Joseph Dean

Joseph Dean was stabbed outside the Rossuth Tavern in Lady Pit Lane on Christmas night 1919.

He had been in the tavern with a woman when a quarrel developed between him and three brothers. They then went outside at about 9pm and a general melee developed during which Joseph Dean was stabbed.

A man was tried for his manslaughter but was acquitted.

It was heard that during the fight Joseph Dean had got the better of one of the brothers and had then started to fight another of the brothers who had then gone away and then returned with a knife and stabbed him in the chest. After Joseph Dean was stabbed he said, 'He's knifed me', and then fell to the ground.

After being stabbed Joseph Dean was taken to hospital where it was at first thought he would recover, but he later died. When he was admitted Joseph Dean was suffering from a punctured wound of the chest wall on the outside of the breast bone that might have been caused by a sharp instrument. His death was later determined to have been due to internal hemorrhage.

Joseph Dean was a bricklayer's labourer and had lived in Moorville Road, Beeston Road in Leeds.