Saturday December 17th, 1881
CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A FARMER
Wm. Dobson, farmer, of Holme, was summoned by Thomas Brennand, gamekeeper to Mr. Pennington, for assaulting him in his house, at Hale, on the 25th November last. – Thomas Brennand said that on the 25th ult. he was in his barn preparing some dog stuff when defendant came in and asked him if he would have a pint of ale; he declined, saying he had not time. Defendant asked him if he had been at Holme on the day previous. He replied “Yes.” Dobson asked if he had set a report afloat that Dobson had to leave his farm for shooting Mr. Bower’s pheasants. He denied having done so. Defendant then said “Come out, and I’ll gie thee what thou wants,” and followed witness into the house, and round the table. Defendant threw down his wife, who shouted “murder”. Defendant followed witness, putting his fists into his face. – Cross-examined by Mr. J. B. Wilson, solicitor (who appeared for Dobson in support of a cross summons). Did not charge him with shooting Bower’s pheasants. Never mentioned his name in connection with it. It was a week before that he mentioned about having to leave his farm. Did not call him a liar. His wife did not call Dobson a “dirty nasty villain.” She ordered him off the premises. – Ann Brennand, wife of the above witness, said she heard Dobson go into the barn and abuse her husband. Heard him say, “Come out, you b……..” She went and told him she would not have her husband abused by him. Defendant had his hands in her husband’s face. He followed into the house. Witness drew him back by the coat, and he threw her “slap” down. She said to her little boy, “Go and fetch the police.” Defendant said, “I wish you had been a man, I would have pegged you.” – Cross-examined: Did not call defendant a “dirty nasty villain”; never used such words. Dobson held both hands in her husbands face. Dobson turned around to her “like a villain”. Mr. Wilson: Oh, I see; you are not a stranger to the word “villain”. (Laughter) – Did not follow Dobson and spit in his face. – J. W. Brennand corroborated the above evidence. – Mr. Wilson, in addressing the bench, said he denied the whole story as revealed by the Brennands, and after detailing the evidence he called Wm. Dobson, who said he was passing the house and shouted “Hallo” to Brennand, who answered, and Dobson went into the barn. Complainant’s wife came out and ordered defendant off. He said, “I am only asking your husband a question”, and shoved her on one side; she fell, and said, “Now, you ………, you struck me.” He went to the house door and found it fast. He then left the yard. Mrs. Brennand had spit in his face, and said, “Take that”. He never was in the house, and swore positively that he never did what the complainant and his wife had sworn he did. – The Bench considered an assault had been committed, and imposed a fine of 5s. and costs.
CHARGE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A FARMER
Wm. Dobson, farmer, of Holme, was summoned by Thomas Brennand, gamekeeper to Mr. Pennington, for assaulting him in his house, at Hale, on the 25th November last. – Thomas Brennand said that on the 25th ult. he was in his barn preparing some dog stuff when defendant came in and asked him if he would have a pint of ale; he declined, saying he had not time. Defendant asked him if he had been at Holme on the day previous. He replied “Yes.” Dobson asked if he had set a report afloat that Dobson had to leave his farm for shooting Mr. Bower’s pheasants. He denied having done so. Defendant then said “Come out, and I’ll gie thee what thou wants,” and followed witness into the house, and round the table. Defendant threw down his wife, who shouted “murder”. Defendant followed witness, putting his fists into his face. – Cross-examined by Mr. J. B. Wilson, solicitor (who appeared for Dobson in support of a cross summons). Did not charge him with shooting Bower’s pheasants. Never mentioned his name in connection with it. It was a week before that he mentioned about having to leave his farm. Did not call him a liar. His wife did not call Dobson a “dirty nasty villain.” She ordered him off the premises. – Ann Brennand, wife of the above witness, said she heard Dobson go into the barn and abuse her husband. Heard him say, “Come out, you b……..” She went and told him she would not have her husband abused by him. Defendant had his hands in her husband’s face. He followed into the house. Witness drew him back by the coat, and he threw her “slap” down. She said to her little boy, “Go and fetch the police.” Defendant said, “I wish you had been a man, I would have pegged you.” – Cross-examined: Did not call defendant a “dirty nasty villain”; never used such words. Dobson held both hands in her husbands face. Dobson turned around to her “like a villain”. Mr. Wilson: Oh, I see; you are not a stranger to the word “villain”. (Laughter) – Did not follow Dobson and spit in his face. – J. W. Brennand corroborated the above evidence. – Mr. Wilson, in addressing the bench, said he denied the whole story as revealed by the Brennands, and after detailing the evidence he called Wm. Dobson, who said he was passing the house and shouted “Hallo” to Brennand, who answered, and Dobson went into the barn. Complainant’s wife came out and ordered defendant off. He said, “I am only asking your husband a question”, and shoved her on one side; she fell, and said, “Now, you ………, you struck me.” He went to the house door and found it fast. He then left the yard. Mrs. Brennand had spit in his face, and said, “Take that”. He never was in the house, and swore positively that he never did what the complainant and his wife had sworn he did. – The Bench considered an assault had been committed, and imposed a fine of 5s. and costs.
