Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1880-03-13 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT AT  STOOKTON.  On Friday morning Francis Longlilar a metal- wheeler, lately employed at the Malleable Ironworks, was again brought up at the Stockton Borough Police Court on a charge of unlawfully wounding John Jamieson, a paddler, on the 21st of February. The prisoner has been remanded time after time during the past three weeks In consequence of Jamieson being too ill to attend the Court to give evidence. It was only, indeed, at considerable risk that the unfortun ate man was brought to the Court this (Friday) morning, and he was then so weak from loss of blood and the severe shock to the nervoas system that he had to be accommodated with a seat at the solicitors' table while making his statement to the Magistrates. The prosecution was conducted by Superintendent Bell; and Mr Wo-Jlwork (from the office of Messrs Garbutt and Fawcett) appeared on the prisoner's behalf. The complainant, in his examination, said he was a puddler, and lived in Edith-street, Portrack-lane. On Saturday evening, the 21st of February, he went to the Rolling Mill Arms,and there saw the prisoner,to whom he spoke a word of recognition. When he left the house shortly afterwards the prisoner who was outside, said to another man who was with him, "Leave him to me, Mick; 11l finish the —." Almost immediately the complainant felt a heavy blow on the head. The blow stunned him, and he fell upon the ground, and was afterwards taken home by Mrs Davis and a man. CrosS-examined, the complainant said he had not had any " words ' with the prisoner in the public-house, but some time ag3 he remembered finding fault with him for" interfering with an old man." Mary Ann Foley, a young woman, living in Acklam-street, Portrack, was the next witness. She said that a quarter to nine on the evening in question she was passing the Rolling Mill Arms,when she saw the prisoner come out of the bar door and, going to the opposite side of the road, picked up a brick and attempt to put it into the right hand pocket of his coat. The brick, however, would not go in. At that instant Jamieson came out of the public - house. rbe prisoner went towards him and said to his companion, "Out of the way, Mies ; I'll finish him." As he said this he threw the brick, which struck Jamieson on the forehead and knocked him down. Prisoner ran off one way and the man who was ith him bolted in the opposite direction. Jamieson in the meanwhile lay helpless and bleeding in the street until a woman and a man came and t3ok him away. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a girl about twelve years of age, said she was in company with the last witness at the time. She fully corroborated the statement of Foley, adding that Loughlan was only a couple of yards distant from Jamieson when he threw the brick. The next witness was Mary Sharman, a married woman, living at No. 9, Campbellstreet. Her evidence merely went, to prove that the prisoner and Jamieson were in the Rolling Mill ,Arms at the hour already  named. Mrs Margaret Davis, residing at No. 20, .Nicholson.street, said that whilst standing at the door of her house on the evening of February 21st she heard a man shouting— ' "0 1 good God; I'm killed !" She went in the direction from which the sound came, and there found Jamieson lying helpless and bleeding from the head. By the side of him was the portion of a slag-brick now produced in Court. With the help of a man she managed to-get the complainant away. Dr. Butler (assistant to Dr. Oliver) said he was called in to attend Jamieson at the house of his sister. He found on examination there was a lacerated wound oa the forehead about three inches in extent ; the skull was exposed; and the nasal bone on the right side was fractured and depressel. The complainant did not regain consciousness till the following Thursday. The wound was a very serious one, and might certainly have been caused by the brick produced. He considered the complainant's life was still in danger, though he hoped to get him right again. This concluded the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Woodwork then called for the defence Thomas Lynch, a labourer, at whose house the prisoner lodges in Joseph-street. He merely said that be saw the prisoner at twenty minutes past eight in High-street, and at nine o'clock at home on this Saturday  evening. Patrick Harvey, an ironworker, said he