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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 02 Jun 1915
Page 6 Column 6 & 7
MIDNIGHT DISTURBANCE IN TAUNTON.
POLICE ASSAULTED.
MOTHER AND SONS SENT TO PRISON.
How the service of a summons upon a woman residing in King-street, Taunton, led to the arrest of eight other persons was explained to the Taunton Borough Bench on Wednesday.
P.C.
RANSOME, having to serve a summons upon Caroline OATEN, of
King-street, for alleged use of obscene language – the subject
of another charge before the Bench – on Saturday evening, about
11 o'clock, proceeded to her residence for this purpose.
In the
discharge of this duty he was molested by members of the family, the
vigour of their attack ultimately leading to exciting scenes
witnessed by a crowd of people for three-quarters of an hour. At the
request of the constable assistance was rendered by various
civilians, and messengers were despatched for other policemen. P.S.
GIBLETT, P.C. HILL, P.C. PARTRIDGE, and P.C. BOWDITCH were soon upon
the scene, and these officers, together with the civilians, who
rendered assistance, were bruised and battered in the confusion of
the melee that afterwards ensued. Arrests were quickly followed by
rescues, cudgels, it is alleged, being used to effect these escapes.
Eventually, however, Mrs. Caroline OATEN was hurried to the
Police-station on a hand-truck, some semblance to order being
thereupon obtained. Other arrests were made later in the evening, and
early on Sunday morning, and on Wednesday, following a remand granted
by Mr. W. H. WESTLAKE on Monday, charges were preferred as follow:-
Henry OATEN, a private of the 5th Battalion Somerset L.I., with assaulting P.S. GIBLETT in the execution of his duty in King-street at 11.45 p.m. on May 22nd.
Edmund George OATEN, a brother, a lance-corporal of the 1st Battalion of the Somerset L.I., with assaulting P.C. RANSOME whilst in the execution of his duty; also with wilfully damaging, to the value of 6s, the constable's helmet.
William OATEN, another brother, with assaulting P.C.'s HILL, RANSOME, and BOWDITCH, and also with committing wilful damage to the extent of 12s to the helmets of P.C.'s HILL and BOWDITCH.
Louie OATEN, a sister, with assaulting P.C. BOWDITCH.
Alfred OATEN, a brother, with assaulting P.C.'s PARTRIDGE and RANSOME.
Caroline OATEN, the mother, with being drunk and disorderly in King-street, and with obstructing P.C. RANSOME in the execution of his duty.
William HAWKINS, 4, Paradise-square, Duke-street, with obstructing P.C. RANSOME in the execution of his duty.
George WOOLLEY, 27, King-street, with assaulting P.C.'s HILL and RANSOME.
The magistrates hearing the case were Messrs. J. P. SIBLEY (in the chair), J. WHITE, F. W. PENNY, W.H. WESTLAKE, and C. J. GOODLAND.
The charge against the mother, Mrs. OATEN, was first heard.
P.C. RANSOME said that at 11.20 on Saturday evening, while on duty in King-street, he heard men fighting and using threatening language in Mrs. OATEN's house. A woman inside was shouting, and another woman behind the door was crying. He was at this time in possession of a summons to be served on Mrs. OATEN, and knocking at the door of the house, and being told that nothing was wrong, served the summons and went away. A few minutes later they came out into the street, and a row again commenced, defendant shouting “Kill the ------.” Finally, with assistance, defendant was taken to the Police-station, and on the way used disgusting language. Continuing, witness said the disturbance throughout lasted three-quarters of an hour. Repeatedly he was obstructed in the execution of his duty, and time after time prisoners were got away from him.
Defendant: Didn't you and Bill BARTLETT burst my door open? - Not at that time.
Bill BARTLETT did not go over my house, did he? - I went into your house afterwards with BARTLETT, but not at that time.
By Deputy-Chief Constable BROWN: BARTLETT went with witness when he was called, but this was later when he was assaulted.
Defendant: If I was so drunk I could not take prisoners away from you.
P.C. PARTRIDGE said that in consequence of a disturbance he was called to King-street, but he heard the row from Hammet-street. Defendant, who was drunk, was screeching and cursing, and acted as if she was mad. With P.C. RANSOME he took her into custody on a truck.
Defendant said that P.C. RANSOME came to her door and said he had a summons, but did not hand it to her. Later the constable, with Bill BARTLETT, came to her door and burst it open. They then came into the house, and in the kitchen BARTLETT took up a chair with the intention of striking her son, and in doing this he knocked the policeman's helmet off. They went upstairs and downstairs, the policeman saying “I'll have you and your son Dafty.” “He had it cut and dried before he came there.” added witness.
