The Dewsbury Chronicle, and West Riding Advertiser. — 1895-02-20 (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England)

SUPPOSED SEQUEL TO A FIGHT.  The circumstances attending a case which was brought up at the Dewsbury Police Court, yesterday, has given rise to considerab!e curiosity, which has reached the pitch of a sensation. A man named John Shaw, blanket raiser, Dewsbury Moor, was brought up in custody at the Borough Police Court, on the charge of having unlawfully caused the death of William C. Crossland (31), a fettler, who died at his residence in Bower Lane, iLlpin Hill, Heckmondwike. From information given it would appear that deceased had been quarrelling in a public-house at Dewsbury Moor, so long ago as the 24th November last. The difference subsequently developed into a fight, and it is alleged that deceased was kicked with such severity, that his death, even after such a long interval, is attributed to this. He attended his work pretty regularly, until about a fortnight ago, when he became worse, and has been attended by the doctor. He had lately corapiained much of a pain in his head, and that he was losing the use of his side. Ho died on Saturday night. Information haring been given to the police at Dewsbury, JospeCtor Campbell apprehended the man Shaw, who, 'it is alleged,' had fought with &ceased and kicked him. At the Police Court depositions were read as follows:— Samuel Smith :—I am a coal miner, and live at, the Bottoms, Heckmondwike: On Saturday, the 24th November last, abouit 9.30 p.m. I, in company with Hinchcliffe Parkinson and Charles William Ashton, went into the taproom of the George Hotel, Moor End Lane, Dewsbury Moor, where we saw William Crossland, the deceased. Mark Pickles, and several others, including the prisoner, were in the taproom at the time. We entered it; about an hour after, Pickles and CrossLand began to quarrel about a cricket supper, and they got to high words-, until about three or four mintites -before eleven o'clock the prisoner went out. About eleven o'clock we were leaving the house, and I s3MT Crossland going outs, and I followed him out in a few seconds. On getting outside the front door I heard a man's voice calling out, "Murder," several times. I turned round, sad saw Crossland laid down outside the tap-room window. The prisoner was standing over him, and held him down with one hand, and I saw him kick him several times in a most brutal manner on the head and face. I got hold of prisoner, and took him off, and said, "You are going to kill the man." anchliffe Parkinson came up when I was pulling him off him. I lifted Crossland up, and saw that he was cut very much about the lu3ad and face. Several persons then came up, and Shaw went -away. Inspector Campbell's statement was as follows: —At 11 p.m.• on the 18th inst., I apprehended the prisoner at his home at Moor End Lane, Dewsbury Moor. I took him to the police station. I cautioned him, and then charged him with causing .the death of one William Crossland, at Dewsbury Moor, on the 24th • November. He said, I did not cause his death; I was only parting them from fighting, and he struck me and I struck him back." Prisoner stated to the Bench that Smith was fighting in the passage on the night in question, and that he never saw him kick the deceased. Pir.soner was remanded until Saturday, an application for bail being refused.