BILLIARD ROOM INCIDENT
Manchester Evening News, Friday 15 March 1907
Lively Affair at Hyde.
At a late sitting of the Hyde Borough Justices, last evening, an unusual case of alleged assault was investigated, in which the complainant was Wilbraham Stansfield, draper, and the proprietor of a billiard saloon in Clarendonstreet, and the defendant, William Hall, of Market place, a well-known music hall artist.
The case for the complainant was that about one o’clock last Saturday Mr. Stansfield entered his saloon and found defendant and several others, including a youth, playing “snooker pool.” Mr. Stahsfield objected to the youth playing, on the ground that he was only a learner, and Should play in the room for learners; whereupon the defendant interfered. High words ensued, and it was alleged that defendant struck complainant in the eye and the mouth, causing a black eye and damaging his teeth.
In cross-examination by Mr. Bostock (for defendant), Mr. Stansfield denied being hasty tempered, and said he was bound to conduct the saloon properly.
Mr. Bostock: Did you put your face in his?
Complainant: No, he put his face in mine. (Laughter.)
Several witnesses for the defence gave evidence to the effect that complainant challenged defendant to fight, and that the two men went out of the room into an adjoining yard for that purpose.
One of the witnesses, a professional clown engaged at a circus in the town, said the complainant was “very game at first, but couldn’t stick it.”
The magistrates dismissed the charge.