South Yorkshire Times, September 3, 1960
Graphic Court Story of Mexboro’ Shooting Incident
Miner Found Wife’s Lover Concealed in Cupboard
Neighbour Tells Of Hearing
“Stop Or I’ll Shoot” Call
William Henry Siddons (24), miner of 62, Elm Road, Mexborough, who was alleged at Doncaster West Riding Court yesterday (Thursday) to have shot a Swinton man with a 12 bore shot gun, was committed to Sheffield Assizes on bail,
Siddons was charged with shooting John Ingham with intent to murder him land with feloniously wounding him with intent to murder.
Through his solicitor, Mr. Donald Dunn, Siddons pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence.
Familiar Story
- M. D. Shaffner, prosecuting, said “This is a familiar story in perhaps a more modern setting.” The complainant, John Ingham, a 33-years-old miner and a married man of 29, Central Avenue, Swinton, apparently first met Siddons’ wife some three months ago, and in July, when Siddons was on holiday in Scotland on his own, Ingham, at the invitation of Mrs. Siddons, visited her at home on several occasions and it was right that the court should know that an adulterous association sprang up between them.
On August 23rd Siddons left home for work on the night turn, leaving his wife at home with the three -children, aged six, 17 months and three or four months.
Arrangements’ had been made, he alleged, for Ingham to visit Mrs. Siddons that evening. Not long after her husband had left for work. Ingham came in and he and Mrs. Siddons went up stairs.
Mr. Shaffner alleged, “One assumes that they were going to make love when there was a knock at the door and the husband was there.”
It appeared, said Mr. Shaffner. that the accused had got to work and had found that his partner was not there and so he had come home.
Ingham hid in a cupboard In the toilet. The accused took hold of his 12 bore shotgun, loaded it and went upstairs. The two men met on the landing and there was something of a scuffle and the accused was apparently able to recognise the man in the house as Ingham.
Ingham ran out of the house. and, alleged Mr. Shaffner, there were shouts of “I’ll kill you. you …..”
At some stage. alleged Mr. Shaffner. Siddons fired the gun as lngham was running away.
Not Critical
“Ingham fell to the ground and was at first thought to be critically injured, but it has since transpired that there was no critical injury,” he said.
In the back of Ingham’s head and in his shoulders wens found 150 pellets and a police officer had since counted pellets in a new cartridge and found there to be 233.
The matter was immediately notified to the police and a P.c. Shepherd was the first to arrive on the scene and he found the injured man lying in the garden of 43, Cedar Avenue.
Mr. Shaffner said that Siddons had told the police that when Ingham was running down the path towards the flats he had told him to stop, but he did not do so, so he fired over his head to make him stop.
Dr. Michaed John Betty, Surgical Registrar at Sheffield Royal Infirmary, said he saw Ingham on August 24th at the Infirmary. The back of his scalp and the left side of the neck and shoulders were covered with multiple puncture wounds consistent with having been caused by a shotgun.
“On the examination and from X-ray films I came to the conclusion that none of the pellets had punctured the skull,” he said.
Ingham was kept at the Infirmary until August 26th and his general condition remained satisfactory, but he developed swelling of the left eyelid and left side of the scalp and neck. He was then transferred back to Mexborough Montagu Hospital.
Fred Beardsley, of 139. Maple Road, Mexborough. said he left for work at 10 p.m. on August 23rd and picked up the accused and his father in Highwoods Road and took them to Manvers Main Colliery in his car.
On arrival at work he found that his particular job was not available, so he decided to return home. Later he saw Siddons inn the canteen, who asked him if he (witness) was going home.
Went Home
Siddons said that he was also going home because his mate had not turned up. They then drove back to Mexborough and witness said he dropped Siddons outside his home.
Accused he alleged, said there would be a row because he had come home from work.
In reply to Mr. Dunn. Beardsley said he had known Siddons for some considerable time, and he was a quiet, unassuming man. “I have never known him display any active violence at all,” he added.