Bridgend & Neath Chronicle, and County of Glamorgan Advertiser. — 1892-06-17 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

UNLAWFUL WOUNDING.  The man Evans was further charged with unlawfully wounding Richard Rees, corner, Blaengarw. ur T. J. Hughes defended. Complainant sain that he and Rees Jones and John Thomas went to Pontycymmer on Saturday night about half-past seven. They were all sober. They went to the Squirrel, and left there at eleven o'clock. Saw defendant fighting near the Ffaldau Hotel on the road. Defendant went on towards the Nanthir Hotel. On going up there witness saw a lot of men on each side of the road. Saw a row. Thomas Evans came on to them. He asked witness to fight him; his jacket and waiscoat were off. Witness said he would not fight, as he was a stranger. Defendant then struck him, and they both fell to the ground. Witness, who was under, asked defendant to let him get up, and he did so. Witness said he would not fight any more. Defendant then went back, picked up a stone and threw and struck him on the head where it was now strapped. Witness lay senseless till the police picked him up. Witness was examined by Dr Evans the next morning, who had since dressed his head every morning. Witness now had the headache very bad. He bled very much. Had not been I able to work since. Cross-examined: Were all sober. Was at the Squirrel about four hours, and had about three pints between them. Witness went for the dancing, not for the beer. Witness was about 150 yards from home. All the crowd were fighting 'through and through.' He gave in because he was a stranger and they were too tuny. Dia 4 butties ' were uot fighting. When first witness went up Evans knocked a man down, and others kicked him. If Thomas Davies adraittet. it was he that threw the stone he told an untruth. Rees Jones, collier, Bitiefig'ariV,. gkiir bAill.,' corroborated the complainant, and ~lia ihat when he interfered after the stone Wat tblown defendant said 'You are to have it as 'Well.' Someone came behind his back and struck him to the ground. Witness 'Jumped up, cried , murder,' and his friends following. Witness was a stranger. John ThiNmas, haulier, who knew the defendant, also gaVe similar evidence. Pelice-constable Hurford deposed to finding Rees and Jones covered with blood, and on the following Monday charged defendant with unlawfully wounding Rees. He replied 'I was too drunk to know anything about it.' Mr Hughes said the defence was that it was Davies who threw the stone, and not the defendant, who was fighting another man at the time. Iu answer to Mr Hughes, the Chairman said the Bench would treat the case as one of common assault. Benjamin Thomas, 15, Nanthir-row, haulier, was called for the defence. He said that he was sober, and saw complainant and his friends come up. Witness was with Evans and his brother. A tall man who was with Rees challenged Davies to fight, and they had a round or two. Rees then went up to Evans and challenged him to fight. Davies then turned from the man he was fighting with, and Evans took him on. Rees challenged Davis, and Daties dropped down, picked up a stone and loosed it at Rees, who screamed out, and the police came. Evans was then fighting another man at the other ' sid: of the road.  To Rees: Defendant's father was manager of the colliery where witness worked. You called defendant Tom Cefn.'  In answer to Police-Constable Hurford, the witness admitted a number of convictions against himself, one of assault with defendant. The Chairman said defendant had been before the Bench ten times in eighteen months, and he would have to go to gaol for fourteen days, this sentence to follow the previous one.