Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1874-08-27 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

MURDEROUS OUTRAGE BY IRONSTONE MINERS. _  111 On Tuesday, at The-6uTsborough police court, Thomas Davis Bray, a miner, was brought up under remand, charged with committing a violent assault upon George Henry, an overman, at Livertoe ironstone mines, on the Ist August. Mr Dale, of York, prosecuted, and submitted the following evidence:— George Henry, the prosecutor, said: I am an overman, employed by the Liverton Ironstone Company. I was walking from Lofthouse to Liverton on Saturday the Ist August, with John Johnson, my son-inlaw, about half-past ten o'clock. On the way we met a man flawed Hurst, who walked on with us. In going from the road, we saw Thomas Davis and Walter Piper laid beside the road. I was talking to Hurst. I did not speak. On passing, Davis said: " There's the le— gaffers in the mine." I kept walking on. Next, after that, Davis sprung up, and the other followed. Ha said, "You old b— you are not in the pit tow; we could kill you before you Pet hone." I then said, Yost had better wask on. I want nothing to do with you, or say to you." They etme each side of me. Piper struck ma on the face same si le as Davis, and knocked me down. 'I hey both kicked me whilst on the ground, once or twice. My son-in-law Johnson then took Bray away, but Piper called him back and Bray struck me down again, and then jumped upon my ribs. They next began to kick me, and I rememiier nothing more till I was taken home. Two of my ribs were broken. I have been under medical care since the Ist August. Previous to this, there was a dispute in the mines on the 30th July. I went down to the place where Bray was working, and askett how he was getting on. He said he could not make a living in that place. I said that when he could talk in a reasonable way I would talk to him, awl turned to come out when I heard Bray muttering that he would strike me or run his ?rill throueh me.—By Bray: I never put you in a place where you was in danger of your life. I have moved you to several places. You did once have a slight scrub on your side, but was tot off work, only part of one day. The day I came to you I did tell you to be civil or 1 would stop your waggons, and I did stop the wag-I goils.—John Johnson said that he was walking with his father-in-law from Lofthouse to Liverion on the Ist August. They met Hurst and the prisoner as already! described. Bray or Davis followed, saying they would kill prosecutor before he got home. They did attack him and when witness asked them to let prosecutor alone, because he was an old man ' Da to have another kick or two, and then he also de they also struck him. Piper ran away leaving camped. Prosecutor was left insensible - Thom Hurst, of Liverton mines, said that he wag welkin from Lofthouse to Liverton. Prosecutor and Johnson overtook him and walked along with him towards Newhandon, when they came up to the prisoner and another, both rose up, going each side prosecutor, one said " thou's not in the pit now," and another said, "let hied have i an They did let him hive it in the shape of blows upon the face. Henry never lifted his hand at all, and was knocked down. He partly got up once, and was then knocked down again, after which the prisoner kicked and jumped upon him until the old man became insensible. Witness walked sway, expecting that if he said anything he would be served in the same manner. —P.C. John Spare said that he received information of this assault, and apprehended Bray alias Davis as he was running away.—lnspeetor Swinburne said that he saw prisoner next morning, and in answer to his application for bail told him that he could not grant it, as the man was much hurt, and that if he died, they would be charged with causing his death. Prisoner then said that he did strike Henry, but that it was the other man who kicked hiria—After aprivate consultation, Admiral Chaloner said that the Bench considered the assault of such a serious . character, that they would not deal with it, but have the de ition taken in a proper way, and committed him for trial at the BOSSiOII£.