Deputy-Chief Constable BROWN at this juncture explained that owing to defendant's behaviour on Saturday night, when she caused King-street to be in uproar, there were other people in custody charged with assaulting the police. There were serious charges to be heard, and before the Bench dealt with defendant's case he asked that the other charges should be heard. Had it not been for private individuals who willingly assisted the police he did not know what the result would have been. However, the bottom of it all was defendant.
Defendant: How can you tell such lies, Mr. BROWN?
Giving evidence against Edmund OATEN, P.C. RANSOME said that when the disturbance took place defendant was in the street fighting with another brother. When a girl said that a policeman was coming defendant said “Let's kill the ------.” He then rushed at witness and kicked him on the thigh, and he also received several sly blows from the others. Going into the house, defendant came out with a stick, with which he struck witness across the helmet and on the shoulder. He then went into the house again, and this time came out with a piece of iron. He called the public to his assistance, and one of the men, William BARTLETT, was struck on the head and on the body. P.C. HILL when he came was also assaulted, but eventually they got defendant to the Police-station.
Defendant said that BARTLETT was responsible for the damage to the helmet by striking it with a chair. Witness also was struck across the head with a stick.
Sergt. GIBLETT said that at 11.45 he went to King-street to assist P.C.'s RANSOME and HILL. When he got there he saw defendant rush at P.C. RANSOME on two occasions. There was a general fight in the street, and defendant were acting like mad people.
P.C. HILL said that when he got to the street he saw defendant with a stick, with which he was striking P.C. RANSOME. He also saw defendant get away from the police, and witness later arrested him in Tancred-street.
Thomas EDNEY, a mason's labourer, 22, King-street, said he saw the row in King-street, and saw P.C. RANSOME being assaulted. At the request of P.C. RANSOME he went for the assistance of the other policemen.
Defendant said that when he went to the door of his house P.C. RANSOME struck him across the head and ribs with a stick. Mr. BARTLETT burst the door of the house open, and inside the house he broke the policeman's helmet with a chair. There was no fighting between his brothers, and no row whatever in the house.
Mrs. Helen BROWN, a sister of defendant, called to give evidence on his behalf, said defendant was not drunk, and did not cause a disturbance. She did not see anything happen in the street.
Sergt. GIBLETT, giving evidence against Henry OATEN, said that at 11.45 p.m. he went to the assistance of P.C. RANSOME. He got as far as defendant's door, when defendant jumped out and dealt him a deliberate blow on the cheek. Witness thereupon caught hold of defendant and took him out of the crowd.
P.C. RANSOME corroborated this evidence, adding that the Sergeant had not said anything at all to defendant.
Giving evidence against William OATEN, P.C. HILL said he found all the OATEN family fighting P.C. RANSOME with sticks and pokers. He went to assist RANSOME and received a blow from a stick on the back of the head. When he attempted to arrest his assailant the man ran into the house. Witness followed, and, in the struggle that ensued, he was knocked down. Whilst on the floor Wm. OATEN struck him, with the stick produced, a heavy blow on the helmet. He then attacked P.C. RANSOME and P.C. BOWDITCH, and struck them also.
Wm. OATEN denied having any stick in his hand.
P.C. RANSOME said that during the struggle in the house, when they were attempting the struggle in the house, when they were attempting to arrest some of the defendants P.C. HILL was knocked down and served very badly. Witness was also struck. - P.C. BOWDITCH corroborated, stating that the received a heavy blow across the helmet from a stick.
Defendant: Why did you pull me out in the middle of the street and kick me?
William BARTLETT, hawker, of King-street, said that about 11.30 he head a disturbance in the street, and went out to see what was the matter. He saw P.C. RANSOME being attacked by the OATENS, and he was in a “rough shop.” It seemed like murder, and witness was called upon to assist the constable. He did so, and was pulled about and kicked by the OATENS. All the family were kicking, or using pokers, hammers, and sticks. The defendant (Wm. OATEN) first had a stick and then a poker. Witness was pulled down on the floor and struck with stick and hammers. He had bruises on the ribs and arms, and was struck also in the face. It was a job he did not want to get into, but had to respond to the policeman's call.
Defendant, after remarking that BARTLETT “told lies in packs,” called his wife, Minnie OATEN, who said she knew nothing about the assaults. After her husband came home on the night in question he went to bed, but when the row began he got up and went out.
