The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1889-04-10 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

KICKING THE POLICE. TWO BROTHERSIHEAVILY PUNISHED.  At the Borough Pollee Court, on Monday, before Mr. Preston, two brothers, apparently eighteen or twenty years of age, named Mark and Michael Matthews, of Brook-street, were charged with being drunk and disor.ierly and also with assaulting P.C. 14 (Wright).—P.C. Wright stated that he was passing along Arthur-street on Saturday night when he heard screams of " murder " lend " Pollee.° B. turned into Brook-street from whence the screams proceeded and there saw one of the prisoners fighting with another man. Be seised hold of him and stopped the fight. The other man went away and witness asked the prisoner woald he go into the house. Prisoner replied "Welt, let go then." But on being loosed he up with his fist and struck witness in the eye. The twoiclosed, but the officer fell undermost ind the prisoner commenced kicking him. At that time the ether brother earns up and the policeman not knowing he was brother to the prisoner called on him" to lends hand." "I will," said the second, at the same time dealing the witness • heavy blow under the ear. For the next twenty minutes the two brothers kept Ow officer on the ground and kicked him up and down the street. When he tried to blow his whistle they snatched it off his chain. At one time they got him by the throat and had not the mother' in-law of one of the brothers helped the witness he might have had hie head kicked in. As it was. added witness. he was no sore he could hardly bide. Iffe mother-fn-law was called for the defence, and told bow the row commenced. "Mike "was sitting In her kitchen reading a paper when a .Mrs. Burns came to the door and asked if her daughter was in. She was told her daughter was not, but ahe broke open the door and threatened to search the house. Oho made a rush at " Mike," drove him against the the cupboard door, and it took them sometime before they could shove her out. " Johnnie "Burnt next came to the door, and shouted "Are you there, Mike Matthews. Come out you son of a b—, and I will take it out of you for hitting my mother." Mark Matthews took up the quarrel, and she two were lighting when the officer appeared. Mark never struck at the officer, but Barns struck him over witness's shoulder.— Mr. Preston (to officer). You have no doubt It was the prisoners who assaulted you. The Officer No doubt, whatever, because I had hold of Matthews at the time he kicked me on the ribs, and just as I asked the other prisoner, not knowing he) was the other's brother, to assist me, he said " Yes, I'll assist you," and landed me under the ear It was this woman loosed them from me when they were choking me on the floor—Mr. Preston, addressing the two brothers, said : I have no doubt you have committed a merlons assault on this officer when he was duly performing his duty. I Cannot pass it over lightly, because officers must be protected when properly performing their duty. I must discountenance kicking especially. You kicked thin officer so that he feels the effects of It now severely. You loust each go to goal for six weeks, with hard labour.  TRE BIRKENHEAD CLOTHING COMPANY have removed to more commodious and better lighted premises, 145, Chester.street. lately occupied by Messrs, W. Worrell mind Bon.