Which struck the back of my head and rendered me insensible
promised to comply. Myself and other officers then brought him into the street and were proceeding along the footpath. This was crowded, as was also the street, by a large mob of howling blackguards. They called on the prisoner to resist and not go. He accordingly threw himself down and refused to proceed with us. Some of the more impudent of the mob now demanded his release. The police, however, persevered and partly carried, partly dragged the prisoner along. We gained ground but slowly and stones were freely thrown at intervals. Owing to the continued interruption, I continued at the back of the men, keeping off the crowd and had some narrow escapes from stones, which took effect on shopkeeper’s windows occasionally. After a violent struggle with the prisoner, the men halted to take breath and I, being still at the rear, received a violent blow from a brick-bat, which struck the back of my head. The blow stunned and rendered me insensible and I fell in the gutter on my face.
How long I remained there, I am unable of my knowledge to say. When sensibility party returned, I found myself in the position described, writhing and unable to move.
My arms and legs felt, as I thought, benumbed or paralysed. I was picked up and taken into a shop. I now bled freely from a wound in my head and I presume that must have relieved me, for sensibility then immediately returned and, although requested to remain in the shop, I rejoined my fellow officers who were still fighting and forcing their way on with the prisoner, amidst flights of stones from the mob.
Several other officers now came up and, attacking the crowd vigorously, the mob retired and did not venture nearer to the police station.
The prisoner was then safely lodged in the cell. Three others were also locked-up for stone throwing. I now called on the police surgeon and had my head dressed.
The wound was very painful and I suffered very much for some days afterwards. I had, however, all things considered, a most lucky and wonderful escape.
The brickbat which struck me was upwards of 3lb in weight and the force of the blow such as may have caused instantaneous death or a concussion with effects, perhaps, only slightly less serious.
I felt that, under the circumstances, I had a miraculous escape and had abundant cause to be thankful, notwithstanding that the miscreant who did the mischief was never captured.
I had reason to believe that a tradesman who lived near could have given information that would have led to his discovery. He partly did so, but afterwards retracted, observing it was undesirable for a tradesman who had to get his living from the Working Classes to be mixed-up or connected with such like transactions.”