Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-05-15 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

NIGHT ENCOUNTER.—Thornas WWI, mill farnacemen, and George Clayton, cab driver, summoned each other for assaults, on the 12th of May. , Mr Edwards appeared for Clayton, and Mr Draper , for Siddall. It apoeared that about doyen o'clock on Wednesday night, Siddall and a friend named Mayesfield were standing near Kindler's shop at the end of St. John's-road, where Mayesfield was eating a potato, and Siddall smoking a cigar. Clayton also stood near the corner eating a potato, and when Mayesfield had done eating his potato, he threw the skin away, which hit Clayton, who thereupon enquired—" Why the he had done that for ?" Mayesfield said there was nothing amiss, end Clayton turned away; but when...4fayesfield had gone, a 'bus drove up, which Clayton stopped, and shouted that Siddall had thrown a potato at him. Those on the 'bus called out, "Go into him, we will see you righted." Clayton then did "go in," and Siddall started to go home, but tell down from blows that had been given by some of the party who had got out of the 'bus.—Daniel Thomas, pud tier, of the Moor Ironworks, said that Clayton was among the party, but could not say whether he struck any blow. Siddall fell down near Howden-street.—Mrs Siddall said that she was in bed on the night in veation, and heard cries of "Murder" and" Police." She got up in her night-dress and lo.ked out, and saw several men, who shouted—" Turn him out, and we will give him some more." Next morning her husband was bla k and blue all over. Clayton was among the crowd, but she did not see him strike.— On behalf of Claytor, it was alleged that Siddall threw a potato, and said he would blind Clayton, who being a little fellow, told Sidolall to put his hat up and defend himself. He admitted striking the blows at the end of St. John's-road, but pleaded that Siddall struck him as well. *s to the falling down and further assault, it had not been shown that Clayton had anything to do with it, and he denied the accusation altogether.—John Hawkins, the conductor of Mr Foster's 'bus, said that when driving up St. John's-road Clayton shouted that some one had threatened to blind him wish potatoes. They stopped and aot down and saw Clayton and the man with their hands up. The young man struck Clayton, and Clayton then struck him twice, and then he ran away. A man named John Ellis followed, and struck and kicked him, Clayton never passed the end of Atkinson-street, and did not follow the crowd into Howden-street.—Mrs Clayton said her son went home about 11 o'clock on the sth May. He had potatoes in his neck, ears, and hair, he was covered with potatoes, and quite sober.—George Clayton was then sworn, and raid that in turning the corner of St. John's-road, he passed Siddall and Maye.tfield, and had gone about ten yards, when he was struck by a potato. He turned back and said "What have you done that for ?" Siddall accompanied him up the road and said he wonld blind such a one as him. He invited Siddall to put hie hands up. They had a round or two, and then Siddall ran away, followed by others. Clayton was fined lOs and 26s Rd costs; the charge against Siddall was dismissed.  Fuinvi,—Betore G. Lockwood, J. Mills, and J. S Byers, Esq.