Fight at King's Head leads to stabbing (1863)

Post date: Mar 27, 2013 3:10:0 PM

Report on West Kent sessions in Maidstone Telegraph 31st October 1863

Using the Knive at Wateringbury.—

Daniel Crawley, 44, labourer, was indicted for assaulting a man named Daniel Saloway, at Wateringbury, on the 12th September. Mr. F. J. Smith was for the prosecution.

Thomas Smith said—On the 12th September he was at Wateringbury, and saw a man named Saloway and prisoner at the King's Head, fighting. After they had had two rounds witness picked Saloway up from under the prisoner, and got him out of the crowd of a large number of Irish. About ten minutes afterwards witness saw Crawley rush out of the hedge on the road leading from Farleigh to Wateringbury, and knocked Saloway down, when prisoner's wife kicked at Saloway, but hit her own husband on the forehead. When they got up from off the ground prisoner pulled out his knife and thrust it through Saloway's cheek, and he then fell into witness's arms. Prisoner stabbed him in the forehead and shoulder, after which he ran away, when witness went after him, with another man. William Forester said that he ran after the prisoner, and found him in a hop-garden "kivered all up" under his daughter's crinoline (a laugh). He afterwards saw a knife with blood upon it which had been taken from prisoner.

Mr. H. M. Gould, surgeon, living at Wateringbury, said Saloway was brought to him with wounds in the cheek and forehead, having been caused by a knife. They were of a serious nature, but not likely to affect life.—Eighteen months' hard labour.

Although not mentioned in the report, this is likely to have been a hopping incident given the September date and the reference to "the crowd of a large number of Irish."