Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-11-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SHOCKING CASE OF KICKING A POLICE SERGEANT AT MIDDLESBROUGH. __  At Vlie--MiTi-diesbrough Police Court, on Monday, one of the most shocking Oases of brutality to a police officer that has been known in this district for some time. came before the Stipendiary (C. J. Coleman, Esq Six men, named Michael Welsh, James McDermott, Arthur McCraig, James Agaew, Francis McLaughlin, and John Kelly, puddl.rts, were charged with assaulting S,,rgeaut Raisbeisk, of the Middlesbrough police force.—The complainant, who sp. peered in the witness box with his head and one eye baudaged and his face covered with bruises, said teat on Saturday night, while on duty in Vinestreet, he went up to some men who were fighting. He took one man from the ground and remowd him to a house. While doing this the piisoner McDermott struck him in the face and felled him. While he was getting up he struck him again and knocked him down a second time and then kicked him. While in the act of gettieg up, the prisoner Welsh struck him on • the head with his ust and afterwards, while on the ground, kicked him about the head. Kelly and Atruew then came up, and both of them struck and kicked him. As fast as I he attempted to ge: up, the men tried to knock hire down, and kicked him. One of them af-erwards attempted to drag him into a lodging-house, and he was pushed through a shop wilorlow.—Mrs Phillips, Vine-street, spoke to having seen MeDermot kick the officer twice.—Margaret Ann Malthus, a young woman, also stated that she saw Kelly, Agnew, and Welsh, kick the complainant several times in a brutal manner, and Kelly tried to drag him into a lodging. house. She shouted "murder," and the officr r cried for help. Kelly attempted to kick the withess, end failing, again kicked the officer.—Jane MeGink stated that she saw McCraig kick the 0f1i..-er all along the street, and when she interfered he struck her in the face. This witness charee3 the defendant with the assault.—William George Mulling stated that he saw the prisoners Agnew. M'Laughlin, and McDermott kick the officer. Other witnesses were called, teal preyed that the complainant had been savagely treated by the defendants.—Sergeaut Ash deposed that he took the prisoners into custody subsequently to the assault, and they all denied complicity in the affair.—Dr Clark, Middlesbrough, derosed that he bad ex• &ruined the officer, and found several severe bruises about the face. The aide bone of the nose was broken. There was a large bruise on the back of the head, and another on the right knee. Under one eye there was an incised wound, which bled s great deal. All these braises were compatible with the officer having been abused in the we that had been described. The cfficer would not be able to follow up his duties in less than a fortnight.—The Stipendiary said he was determined to put an end, as far as possiore. to the brutal system of kicking that had become common in this district. Each of the defendants was sentenced to six months' imprisonment; and McCraig, for the assault upon Jane Metier); was sentenced to another month's imprisonment. The defendants were also ordered to pay the costs amongst them. Michael Welsh was further shelled with assaulting James Madden on the ocensm, of the attack on the police officer. Complainant staml that he had been severely kicked by the detendant. For this offence he was sentenced to amouth's sonment.  Mr Guilford Onslow, writing to the Morning Adver iser, says :—" I hope before many hours pas awayI shall receive from Australia the intelligence thAt evidence is forthcoming that will settle the Tich borne case and release the unfortunste:Claillnt.7  ity to a rice for • ColeJames .Ciancia Itarged I tddlesho apid one es, said  imd  land  . Under eh bled I with Lb. will 5r would _  duttel ry said he I pOS.iule. 1 beoolll. lefendanti ient McGurk, rlse:lweot. the costs er 011111rgei DCCaliliuu 01 lant Stated defandalli. inaPri*  ning Advs.. I ass &war ,enoe thst the Tioh,