PETERSFIELD.
VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE POLICE.—A SERIOUS CHARGE—At the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office, Tuesday, Jan. 23rd., before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, and J. Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P.,
William Pretty, Job Brown, George Smith, and James Powell, were brought up in custody charged with assaulting P.C. William Rolph while in the execution of his duty, at Buriton, on Saturday, the 20th inst. Complainant’s face bore marks of very rough usage, the nose being literally smashed, both eyes blackened, and the cheeks covered with bruises. He deposed as follows: I am a police-constable stationed at Buriton. I was on duty on Saturday night last, about half past 11, near the Five Bells public-house. I heard a disturbance inside. I opened the front door and went into the passage as far as the tap-room door. I saw Henry Pretty and Isaac Powell, they were quarrelling. I spoke to Henry pretty and requested him to be quiet. While I was speaking, prisoner William Pretty passed me and went out doors. I turned almost directly and went out myself. As soon as I got outside William Pretty struck me on the lip with his right hand, and again with his left, and knocked me down. He then went indoors into the tap-room, and I followed him to take him into custody. James Powell took me round the middle with both arms and prevented my going to him. I had previously said to Pretty that I should take him into custody. I then drew my staff, and attempted to strike William Pretty, but was prevented by George Smith, who took hold of my staff and my right hand. Job Brown took hold of my left Hand and held it. William Pretty then punched me in the face I should think 30 or 40 times, and said, ‟I’ll kill you, you ―――.” James Powell then said, ‟drop it, Johnny; there’s enough of that.” ‟Johnny” is a nickname of William Pretty. Smith and Brown held me till Pretty went out. The blows were given me all over my face and head. I am still suffering greatly from those blows, and am under Dr. Leachman’s treatment. I am off duty in consequence. Mr. Hall, the landlord, and James Lock, and 20 or 30 others were present. I called on several to assist me, but no one came to my help. I drew my staff after I had been struck by Pretty, and in order to defend myself.—Cross-examined by Pretty: I did not knock you down first, you did say you would kill the ―――. I had some beer in the passage, but did not go into the long room. George Rook and I had a pint of beer between us.—Cross-examined by Brown: You did take hold of my arm.—Cross-examined by Smith: You did lay hold of my staff and my hand. I did not hear you ask me to put my staff in my pocket.—Cross-examined by Powell: You did take hold of me round the middle. I did not fling you down off the stool. I was not in the long room at all.—James Hall deposed as follows: I am the landlord of the Five Bells public house at Buriton. On Saturday night, about eleven o’clock, there was a row between two brothers, sons of prisoner James Powell. They did not come to blows. It was in the tap-room. James Powell, the father, did all he could to prevent their fighting. I did not see any blows struck. I saw Police-constable Rolph come in at the front door covered with blood over his face and mouth. He said he would take Pretty into custody, and take him to Petersfield. He attempted to do so, but Pretty said he would not be taken. He wrestled away from him. Rolph got up to him and they struggled, but I did not see or hear any blows. I saw two arms clasped round Rolph from behind, but I don’t know who it was, or whether it was one man or two, Rolph called on me to assist him. I held the light in my hand while he hand-bolted Pretty. This was before he went into the tap-room to speak to Henry Pretty. Rolph was in the passage, and he told Henry Pretty he had better go home and not use such foul language. He said he would go home, but not for the policeman. Rolph then took him by the arm, and a scuffle ensued. I heard Rolph call for the landlord to come to his assistance. There were 15 or 16 of us in the parlour, and we locked ourselves in, as we did not want to get a knock on the head. William Pretty had been with us, but he left. I saw Rolph come in at the front door, with blood running down his face.—Mr. Albert Warren Leachman, deposed: I am doctor of medicine, practising at Petersfield. I attended P.C. Rolph about one o’clock on Sunday morning last. I found him suffering from a rather severe contusion of the whole face. There was hardly any portion of the face that had not received blows. There was a ragged, contused wound on the upper lip, penetrating the whole thickness, one eye-lid was so swollen that the eye was entirely concealed, the nose and chin were scraped as if they had been dragged on the ground, the mouth was severely injured by the teeth. Dr. Leachman here retired with Rolph to another room for the purpose of examining the wounds, and on his return he stated that the whole face was going on well, but that there was still a possibility of erysipelas, and if this should occur the consequences might be very serious, or even fatal, whereupon the magistrates decided to remand the prisoners, and informed them that f death should ensue from the injuries inflicted they would all be committed on a charge of murder.—Remanded till Friday, to-morrow. (See below)
A DESERTER.—Peter Puttick was brought up at the same Court, charged with being a deserter from the 57th Light Infantry, stationed at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth.—P.C. Henry Grant met prisoner near Horndea, late on Monday night, and in passing bade him ‟Good night,” but received no answer, he turned his light on him, when prisoner immediately took to his heels, and ran in the direction of Petersfield. Grant pursued and captured him. In reply to the magistrates prisoner said he was not a deserter, but was merely absent without leave. Ordered to be sent to Cambridge Barracks to be dealt with by the military authorities.
Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal — Tuesday 30 January 1866
VIOLENT ASSAULT ON THE POLICE.—At the Magistrates’ Clerk’s Office, on Friday, present the Hon J. J. Carnegie, and J. Bonham Carter, Esq. M.P.
Wm. Pretty, Job Brown, Geo. Smith, and James Powell were charged with assaulting P.C. William Rolfe while in the execution of his duty at Buriton, on Saturday, the 20th inst. Complainants’s face still bearing the marks of the excessive rough usage to which he had been subjected.
Dr. Leachman deposed—I have examined P.C> Rolfe this day; the principal injury is the wound in the lip, which penetrates the same; there are other contusions, but I apprehend nothing serious now. There is nothing likely to cause any permanent injury.
By the Chairman—It is impossible the injuries were caused by a fall; it could not have been caused by falling over another man down the steps.
George Moore deposed—I live at Buriton. I recollect being at the Five Bells, on Saturday night last, from 11 to 12 o’clock. All I saw done was William Pretty hit P.C. Rolfe with his fist. I did not see any one else do so in the room. I did not see him strike but once. I did not see the landlord there. I do not know who was there. I had not been in but a few minutes. I heard no threats. The beginning was outside. I saw Pretty hit Rolfe just outside the door. I was sitting at the further end of the room, near the fire place. Rolfe came into the room after I saw the blow struck.
By the Chairman—I did not see any blow struck in the room. I was sitting down; nearly every body was standing up (The witness was not questioned).
P.C. William Rolfe deposed—I know perfectly well smith took hold of my staff, and my right hand. Brown caught hold of my left hand; they were on each side of me; I was got into the room about three or four feet when the prisoner Powell took me round the waist; Pretty then came forward from the crowd and struck me 30 or 40 times.
By the magistrates—It was between nine and ten when I went to the house the first time; I was there about a couple of minutes; I did not go again till half-past eleven to take Pretty. I had, with Rooke, a pint of beer. I did not drink with any one else; I did not go into the tap-room. George Cook was in the passage. I was no more under the influence of drink than I am now. I had not been drinking with George Cook that evening, there or anywhere else.William Pretty struck me before I left the door the first time; I did not hit him again after I was struck; I did not drink with either Walter Bone or others. The cut on my lip was done outside, with the fist. Smith and Brown both said I was drunk. I told them I was not, and appealed to the landlord, Hall. I am not aware that I threatened to break either of their heads.
Oliver Longland deposed—I am superintendent of police at Petersfield. On Sunday morning, P.C> Rolfe came to the police station covered with blood, and perfectly sober. Mr. Hall, the landlord, was about to be called (who attended on Tuesday) but it appeared he was taken with a fit on the previous evening, and from illness was unable to be present. Brown came to my house about ten minutes after Rolfe came. Robert Newman and James Powell also came; they said that Rolfe had made the disturbance and was drunk. Powell did say he took hold of Rolfe round the waist to prevent his striking William Pretty.
No questions were put by either of the prisoners, who merely asked to be allowed bail.
