Leeds Mercury – Wednesday 13 October 1909

Adventure in The Yard.

Doncaster Collier’s Story of Assault.

At Doncaster yesterday three young colliers, Wm. Street, of Conisborough, and Joe Edward Auty and Geo. Schofield, of Mexborough, were charged with assaulting George Rounds, a collier of Marshgate, Doncaster, and robbing him of a metal watch and £2 3s. in money.

Round’s statement was to the effect that he was at the White Hart on Monday night, and about half-past nine o’clock went into the yard, where he was attacked by a number of men, who knocked him down, kicked him, and rifled his pockets. He became unconscious.

He was taken to the Infirmary and the men were apprehended.

Answering Auty, he denied that he put a sovereign on the table to make a match.

Arthur Dickenson, landlord the White Hart, said he saw Rounds and the three others in his house, and when Rounds went out the others immediately followed him. When Rounds came back he looked as if he had had his head dipped in a bucket of blood.” Both his trousers pockets had been rifled; the right hand one was inside out.

Police-constable Elsey said that when Auty was searched, Round’s watch was found on him. Street’s clothes and cap and Schofield’s clothes where stained with blood. That morning Auty, who had said the watch w’as his, stated that he made mistake and had picked it in the White Hart-yard.

All the men were remanded.