I received a violent blow from a brick-bat

INSP Thomas Woollaston writes... On Saturday night, the 22nd of February, 1879, about 11 o’clock, I went up the High Street, West Bromwich, with the object of visiting the men on duty.

I there saw a great crowd of persons assembled and crossed the street to ascertain the cause.

I saw persons struggling on the ground, but in consequence of the pressure had difficulty in getting sufficiently near to see what had happened.

When I had forced my way through, I saw two police constables and a sergeant struggling and apparently trying to secure a drunken man who was very violent.

I was then told he had assaulted them, after taking him into custody for disorderly conduct, and in consequence of his refusal to leave the street. He was then striking and kicking at them.

I could see the large crowd sympathised with the prisoner and evidently wished his release.

In consequence of the obstruction offered, I saw plainly it was impossible, without great risk, to get him to the station and the men, by my direction and with my assistance, took the prisoner through a butcher’s shop into a room, thinking he might probably be got away by a back street, or that the crowd might be induced to disperse.

Neither of those objects, however, could be attained.

A part of the crowd now got on the premises where they could watch the back and brick-bats were occasionally thrown.

This convinced us they were prepared to meet us there. It was, besides, dark and the risk would have been equally great in going that way.

That idea was, therefore, abandoned and the only alternative was to proceed by the High Street.

It was not without some difficulty that the prisoner was secured and taken into the butcher’s room.

In doing this, I received two violent kicks from an unknown person, in exchange for which he received a fairly good blow in return.

When inside, the prisoner became quieter and was handcuffed and, by persuasion, was induced to promise to go quietly to the police station.

Meanwhile, the mob outside had increased to a great extent and at intervals threw stones into the butcher’s shop so that his meat was damaged and his interests were involved in the matter.

I now went outside, telling the people in the street that the prisoner had consented to go quietly to the police station.

I would, on his arrival there, consider the question as to bailing him but that he could not otherwise be liberated.

The crowd heard that announcement without making any remark, but as I turned to go inside to fetch him they hissed and groaned.

That I understood as meaning mischief.

The prisoner, before starting, was enjoined to walk quietly along and not notice any manifestation of feeling that might be made. He