Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1870-11-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England)

MURDEROUS ASSAULT.--lames Bunnell was brought up under remand, charged with cutting and wounding David Thomas on the 21st November. Mr Clemmett prosecuted. Prosecutor said: lam a puddler employed at Mr Holdsworth's works. I was there working a nightshift on the 21st of this month. Prisoner is also a puddler, employed at the same works. He had a furnace next to mine, and was at work on the night of the 21st instant. Between eleven and twelvq, o'clock that night the prisoner said to me, " What' made you take the ball off that way," meaning that I had taken a ball out of the furnace sooner than I ought to have done. I told him I did not think I had done so. He then said, "I will knock your mouth off," and he immediately struck me upon the mouth with his fist. After that I saids "You are a coward, hitting a fellow for nought." He then struck me again on the face with his fist. I said, "I will make you suffer for that." He said, "You b—, I will kick your guts out the next time." I was rather frightened at him. I stepped back and took hold of a piece of slag. He " jumped" into me then. He caught hold of me. I never struck him with the slag. We scuttled together. I hit him several timeii when we were struggling, and he fell down on his back. I then stood looking at him. He got up again and attempted to hit me. When defending myself I fell on my back. 'He got hold of my head between his legs, and hit me four or five times running. When I was trying to get up, the prisoner stood for a few ' seconds, and said, "You b--, I have good mind to finish you!" I then put up my arms to save my head. My arms were cut and bruised by something he held in his hand. My eyes were full of blood. I could not see what he struck me with. I thought he had a hammer by the sound of the blows.he gave me.—By prisoner: I did not strike you in the eye before you struck me. I did not hit you with the slag.—John Whiting, underhand puddler, said: I was working on the night of the 21st November. I saw the quarrel between prosecutor and prisoner. I saw prisoner strike prosecutor in the face. I afterwards saw him strike prosecutor eight or nine times with the piece of slag now produced. He picked it up against the slag box. He struck prosecutor on the bead. (The piece of slag apparently weighed seven or eight pounds, and had jagged edges.)—Crosby Dale said: I was called to attend prosecutor on Monday night. He had a contusei wound on the top of his head, about an inch long. He had another wound above the left eye, about three inches long. His left ear was also bruised. His left arm was bruised and cut. The cut over the left eye penetrated to the bone. I do not apprehend any danger, or permanent injury t 3 prosecutor from the wounds. Prosecutor will not be able to work for at least another week.—Sergeant Fairbridge deposed as to the apprehension of the prisoner.—For defence prisoner had summoned three witnesses.—Robert Blakey said: I am an underhand puddler. On the night of the 21st, I heard a quarrel between prosecutor and prisoner. I turned round and saw the prosecutor throw a piece of mine at the prisoner. I did not see the beginning of the row.— The next witness gave similar evidence.—William Parnell said that he saw the prosecutor throw a piece of mine at the prisoner, but he never saw the prisoner pick any slag up.—The bench decided to send the prisoner for trial at the next sessions. They offered to accept bail, prisoner in £5O, and two sureties in £25 each, twenty-four 4iours notice of bail to be given.