The prisoners called George Cook, who deposed—I live at Buriton and work at Ditcham. On Saturday night I was at the Five Bells, at ten o’clock. Mr. Rolfe went in along with me. We had a pint of beer, and was near half an hour in company. I left Rolfe standing in the passage along with another; I don’t know who he was. They had a pint of beer; this was in the long room. The other man had the beer in his hand. I saw then both drink. I was at Aburrow’s beer shop about eight o’clock, where Rolfe came in about half-past nine. I saw him have one pint of beer in there. He stood behind the settle, and he had glasses of beer given to him. I saw Job Brown there, and Rolfe offered him his pint to drink. Rolfe left at 10 o’clock, when I came out, and he went with me. It is about 100 yards from Aburrow’s to the Five Bells.
By the magistrates—Rolfe offered Job Brown some beer. There were a. great many in the tap room. There was a shoe club, and 20 were there. I cannot recollect any one of them. William Fly was there. I saw Rolfe drinking k three or four glasses. I cannot say who gave it him. I cannot recollect any one. I paid for my beer I had with Fly. I went in first and called for a pint of beer. Rolfe said he had no money. We drank the first pint, and then had another. Rolfe paid for it. When we got to the Five Bells I went into the long room. William Pretty, Andrew Bridger, and many others were there. Rolfe went outside. We heard a row, and the door was then locked and I heard a smart scrambling. The constable was the worse for beer. William Fly and I had two quarts at Aburrow’s. I paid at the Five Bells one pint for Rolfe, one pint for myself. The other man had one pint. I went into the long room about half-past ten. I know nothing of the assault.
By P.C. Rolfe—I do not know who served you with beer, I did not hear who asked for the beer. Ican’t say how much beer you had there. I came out Aburrows; Richard Moore offered you a full glass of beer. We smoked our pipes in the passage. Rolfe lit his pipe from a light in the passage.
James Newton deposed—I am living at Petersfield. I am Carter for Mr. Darvell. I was at the Five Bells from nine till half-past eleven. I was in the tap room. I saw Rolfe in the passage when I was coming home. Rolfe stopped Henry Pretty and told Pretty to go home. He was going to put him out when Pretty caught hold of the door. William Pretty was coming in, when Rolfe fell against and knocked him down and fell across him. William Pretty got up and came in and said some one had knocked him down. Rolfe then came in and said he should take him into Petersfield, there was then a row altogether. The scrimmage was in the tap room. I could not see them, there were so many people. His face was all over blood when he came in. The constable and Pretty were lying on the ground three or four yards from the door.
By the Magistrates—I can’t swear the tap room shutters were open. I did not hear any call for assistance. I hurried home.
George Brown was then called, who said—I am a turner and live at Buriton. I was at the Five Bells about 10 o’clock. I saw James Powell help the policeman when William Pretty and he were scambling. I saw him pull them apart. I saw nothing more till P.C. Rolfe said he’d beat all their brains out; he pulled his staff out. Rolfe came in after Pretty, I saw his face covered with blood. I was shoved behind the door. I did not hear Rolfe call out for assistance.
Stephen Atkins deposed—I am a labourer. I work for Mr. Bonham Carter. I went to the Five Bells on Saturday night. I saw P.C. Rolfe and Hy. Pretty. Rolfe told him to go home. Wm. Pretty was coming in. Policeman and W. Pretty fell out into the yard. The policeman fell over him; he was drunk. I could not see, there was no light shining. Wm. Pretty then came back into the passage. Rolfe came directly, and said he should take Wm. Pretty to Petersfield. I saw the policeman’s face bleeding. As I went up the step Jas. Newton was standing at the doorway.
Daniel Darvell said—I am at present at Buriton. I am a timber merchant. Brown has worked for me twelve years, and Smith ten years; during the time they have worked for me, they have never been in any way out of order, and have behaved well.
The room was ordered to be cleared. Upon readmission the chairman said—William Pretty, Job Brown, George Smith, and James Powell, you stand committed to take your trials at the assizes at Winchester.
Bail being allowed, the prisoners were ordered to be brought up at five o’clock this day (Saturday) for the production of their respective sureties, when William Pretty was bound, himself in £20, and two sureties of £25 each. Job Brown, George Smith, and James Powell each in £10, and one surety each in £20.