Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 20 September 1929
Alleged Shooting Affray.
Kilnhurst Boy Chased.
Whinney Hill Youth Committed For Trial.
William Williams, 18, an underground worker, of 38, Cross Street, Whinney Hill, Thrybergh, was at Rotherham West Riding Police Court on Tuesday committed to take his trial at the next Leeds Assizes on a charge of unlawfully shooting at Maurice Gordon Hardy, at Kilnhurst on September 3rd, with intent to do him bodily harm.
Maurice Gordon Hardy, manipulator driver, of 12, Thomas Street. Kilnhurst, said at 2 p.m. on September 3rd he was standing at the end of Thomas Street, Kilnhurst, with Walter Whitehouse, when he saw Williams riding a bicycle over the canal bridge. After passing them, Williams dismounted from the bicycle and drew a gun from the inside of his shirt, and levelled the gun at Whitehouse. Williams was about 16 yards away.
A gun produced was the same as that which Williams had. Whitehouse stooped and picked a stone up and threw it at Williams, and ran into a house in a yard in Thomas Street. Witness remained where he was, and Williams followed Whitehouse in the yard, returning about two minutes later in Noblethorpe Road with a gun in his hand.
Williams said “I want you as well” and was shout six yards away. Witness ran to the back of a wall in Noblethorpe Road and Williams followed on his bicycle. When Williams was about 40 yards away he levelled the gun straight at witness and fired. Witness dropped down behind the wall for protection. He heard a report as though a gun had been discharged and he got up, and noticed that Williams was coming towards him on a bicycle. There was a lot of smoke coming from the gun, and witness started to run across the school playing fields towards the rear of his house. He attempted to climb a high wall and get to his home.
As he was climbing he looked round to see where Williams was. Williams had dismounted the cycle and was loading the gun again. When at the top of the wall be looked round again and saw the gun levelled at him. Williams discharged the gun but witness was not hit. He heard the report and saw smoke coming from the gun. Williams would he 60 yards away when he fired. He fell over the wall which was about 5 ft 5 ins in height and then went home. He had never quarrelled with Williams and had only known him for about three weeks. He had never spoken to Williams.
Williams interjected, “They were lying in wait for me coming and were ready to throw bricks at me or I would not have done anything.”
Cross examined by Williams, witness said he had heard there had been a disagreement between Whitehouse and Williams the night before, but Whitehouse had not said anything to him about it, nor did he know what it was about. He denied having gone there for the purpose of assisting Whitehouse. Neither he nor Whitehouse shouted at Williams as he was coming over the canal bridge. It was not correct that Williams shot in the air, he levelled the gun at witness.
Harry Froggatt, labourer, of 27 Hooton Road, Kilnhurst, said he was standing near Wall’s corner in Thomas Street when Williams came cycling over the bridge. He dismounted from the cycle when at the end of Thomas Street and placed the cycle against the curbstone. He drew a gun from the inside of his shirt and said “if they get some of this shot into them they will not throw stones again.” He then walked across the road. Hardy came running past and made a statement as he ran down Noblethorpe Road. He looked scared and was running hard. Williams came on the scene riding his bicycle in the direction of Hardy. He was holding a gun at his side. Witness saw Williams discharge the gun near the school wall. Witness went into Noblethorpe Road and Williams placed his cycle against a post and fired again in the direction of Hardy. The gun was level when witness saw him shoot and not in the air. Williams swung the gun over the handlebars of the cycle and rode away in the direction of Hooton Road.
Walter Whitehouse, a forge worker, of 2, Thorne Street, Kilnhurst, said about 4 p.m. on September 2nd he saw Williams on the golf links. He had a quarrel with him because Williams was riding a cycle belonging to another boy. Someone threw a brick at Williams, and Williams threw the brick at witness. Witness returned the brick at Williams, who struck witness several blows. Williams got witness down and kicked him. Williams said if he had got his gun with him he would have shot him. Witness had to be taken and by a youth.
About 2 p.m. the next day he was standing at the bottom of Thomas Street with Hardy when he saw Williams riding a cycle towards them. He (Williams) dismounted and drew a gun from his shirt. He levelled the gun at witness who picked up a stone, threw it at Williams and ran into a house. Williams followed into the yard and looked in the outhouse for him. Williams left the yard. Witness stayed in the house for five minutes until the police came.
P.c. Watson said at 2 p.m. on September 3rd he was on duty in Victoria Street, Kilnhurst, when he received information respecting the shooting affray. He immediately proceeded in the direction of Thomas Street and saw Whitehouse. In company with Sergt. Horne he interviewed Williams, at Dalton Police Station. Williams produced a gun and a box of ammunition consisting of 80 rounds of cartridge, and said “Yes, I have had some trouble with them on the golf links. I took the gun to work with me this morning to settle with them I If there was any nonsense.” When told he, would be reported he said “I fired up in air to frighten him.” When told he would be reported for discharging a gun on the highway he made no reply.
Williams was apprehended on warrant and in answer to the charge said “I have nothing to say.” The cartridges produced fitted the gun.
Williams in court rind he did not intend to do any grievous bodily harm and he fired in the air to stop them throwing bricks. Giving evidence. Williams said he had a quarrel with Whitehouse and two other boys at the golf links on September 2nd. The three were trying to take a rise out of him. “They got my blood hot.” added Williams, “and I could not stand it. I tapped Whitehouse with any flat and.” The three started throwing bricks, and the two boys went for Hardy. He had no grievance with Hardy. Whitehouse said he would somebody waiting for him the next day.
On September 3rd when about ten yards from Hardy and Whitehouse, Hardy said ”Here, I want you.” He was slowing down to get off the cycle when Whitehouse threw about five bricks at him. One of the bricks hit him and he dismounted from the cycle. Whitehouse ran away and Hardy shouted “He’s coming.” Witness pulled the gun out which was fastened to his braces. He meant to frighten them by firing a shot in the air. He loaded the gun in Thomas Street and Hardy ran away. He followed on his bicycle and discharged the gun over a wall. He only shot once over Hardy’s head.
A charge of discharging a gun on the highway was adjourned till the first Monday after the trial. Bail of £10 with a surety of £10 was allowed.