A Knottingley Scare.
Mysterious midnight shower of stones.
The inhabitants of Knottingley are at present much concerned over some mysterious cases of stone throwing. Last Sunday evening (relates the Pontefract Express), showers of stones commenced to fall in the vicinity of Captain Thomas Weatherall’s house, and 25 windows were broken. The police were soon upon the scene, but still the showers came, though it puzzled all about the place to know from what direction or by what power the missiles were impelled.
A widow neighbour’s windows coming in for some of the unwelcome “elements,” she was affrighted and raised an alarm. Another neighbour, Mr Clift, who has only recently gone to Knottingley, went to the succour of the widow. Going to the back of the house, he came upon a man who he believed was the offender, and made for him. But this individual happened to be Police-constable Brady, who was on a similar errand as Mr Clift, and who thought also that he had got his man. They each, therefore, seized the other with a view to capture, and a smart struggled ensued. Being of nimble and muscular build, Mr Clift got the policeman on his back by the throat; but the policeman managed to get out his staff and crack Mr Clift two or three nasty blows on the head with it. Police-constable Douthwaite at this point interposed to show both combatants what a mistake they had made. Amusing as this incident no doubt is, it went hard for Mr Clift, whose head was badly cut.
The stone throwing was repeated slightly on Monday night, and every night during the week large crowds have gathered to discuss the situation or in the hopes of having a glimpse of the very wary stone-thrower, who still remains at large and unknown.
Yorkshire Evening Post, 8th August 1891.
Outrageous Proceedings At Knottingley.
Residences Stoned At Night.
During the past week considerable alarm has been felt by the residents in the locality of the Rope walk, Knottingley, the most respectable part of the town, in consequence of wanton and evidently premeditated destructiveness on the windows and dwellings of two of the principal residents in that locality.
It seems that Mr Thomas Wetherill, a retired sea captain, and the household had retired to rest the other night when a large dross or rockery stone was sent through the window at the front of the house with terrific force and alighted at the foot of the bed in which Mr and Mrs Wetherill slept.
This appears to have been the signal for a general bombardment at the rear of the residence, for stones, bricks, portions of flower pots, and other missiles were hurled in quick succession through the windows and at the doors in rear, to the terror of those within, with the result that almost every pane of glass was broken.
The attack seems to have been premeditated on the residence of Mr Wetherill, for only one other residence in the locality had a few panes broken and probably by mistake by those engaged in the dark in working such wanton mischief and damage.
Although Mr Wetherill and other residents quickly dressed to ascertain the attack on so quiet and peaceable a district, they were powerless to detect the offenders. Even the fancy edging stones round the garden of Mr Wetherill were torn up, and next morning the residence, especially in the lower rooms was strewn with all manner of “ammunition” used in the attack.
Mr Wetherill is described as a peaceable gentleman, and it is therefore difficult to understand why such a reckless attack should have been made upon his home, and much sympathy is expressed for him. The police have been unable to detect the guilty parties as yet.
Sheffield Independent, 10th August 1891.
A good deal of excitement has been occasioned in Knottingley by the mysterious wreckage of the windows of the house of Mr Thomas Wetherall, a retired mariner, residing in Rope Walk. The other night about ten o’clock the house was subjected to a perfect bombardment of stones and other missiles, over fifty windows being broken by the invisible wreckers. The fusilage was renewed for two successive evenings, notwithstanding the presence of the police and large crowds. Mr Wetherall is at a loss to account for the work of his unknown and unperceived enemies, and as the police appeared powerless to prevent the damage which was being committed under their very noses, or to find even a clue to the perpetrators, the affair begins to assume a most extraordinary aspect.
Dewsbury Chronicle and West Riding Advertiser, 15th August 1891.