The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-06-11 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON POLICE CONSTABLES AT PONTYPRIDD.  the Pontypridd police-court on Wednes-before the Stipendiary, Messrs T. P E. Edwards and Dr. Jones,—Aiatthew Jones, Geurge Hamm, Williams. (1), James West, Patrick Cr:ining,.-Miam Williams (2), Hugh Roberts, James awith, and Annie Price were brought up in custody charged with oommittiLg a murderous assault upon Policeconstables D. Davies and German at Pontypridd on Whit-Monday. Mr C. Matthews appeared for the defence. A large crowd assembled within the precincts of the court during the hearing. Police-constable D. Davies stated that a little after four o'clock on Whit Monday, whilst at the railway station, he received information that there was a fight going on in front of the Taff Val., Hotel, high street, Pontypridd. He found e crowd immediately in front of the house. He noticed Matthew Jones in the crowd with his coat off, and heard him challenging people to fight. Witness asked him to be quiet and to give his name. Jones, in reply, said 'it is a smack in the— month you want." P.C. German coming through the crowd then got on one side of Jones and he (witness) on the other. Witness asked prisoner to go inside the public-house and let them have his name. Jones thereupn struck out right and left, and said "Thetis my name, you Witness received a Mow in the mouth, and German was also struck in the face. Jones tried to run sway but witness and German caught hold of him. He ()continued to act in a most violent manner and struck and kicked at beth in a most savage manner. When they.got to , the road witnesa drew his staff and At ruck him on the bead. He reeled, but upon recoverieg himself started fighting with the viciousness of r dog. The crosd interfered, and endeavoured to rescue the prisoner. Owning came up to witnvie and struck him A couple of Severe WOWS on the head from and, catching Loh) of his cost, ripped it up the back. When under the railway bridge Smith came up and kicked him. floluitts shouted out, "Has anybody got a knife? I will rip the 4 open." All the time the constables were having a desperate struggle with the prisoner Matthew Jones, the crowd attacking them furtoesly• Tire crowd surged round, aad prisoner, Jones and Ger man were shoved away hoes them. Witne:s, still holding Jones, ass then pushed on to the steps in frolic of the Half atooo publie-boast, where, whilst he was clutching the railing with his disengaged band to prevent himself from falling West, the two Williamees, and Hugh Roberts beat him most unmercifully, and Hugh Roberts kicked him. The woman Price invited the crowd, sod attempted to rescue the prisoner, Two other polioemen subsequently arrived, and thy threw Matthew Jones into the Postofloe mail Ist. and dins took him to the police-statioh. In answer to tsuperiatendent Jaossirdissais said the crowd was one of the rosigliime .Ise kid seer sees. Potioeoonstabie German essedhossiiiii and stated that the crowd was so thisseteslngthstio hod to nee his baton upon a namier Of thaw who attacked them. An Appliemaon of Mr Charles Matthews for sa adjournment was refused. The Rev. J. Vyrnwy Morgan, Pontypridd, saw the struggle and expressed the opinion that the constables exercised throughout the utmost forbearauos. J. Bicknell also corroborated the constables evidence.  reDizins,  . . For the defence a number of witnesses was oalled, and deposed that Jones gave his name when asked, but retused to go into the publiatouse. The oonstables then caught hold of him„ and Jones pushed them awaw. scuffle ensued, iind the constables used their batons. Matthew Jones, Croning, Holmes, Sinai, and Roberts were each set to prison for two months with hard labour, the two Williams mid West were fined £2 each, or one mouth's imprisonment, whilst the woman Price was fined 10g, OF seven days' imprisonment.