Murderous Assault on a Policeman - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Murderous Assault on a Policeman

MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON A
POLICEMAN AT WORKINGTON.
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At the Workington Police Court yesterday, Luke MURRAY, and James M’CULLOCH,
ironworkers, Agnes M’GOWAN, single woman, and Elizabeth FINLAY, married
woman, all residing in Senhouse-street, Workington, were charged with having
assaulted Police-constable DOWTHWAITE on the 16th of October last. Mr. PAISLEY
appeared on behalf of the four prisoners, and Mr. Superintendent BIRD conducted
the prosecution.

Police-constable DOWTHWAITE said he remembered Monday, the 16th of October.
He was on duty in Senhouse-street. Saw four men standing there. Three were
on the footpath and one was on the street. Before he got up to them he heard
one of them making use of the expression, “Here’s the bloody ____.” On
getting down to where they were the man who was standing in the street threw
himself against the witness. He turned round and asked the man what he meant. M’
CULLOCH came forward and said, “I’ll soon let you know what I mean,” and struck
witness in the face.

Witness lifted his hand to ward off the blows, but did not strike M’
CULLOCH. M’CULLOCH struck him again twice in the face with his fist. Witness threw
his arm around M’CULLOCH’s body and closed with him for the purpose of taking
him into custody. He threw M’CULLOCH down on the ground, and the other three
men rushed on top of the witness and struck and kicked him in the head, side
and shoulders. One of the three men was the prisoner Luke MURRAY.

With the assistance of a man, who pulled two of the men off the witness, he
regained his feet but was immediately knocked down by kicks on the backs of
his legs. When witness was on the ground he observed Luke MURRAY kick him on
the side of the head near the ear. At this time Elizabeth FINLAY also kicked
him on the shoulder. He had not noticed her before. With the help of some
women witness got upon his feet again; but the four men and Elizabeth FINLAY
were still holding his arms backwards.

Witness saw Agnes M’GOWAN strike him three times on the side of the face.
With a great effort he got one of his hands at liberty and attempted to blow
his whistle, but it was immediately snatched from him by one of the four men.
It was afterwards given back to him by a woman named GALLANTRY.

At this time he saw Luke MURRAY, James M’CULLOCH, and William RITCHIE all
with their coats off, trying to force their way to where witness was standing,
but a number of females kept between him and them. At last he got into Mr.
BROWN’s grocer shop in Senhouse-street. James M’CULLOCH collared him at the
door with his coat off. He said if witness came out again he would “smash his
bloody head.”

In the meantime Police-constable HETHERINGTON and Police-constable WILSON
came up. Before that the four men and the two women made off. He saw two of
them go to Scotch buildings. They found the two prisoners, Luke MURRAY and
James M’CULLOCH in a house on the top landing. He identified them as two of the
men who had assaulted him, and they were apprehended and brought to the police
station. There was only another man present with the two prisoners in the
house.

In answer to Mr. PAISLEY, the complainant said that since the assault he
had been attended by Dr. HIGHET and his assistant. A number of other witnesses
were called in support of the charge, and it appeared that the female
prisoners were afterwards apprehended.

The magistrates, at the close of the evidence for the prosecution, retired
for a short time, and on their return stated that they thought
Police-constable DOWTHWAITE might be mistaken with regard to the two female prisoners, and
they would therefore be dismissed.

Mr. PAISLEY then addressed the Bench on behalf of the two male prisoners,
and called several witnesses.

The Bench thought the case better be decided by a jury, and therefore
committed the prisoners for trial at the Quarter Sessions. Bail was accepted for
their appearance.

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