Intimidation at Denaby

Trial at the Assizes.

Accused Bound Over.

At Leeds Assizes yesterday, before Mr. Justice Kennedy, Tom Round (38) and Luke Cooper (36), colliers, were indicted for watching and besetting a road with the view of compelling certain persons to discontinue working at Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries (Limited), at Conisborough, on February 23.

Mr. S. T. Waddy and Mr. Wilberforce prosecuted, and Mr. Charles Mellor (instructed by Mr. Muir Wilson, Sheffield) appeared for the defendants.

Mr. Waddy said that the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries Company employed some 4,000 men, and that, unfortunately, on June 29 last a strike took place, the men leaving work without notice. The strike lasted until about the middle of March. In the present year defendant Cooper was one of the men who had been at work up to that time, but Round had left the colliery some time before. Coming to the facts, the learned counsel said that at about 10 o’clock on the morning of February 23 two men named Kelsall and Littler, who had been imported upon the works, and against whom there was, therefore, some feeling, were on their way to their lodgings at Conisborough, escorted by police, when they were beset by a large body of colliers, the defendants being amongst the number. Kelsall and Littler were surrounded by a crowd of strikers, Cooper and Round taking an active part in what followed. Defendants complained that the two men were there to prevent the strikers going back to their employment. As the two men were walking along Round said, “We will throw you into this river, you —— ——, as we intend to do others.” Counsel argued that those were words of intimidation. However (said Mr. Waddy), he did not know how far it would be necessary to pursue the matter. The offence took place while the strike was in operation, and the prosecution would be glad if a proper solution of the case could now be arrived at. So far as the colliery company was concerned their only desire was that they should be allowed to continue in their service the men they had employed, and that the men should go about without molestation.

Evidence having been called, Mr. Mellor said his clients were very anxious that their presence should be proved, as he had pointed out to them how difficult it was to answer a case of that sort. The matter had been thrashed out at a previous trial, and as he could not further resist the charge he had advised his clients to plead guilty.

Defendants then withdrew their former plea, and pleaded guilty.

Mr. Mellor then addressed the Court on behalf of the defendants.

His Lordship told the defendants they had undoubtedly been guilty of a breach of the law, but he would deal with them as leniently as the other defendants in similar cases were dealt with at the last Assizes. Whatever might have been the danger arising possibly from their conduct it did not occur. It must not, however, be taken that their conduct was not an offence against the law, but the strike was over, and the men to whom the words were uttered had not been injured. He agreed with the judgment of the learned Commissioner, and should order the defendants to enter into their own recognisances of £25 each to be of good behaviour, and to come up for judgment if called upon.