The charge against William HAWKINS was next gone into, and P.C. RANSOME stated that when arresting the girl Louie OATEN defendant pulled her away several times, saying “It's my girl.” Witness warned him not to interfere, but he continued to obstruct the arrest. - P.C. BOWDITCH corroborated, and added that they subsequently found defendant and the girl together in a room in the house.
Louie OATEN was then put in the box, and evidence against her was given by P.C.'s BOWDITCH and RANSOME. The former said the girl attacked him with a stick when he was handcuffing one of the male prisoners. P.C. RANSOME said the girl interfered with him also on the previous Wednesday night in East Reach. When he arrested her after the King-street disturbance she was in a bedroom with HAWKINS.
Defendant (angrily): “What business had you coming up our stairs – monkey?”
In the case against WOOLLEY it appeared from the police evidence that he struck P.C. HILL on the head and kicked him in the leg, and also kicked P.C. RANSOME. The latter told the Bench that this was not the first time WOOLLEY had interfered with him in King-street. If there was a squabble there he always took part.
Alfred TURNER, employed at the Claremont Horse Depot, living in King-street, said he was called out by the uproar, and went down the street to see what was the matter. He was called upon by the police to give assistance, which he did. He saw ----ney? k---? P.C. RANSOME and P.C. HILL.
Edmund George OATEN, called to give evidence, by the defendant, said that WOOLLEY was in the house when the door was burst open by BARTLETT and RANSOME. WOOLLEY then went home, and witness did not see him in the street at all.
Mrs. Eliza WRIST, of King-street, said she was present during part of the row, but did not see WOOLLEY kick the policeman. Someone struck WOOLLEY on the head with a stick, and he staggered back into her arms. Witness then went home with him. - By Mr. BROWN: The disturbance was on a long time before witness got there. WOOLLEY told her that “one of the coppers” had hit him.
Mary Ann WOOLLEY, mother of the defendant, stated that her son came to her and told her he had been struck by a policeman. Mrs. WRIST also told her that defendant (her son) had been knocked down.
Against Alfred OATEN, a person of weak intellect, evidence was given by P.C. RANSOME. He said the defendant was one of the men who rushed out of the house fighting one against the other. When he saw witness he went into the house, but later came out with a stick, with which he made the assault upon him. He also struck P.C. PARTRIDGE.
P.C. PARTRIDGE explained that P.C. RANSOME and himself were arresting Caroline OATEN when they were assaulted by defendant. He used a drover's long stick, and at one time had two sticks. Raising these sticks above his head, he attempted to bring them down on witness's head. He was able to ward off one of them, but with the other he was struck across the shoulder.
William TURNER, King-street, said he saw defendant acting in a very wild manner. He had a stick in each hand, and stood at the door defying the policeman.
After a long deliberation, the Bench dealt with defendant's as follows:-
Caroline OATEN, for being drunk and disorderly, 14 days, and for obstructing P.C. RANSOME, fined 15s, or 14 days.
Henry OATEN, for assaulting P.S. GIBLETT, one month's imprisonment.
Edmund George OATEN, for assault, one month, and for wilful damage to helmets, 14 days.
William OATEN, for assault, one month, and for wilful damage, 14 days.
George WOOLLEY, for assaults on P.C.'s HILL and RANSOME, six weeks.
William HAWKINS, fined 10s, or seven days, allowed a week to pay.
Alfred OATEN, bound over to come up for judgement within twelve months if called upon.
Louie OATEN, placed on probation for six months. The Bench informed the girl that the conditions of her probation were that she should sign the pledge, be indoors by nine o'clock each evening, and report herself weekly to the Probation Officer (Mrs. COLLIS).
Defendant: I am not going to sign the pledge. I don't drink now.
Mr. C. MINETT (town missionary) told the magistrates that the girl was a member of the “Snow-drop” Band of the British Women's Temperance Association, and had been in regular attendance at religious services.
The Bench varied the conditions, and ordered defendant to pay the costs of the probation (14s).
A large crowd awaited the conclusion of the Court to hear the result of the cases. The two soldiers were taken back to the Police-station in a closed cab.
<NOTES: Caroline OATEN is Caroline Louisa KITCH daughter of John KITCH and Sarah TRUMP, married Charles Robert OATEN
William Charles OATEN son of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH
Edmund George OATEN son of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH
Henry Robert or Harry OATEN son of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH
Louis OATEN is Caroline Louisa OATEN daughter of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH, married William HAWKINS
Alfred John or Alfie OATEN son of Charles Robert OATEN and Caroline Louisa KITCH
William HAWKINS son of Robert Joseph HAWKINS and Elizabeth ADAMS, married Caroline Louisa OATEN>