Without speaking, William Turner approached the two farmers and punched George heavily in the face, knocking the poor man off his feet. Then whilst he lay on the ground, the assailant fell on top of him and attempted to put his arm around the neck of the injured man in order to strangle him. Joseph Senior went to help his brother, but he had great difficulty in getting the attacker off him. Once more Turner smacked his brother in the face and tried once more to strangle him. Suddenly two men were seen approaching. They were Mr William Sheppard and a fourteen-year old boy called George Mirfin. Sheppard, who was on horseback, jumped down and tried to stop the assailant from inflicting any more injury on the elderly farmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though his face was now scratched and blackened from the attempt at strangulation and
despite his age, George had fought back as hard as he could. At this point Turner fled and the farmer, who had only recently recovered from a paralytic stroke, thanked the two passers-by before he was taken back to his home by some men working in the fields. Surgeon, Mr Latimer was immediately called to attend to him, but he found that the farmer could not speak. Subsequently, for seven or eight days, George Senior\u2019s recovery was despaired of. Meanwhile William Turner had absconded and a search was being made for him. Thankfully, by the time the case was brought before the magistrates at the Rotherham Court House on Monday 7 August 1865, the elderly farmer\u2019s condition had improved slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although he had recovered his voice, his mind had been affected and so was unable to answer any questions. By this time William Turner had been found and arrested on the charge of the murderous assault on George Senior. He was defended by Mr Edwards, who asked for bail for his client. However the prosecution Mr Wilkinson objected, pointing out the still dangerous state that George Senior was in. The bench agreed and it was decided that due to the seriousness of the charge, the prisoner would be remanded. However by Monday 21 August 1865 the farmer was still unable to attend the court in order to give his own evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accordingly surgeon Mr Latimer\u2019s assistant, Mr Edward Johnson attended and described the condition of his patient. He said that although the elderly farmer was still in a precarious state and suffering from paralysis, he thought that he might be able to attend court the following week. Bail was once more requested for Turner, but was still objected to, so the prisoner was remanded once again. Matters dragged on and by 22 September 1865, Turner had been remanded seven times and in custody for two months. Suddenly, news came that he and another prisoner named John Holmes had made a bid for freedom. They had both escaped from the Rotherham lock up and once free, were last seen heading towards Brigg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact it was not until Friday 10 November that Turner was finally recognised, back in Sheffield by Inspector Cook of the Sheffield Borough Police force. Enquiries were made and acting upon information, the inspector and some other officers went to a house in Corby Street, Sheffield where William Turner was found to be staying. Of John Holmes there had been no sign and, in his absence Turner blamed him for masterminding the escape plan. Finally, he was brought before the Rotherham Petty Sessions on Monday 20 November, charged with the assault on George Senior on 22 July. Frustratingly however, the elderly farmer was again unable to attend,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surgeon, Mr Johnson again stated that his patient was still suffering from the effect of a stroke, which had, more than likely, been brought on by the attack upon him. His evidence was backed-up by another surgeon, Dr Thompson of Sheffield who agreed and said that in his opinion the farmer would never be able to give evidence properly. Nevertheless the case still had to go ahead and Mr Willis for the prosecution supported the prisoners application. However Turners defence, Mr Edwards emphsised that his client had been more than ready to meet the charge from the very beginning. He pointed out that witnesses had come to court at great expense to give evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, despite this Turner was remanded yet again until the following Thursday. Accordingly on Thursday 23 November 1865 when the court reconvened, George Senior was still unable to be present and so it was agreed that the case would be heard without his evidence. The prosecution, Mr Whitfield pointed out that if the injuries received by the elderly farmer had resulted in death, then the prisoner would be facing a much more serious charge. The prisoner\u2019s defence solicitor, Mr Edwards stated that his client had been willing to co-operate with the police enquiry and had remained in custody \u2018apart from a short break.\u2019 This was the break out from the Rotherham lock up in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was laughter in the court when Mr Edwards added \u2018when he took a short holiday.\u2019 The injured man\u2019s brother, Joseph Senior then gave his evidence and described the events concluding with the vicious attack. He stated that up to that time, his brother had generally been in good health and on the day of the attack had travelled into Rotherham to vote in the elections. Surgeon Edward Johnson then described attending to the injured farmer who, following the attack, had been unable to move or speak. He said that this was probably due to the fact that he was suffering from an effusion of the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Johnson confirmed that his patient was unable to give evidence as \u2018he was scarcely able to understand anything that was said to him.\u2019 He concluded by giving his opinion that the violence of the attack had produced Mr Seniors present condition. George\u2019s brother, Mr Joseph Senior gave evidence confirming that he had witnessed the attack and deduced that Turner had been drinking at the Red Lion at Aston shortly before. As a result of this, the prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the ensuing Sessions, and once again, bail was refused. Accordingly William Turner was brought before the Rotherham Petty Sessions on Monday 20 November 1865.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chairman, Mr T B Bosvile Esq., cast doubt on the statement of one of the main witnesses of the case. After hearing the evidence of the brother of the prosecutor (Joseph Senior) he stated that the way in which he had given his evidence was \u2018not open and satisfactory.\u2019 Accordingly the jury found that prisoner was guilty of a simple common assault and he was sentenced to two months imprisonment. William Turner was then tried for breaking out of the Rotherham Lock up. His defence Mr Blackburn said that it was not his client who broke out, but a fellow prisoner called John Holmes. He claimed that Turner had simple taken took advantage of it and left the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prosecution Mr Forbes denied this and said that the two prisoners shared the same cell and the escape had been planned and executed very precisely. They had taken up a portion of the floor, broke through an arched roof beneath and had escaped by means of a passage below, the door of which had been left unfastened. Mr Forbes pointed out that Holmes had been a chimney sweep and was well acquainted with knowing the mystery of confined spaces and chimney flues. Accordingly William Turner was sentenced to two months imprisonment to run concurrently with that in the preceding case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It would be interesting to know if this particular lock up was in fact the Chapel on the Bridge which was used as such from 1800 \u2013 1900 and is still in situ today. The fact the actual lock up from which the men broke out had an arched roof beneath the cell suggests that it might have been. However, at the same time other lock ups attached to courtrooms were also used for the easy facilitation of prisoners on court days, so it has to remain a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Without speaking, William Turner approached the two farmers and punched George heavily in the face, knocking the poor man off his feet. Then whilst he lay on the ground, the assailant fell on top of him and attempted to put his arm around the neck of the injured man in order to strangle him. Joseph … Continue reading William Turner.<\/span>