Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1871-09-02 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

EXTRAORDINARY ASSAULT BY A WOMAN.—A BOY CHAINED AND A FARMER'S ARM BROKEN.— At the Borough Police Court, Stockton. on Thursday, before Messrs Benington and Jackson, John Reed, jun., a boy 9 years of age, and Mary Reed, his mother, were each summoned for asshulting William Robinson, farmer, of Stockton. Mr Clem. mett prosecuted, and after the juvenile appearance of the boy had provoked some remarks, the case against him was withdrawn. Prosecutor having been sworn, said: I am a farmer, at St. Ann's: On the 29th of August, I was thatching my own stack. Some lads were annoying me at the time by throwing stones. One of them was the boy John Reed. They ran away, and then one of the brickyard men caught him, and I put him into my cow-byre. Mrs Reed came up to me directly after, saying that was her boy. I asked her name. She replied, "You old b-- I will give you my name and my mark." She picked up a thick piece of stick (produced) and hit me a blow upon 'fly head. I put my aria up to save myself, awl she then struck again. My arm was broken and the stick broke as well.—By Defendant: When you came into the cow-byre the boy was near a chain, but not fastened. I dii not take you by the hair of the head. —Defendant: I did take the stick and hit you with it on the head. I don't deay what I have done.—William B:dler, surgeon, stated that the prosecutor's arm was disabled by a compound fracture of the ulna, or main bone of the fore-arm. A stick like that produced would do the injury.— Alfred Taylor, brickluaker, said he saw the boy throwing stones, but did not know any thing further.—ln answer to the case, the woman said that she weut to the cow byre, and found her boychained fast. Complainant swore at her that he 'would not loose him, and then seized her by the 11 hair of the head. She then picked up the stick and struck him upon the head, next running outside and calling out " murder." She never struck him upon the arm at Hobbs said : On Tuesday morning 1 heard hallos of "Murder," and ran down to Robinson's cow-byre. Before I got there I saw him with a brush or stable fork in his hand, which he put down, and then commenced fumbling against the door. 1 asked about the boy, who, he said, ea: gone away. Mrs Reed showed me a black mark upon her arm. As for the old man having Ids arm broken, I don't believe it, because he was shaking his fists about for five miumtes, and I did not see any signs of blood.— Prosecutor, in answer to the bench, said he fell down after the first blow, upon the head.—The boy, John Reed, was called by the bench, never having attended school, he was not sworn, but stated in answer to questions : ['hey had me chained in the cowhyre. The chain was lapped twice round my neck—Mr Jackson : Who did it. The boy : This man (prosertitor). Deendaut said her husitand was a labouring man.—After consults tion, Mr Beuington said : It must have been a ' very severe blow. Yon have lo•oken his arm. No ' doubt you have broken his arm. But it seems he has struck you aka, and von must pay a fine of : 2s fid and the expenses, or be committed to 14 days' hard labour.—Mr Clem mett applied for prosecutor's costs. Mr Benin qui] : No ; tin allowance of costs. , Complainant paid fis 61 expenses in the case which was withdra wit.