The prisoners, with the exception of Amy Kibblie, were also charged with having assaulted Thomas Collins, of Newcastleon-Tyne. on the 25th instant. —The prosecutor stated that on the day named he saw the two soldiers on the race common. Witness was going to the Barracks 1.0 enlist. They came behind him knocxed him down and ill-treated him Be shouted murder, and got away as soon as he could. Thomas George kicked witness in the mouth, remarking that he would "put an end to They took out of his ;pocket 7s. 4d. For the assault on the constable the prisoners were sentenced to three months hard labour each ; and for the assault on Collins they were fined a guinea each, in default an additional month's hard labour.—All the prisoners were removed in custody.