Sheffield Evening Telegraph October 9, 1908

Policemen Assaulted
Scene at Great Houghton

This morning at the Barnsley West Riding Police Court, a miner named William Wallis, of Great Houghton was brought up on remand charged with having assaulted PC Aspinall on the third.

Both the officer and defendant had their head’s bandaged. It was stated that on the evening named Aspinall found it necessary to speak to defendant and another man on account of their unruly behaviour in the streets of Great Houghton.

Subsequently, Wallis, who at first walked away, returned and asked Aspinall if he intended to report the earlier proceedings, and receiving an affirmative reply, struck the policeman over the eye and kicked him. They struggled, and went to the ground together, Wallis behaving very violently, and notwithstanding that he received a blow on the head with Aspinall’s truncheon, he continued his violence, and the service of several civilians had to be requisitioned before he was manacled.

As a result of the treatment he received, Aspinall was still off duty.

Mr Noble, quarry owner, Great Houghton corroborated the police story, he being one to assist the constable.

Defendant was sent to jail for two months for the assault, being fined also 10 shillings, and costs for having used obscene language.