Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-09-04 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BRUTAL ASSAULT AT ESTON.  On Monday, a puddler named Watson Brown Lee, was taken before Messrs Pennyman and Bewicke, at Messrs Brewster and Stubbs' offices, Middlesbrough, charged with assaulting Thomas Ellis, clerk, on Saturday night.—Sergeant Dixon spoke to apprehending the prisoner at Eaton, on Saturday Right, about 300 yards from where the assault took place. The complainant was quite conscious at the thoe, and identified the prisoner as the man who had assaulted him. Complainant's head was all covered with wounds, and his face besmeared with blood. The officer charged the prisoner, who, in reply, said "I am drunk; you can take me for being drunk." —Supt. Macpherson said he had seen the man Ellis, whose head was clean cut in several places.—lnspecter Robson said Ellis was removed to the Cottage Hospital, North Ormesby. That (Monday) morning he saw the doctor, who stated that Ellis was in such a dangerous state that he did not expect he would recover. The man had been kicked very much about his head and the lower part of his body. It was decided to go to the Cottage Hospital and take Ellis's deposition, and Mr R. C. B. Bewicke at once proceeded to North Ormesby. Upon being sworn, the man Ellis stated that he was a clerk, and lately resided in Middleebrough. On Saturday last he was going to Branch End. He called at the Cleveland Ho'.el at Branch End. Prisoner and another man were seated in the room he went into. The other man was drunk, but the prisoner was not, though he evidently had had some drink. He called for a glass of beer, and drank with the prisoner and the other man. About ten minutes afterwards the man that was drunk went out. He told the prisoner he was going to Mr Thomas's house, and the prisoner said he was going that way. They started off together, and the prisoner pointed to the way that led under an archway and through some fields, and said that would take them to the house. There was a man passing, and he (Ellis) asked him the way, and the man pointed out a direct road along the railway. Prisoner and he proceeded together along the railway side, and just after they had passed a ditch prisoner seized him by the collar, struck him several blows in the mouth, and knocked him down. He got up, and found himself bleeding profusely from the month and nose, and called for assistance. Prisoner then came up to him and struck him violently over the head and neck and face. He was again knocked down, and when down the prisoner violently kicked him on the body. He called out " Murder ! Police !" and the prisoner said, ',lf you shout mike again, you b---, I'll kick you to death." Prisoner then left him on the ground, and went off across the line. A signalman came up, and took him (Ellisl to the policeman's house. He gave information to the police, and about a quarter of an hour afterwards he pointed the prisoner out on the railway side as the man who had assaulted him. He was quite certain the prisoner was the man. It would be a little after nine o'clock at night when the st3sault was committed. He was still very ill from the effects of the assault. The hat produced by the police was his property, and the one he had on when he was assaulted.—Prisoner, who did not ask any questions, was remanded for eight days.