Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 January 1882

Savage Assault on the Highway near Bolton

John Henry Agas, coal dealer, of Mexboro’, was summoned for using threats to and assaulting Arthur Day, a plasterer, of Swinton, formerly of Bolton.

Mr. Hall appeared for the complainant and explained that a little over six weeks ago Day married Agas’s sister; they apparently could not agree together, and on the previous Saturday the parties were before their worships, the wife charging her husband with an assault.

When the parties returned to Bolton, the wife refused to do anything for her husband, saying he should keep her for nothing. He replied that if she would not do a wife’s duties, he would sell up and go into lodgings. The wife then made fun of him and said if he did that he would have to allow her so much per week. This he said he should not do, and subsequently he went to live at Swinton.

On the 17th, his wife’s brother assaulted him, in a way which the complainant would describe.

The complainant deposed that, on the 17th January, he was walking from Bolton in the direction of Swinton. He met the defendant and his wife going to Bolton. After passing the defendant, who was on horseback, the man turned back and said, “Where the b—— hell are you going?”

He told him he was going to Swinton.

The man said, “I will have you or b—— brains out next time I meet you, and I’ll swing for you. If I don’t, I hope the Lord will strike me dead.”

The defendant then struck at him with a whip, taking his horse upon the footpath in order to do so. He got into a brick field out of defendant’s way.

The defendant had no questions to ask.

John Rushby corroborated the complainant’s testimony.

He was fined 10s. and 12s. costs on the first charge, and for the second offence, 12s. costs; and he was further bound over, in the sum of £10, to keep the peace for six months.