SWORD SHOWN TO COURT

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4954, 11 February 1937, Page 7

SWORD SHOWN TO COURT

ECHO OF WILD SCENE. YOUNG MAN RUNS AMOK. An amazing scene, in which it was alleged a drawn sword was brandished among a crowd of dancers, was described when the Liverpool magistrates remanded in custody James Begley, 29, unemployed windowcleaner, of Devonport Street, Liverpool. Begley was accused of wounding another man, Charles Dutton, but it was stated that further charges would be preferred. Exhibiting a heavy army sword in its scabbard in court, Mr. W. Culshaw, prosecuting, stated, “Begley seems to have gone mad with this instrument.” He added that previously Begley appeared to have been refused admission to a club in North Hill Street, and he went back at night while a dance was in progress. “Begley is alleged to have rushed into the dance room, where there were 150 people, opened his jacket and taken the sword from the scabbard, Mr. Culshaw declared. “Apparently, Begley didn’t intend to strike anyone in particular, but just ran amok. “Dutton received a wound on the head, fainted, and was taken to a hospital, where stitches were inserted in the wound. “Some women dancers also fainted. “This is the only charge against Begley at the moment,” added Mr. Culshaw, ‘but I understand there are others who were wounded with the same instrument.” When spoken to by DetectiveSergeant Gardner, Begley replied: “You are making a mistake. I don’t dance.” At the police-station he was alleged to have said: “I’ll be perfectly frank. It w.as me.” When told he was to be charged with wounding Dutton, stated Mr. Culshaw, Begley replied: “Who the 1 is he? I don’t know him. I just struck out with the sword. I got it at home. You’ve got the whole thing now.”