A Striker’s Language

At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Saturday, before Mr. G. B. C. Yarbrough, presiding, with Ald. Chadwick, Mr. L. T. Baines, Mr. R. G. Streatfield, Mr. J. C. Coulman, Jacob Crookes, a miner, of Conisbrough, was summoned for using obscene language at Balby on the 4th inst. Mr. G. W. Andrews defended.

P.c. Matthews stated that on Wednesday, the 4th inst., at about 9-50 p.m., he was on duty on the highway at Balby, near to the church, in company with P.c.’s Lister and Brookes. They heard someone shouting and swearing further down the road. They found out that it was the defendant Crookes, in company with three other men. He was using very filthy and obscene language, and was very excited. He was conversing about the trial in which he was a defendant, that had taken place at Doncaster that day.

Witness spoke to him about his language, and requested him to go quietly home, and also told him he would be reported. He replied, “If you want to make a case of it you can do so.”

Mr. Andrews: You thought he got off fairly well at Doncaster, considering.—Witness: Yes.—Mr. Andrews: And you were rather surprised that he should express his disgust.—Witness: Yes.

Further cross-examined by Mr. Andrews, witness said he was sure Crookes was the man who used the language. P.c.’s Lister and Brookes corroborated. P.c. Brookes said he had not seen the summons.

Mr. Andrews: Then give me the language this man is alleged to have used. Write it down.—Witness: I wrote it down at the time; it is here. (Laughter.) Witness, continuing, said all the men had had some drink, although they were not drunk.

Mr. Andrews said the defendant totally denied having used the language, and the men who accompanied him would bear out his statement. The defendant was sworn, and denied having used the language.

Continuing, he said: “I am hunted like a dog. I am spotted out by all the policemen in Denaby.” He was not at all insolent to the police.

In answer to Supt. Blake, the defendant said one of the policemen said to him, “You are a likely young fellow; I think a punch under the ‘lug hole’ would do you good.”

Supt. Blake: You say the police are always down on you?—Defendant: Yes, they are.—Supt. Blake: Are the borough police down on you as well?—Defendant: No, I don’t think so.—Supt. Blake: Aren’t you wanted at the Borough Police Court on Monday?—Defendant: Yes.—Mr. Andrews: But that information has been laid by Mr. Gichard.—Defendant: I don’t know that I have done anything wrong. When I walk up the street and get just past the police, I can hear them talking and saying, “That’s Crookes.” I don’t see any reason why I should be spotted out.

Wm. Wright, a miner on strike, now living at George Street, New Conisbrough, was then called.

Supt. Blake: Where did you spend your time that day after leaving the court?—Witness: Walking about.—Supt. Blake: Were you sober?—Witness: Well, we were not drunk.—Harry Cockedge and Harry Brown gave corroborative evidence.

The Chairman said the Bench had no hesitation in convicting. If they believed the evidence of the defence, the only hypothesis would be that the police had only invented this charge, and so would have been guilty of not only perjury, but conspiracy. There was no doubt that the defendant used the language on that occasion, and the object of the Act was to prevent the use of such language in the streets.

The defendant would be fined 20s., including the costs.