William Cummings Glanville and
Emma Lydia Rhead were associated circa 1909 by virtue of having a child together, but no marriage took place until the death of her first husband.
In 1913 Rugby Advertiser 27
th September 1913:-
Before T Hunter, Esq (in the chair), TA Wise and AE Donkins, Esqrs
MOULDER CONVICTED OF ASSAULT
William C Glanville, moulder, Bilton Hill, Rugby, was charged with assaulting P.S. JH Lake at Rugby on September 22
nd. – Mr H Lupton Reddish prosecuted and Mr H Eaden defended. – Defendant pleased not guilty.
Mr Reddish said the assault took place near the entrance of Messrs Willans & Robinson’s Works at about 6.30 on the previous evening. Two cars came along Wood Street, and a number of men stepped forward and stopped them. Defendant and another man go in front of the first car. They were asked to stand aside but defendant went to the door of one of the cars, and putting his foot on the step, opened the door and caught hold of a man inside, remarking. “Fetch the ---- out.” P.S. Lake spoke to him, whereupon he asked what it had to do with him, and then committed the assault complained of. Subsequently defendant said. “I know I have done wrong; I ought not to have touched you.”
Mr Reddish explained that owing to the Army Manoeuvres the Police Force in the town was insufficient to deal with the strike trouble, and the Superintendent had to get extra assistance from other parts of the county.
P.S. Jas Henry Lake (Longford), who is on special duty at Rugby, stated that at 6:30 p.m. he was at the entrance of Willans & Robinson’s Works, Newbold Road, with Inspector Lines, P.C. Everall, and other officers. There were some 40 or 50 men in Newbold Road when two motor-cars came along Wood Street in the direction of the works. When they got to Newbold Road the men got across the road to stop the cars. Defendant was one of the men. The cars stopped, and two men got in the front one, and he and the inspector asked them to step aside, which they did. Prisoner went to the off side of the car, opened the door, put his foot on the step, caught hold of a man inside, and said. “Fetch the ---- out.” Witness went to him and requested him to behave himself and step aside so that the car might proceed. Defendant was very excited, and said, “What the ---- is it to do with you?” At the same time he forced his knee into witness’s stomach, committing the assault complained of and causing witness considerable pain. Defendant came to him again and used foul threats, and put himself in a fighting attitude. As he would not behave himself witness arrested him to save further trouble. When told of the charge against him defendant said, “I know I ought not to have done it : I did not wish to touch any of you.” Defendant was taken to the Police Station and formally charged. – By Mr Eaden : Witness was there to see that the cars passed through unmolested and that there was no breach of the peace. Defendant, who have been on the scene for about 20 minutes, was one of the men who helped to stop the car. Witness believed it was a working-man who was in the car. Defendant was 5ft high, whereas witness was 5ft 10in. Defendant was not quite drunk, but had had sufficient to drink. Witness pulled defendant by the front of his coat through the gate, when they both fell down together. He did not treat defendant roughly, although he was very troublesome. Little men were more obstreperous, as a rule, than big men (laughter). There were no other man on the same side of the car as defendant at the time of the assault.
P.C. Everall (Cubbington) gave corroborative evidence and said he saw the assault. – By Mr Eaden : After P.S. Lake had taken defendant into the yar, and they had both fallen down, he (defendant) appeared to be dazed and exhausted. – By Mr Reddish : The assault was not accidental, but was quite deliberate.
Inspector Lines also gave evidence.
This completed the case for the prosecution.
Mr Eaden, for the defence, said much had been made of the fact that his client was stopping a car in the road, but he asked them to deal with the case purely on the question : Did the man assault the officer or not? – The Chairman : We are only dealing with that. – Mr Eaden said defendant was on strike, and was on his way down to his mother-on-law’s to have tea. When he got to the works there was a crowd around, and he, being naturally interested, stopped a moment or two, and saw the cars coming along. Defendant denied he opened the door of the car or threatened to pull anyone out, but immediately he got up to the car, which contained some workmen, the officer caught hold of him by the chin and practically carried him off his feet from the side of the car right inside the works gates. By that time the man was ready to drop, and he thought the Bench must not take into consideration what the man said when he got on his feet again. He had had such a gruelling at the hands of the police, and finally fell back on his head, that he was not responsible for what he did say. The officers could see there was going to be trouble with someone, and took away defendant, who was, perhaps, in front at the moment, so that they might have one less to deal with.
Defendant then went into the witness-box, and bore out the statements of Mr Eaden. He complained that he sustained rough treatment at the hands of Sergt Lake, and denied that he assault the officer.
By Mr Lupton Reddish : He did not recollect whether he opened the door or not. He had had about four glasses of beer at the club-house, and had not had his dinner. He considered he was badly treated by the police, but made no complaint at the Police Station. He admitted that it was through the beer that he got into trouble.
Oliver Tomlinson, 46 Dalte Street, coremaker (B.T.H.), who stated that he was in a position to see what happened, denied that the defendant assaulted the officer. – In cross-examination, witness admitted that the car was between him and defendant and the sergeant.
Charles William Taylore, coremaker, 38 Worcester Street, was the next witness. He was standing on the Park side when the car was stopped, and all he saw was Glanville going towards the car and the police officer rush at him and carry him away backwards by the throat towards the gates. Had the assault complained of taken place he could not have seen it.
George Coles, clerk, 20 Rowland Street, said he was out of work in consequence of the strike. He saw what occurred on the previous evening. Defendant put his hand on the handle of the door, but before he could open it complainant caught hold of him by the throat and took him backwards into Willans’. He saw all that occurred, and was prepared to swear no assault on the officer was committed. – Pressed by Mr Reddish, witness admitted he could not have seen the assault had one occurred.
Percy Victor Stent, moulder, 28 Worcester Street, said he was standing in the middle of Newbold Road when the car stopped. He saw defendant take hold of the handle of the door, and the police officer seized defendant by the throat. He took him towards the gate at such a rate as to drag him part of the way, and he left him in a very “dazzled” state. – By Mr Reddish : He could not see what defendant did with his knee.
The Bench found that an assault on the police had been committed, and defendant was ordered to pay £1 17s, representing a fine of 5s and costs.
Mr Reddish said at a time like the present the duties of the police were exceedingly trying. It was their duty to preserve the peace, and above all, to keep the streets open, and he asked if it would not be better to bind defendant over rather than to fine him.
Mr Eaden said he did not know why Mr Reddish should make that suggestion after the Bench had given their decision.
Mr Reddish said he had had no opportunity before.
The Chairman : I think we had better let the decision stand. William and Emma Lydia Rhead had no further children.