Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 17 March 1882
Miners’ Meeting at Thorncliffe
An Explanation from Mr. Chappell.
The first of a series of meetings under the auspices of the Sheffield and Rotherham District of the South Yorkshire Miners’ Association, was held yesterday, at Thorncliffe. The attendance was very large, and Mr. T. Beard presided.
Mr. Chappell, the chief speaker, said: “Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—I am fully persuaded that you will expect me to give some further explanation respecting the trial at Doncaster on the 9th inst. This trial you are aware arose out of a question of a debt of £21 owing to Mr. D. Smith, grocer, of Conisboro’. These goods were supplied to the Denaby Main men on the 11th of January, 1879, and, as was the last week’s pay they received on the occasion of that strike.
“The cause of the strike is well known, and therefore need not be detailed here. However, the Barnsley council, after mature deliberation upon the strike, passed the following resolution—‘That the Denaby Main have rule support,’ November 25th, 1878. Mr. Frith said that the men got round the delegates, and in that way persuaded them to vote for their having pay.
“Now a week’s pay would amount to about £155; but we had no funds, as is well known, and we had to resort to practices which everybody knows were needful, if the men were to be fed, viz., of asking tradesmen to supply goods to all persons who we sent with proper claim and authority. This system was adopted partially at Denaby, Church Lane, Dodworth, Manvers Main, Woolley, and North Gawber.
“The total amount of business done in this form at various places was £3,000. The next question is, by whom and by whose authority these goods were ordered and to whom did the tradesmen look up to for payment. The statements made by Messrs. Frith and Broadhead at Doncaster amount to this, that they acted for the Association knowing full well that the Association could not be used, and they sheltered themselves beneath this cover.
“In other words, they said, we are acting for the Association. But the tradesmen cannot sue the Association, neither can they sue us, so whichever way the matter turns we (Messrs. Frith and Broadhead) are perfectly safe. (Hear, hear.) Practically that is the disposition they have shown, and if the worst came, we are all in the same refuge. Mr. Smith would have lost his money.
“But, sir, I would scorn to shirk my responsibility by the adoption of any such dishonourable, mean, and ungentlemanly measures.”
Proceedings In Court.
Mr. Smith proved the debt; but in his correspondence unhappily, but quite naturally, he always, with one or two exceptions, approached the subject in the name of the association; he nevertheless looked up to us three for the payment of the account, because what is an association to-day may not be composed of the same persons next week; therefore what trust could any tradesman put in an unregistered society, and one which varied so much in its composition?
“I say none, in point of law and fact. I stated in evidence that we three had a conversation as to how the following resolutions were and could be carried out. See resolution, No. 25, December 22nd, 1878, ‘That the question of giving pay to the Denaby men be left in the hands of the officials to do the best they can for them.’
“Now, sir, both Frith and Broadhead swore on oath that we never had a conversation about this last week’s pay. (‘Shame, shame,’ on them both.) I ask, sir, is such a thing possible? (‘No, no, it is not.’)
“It was arranged that we should borrow £50, and Mr. W. Horne, Barnsley, was the gentleman who lent Mr. Broadhead and myself this sum, and we took a small note, written by Mr. Frith himself, asking Mr. Horne to be kind enough to lend us the amount. We got the money, but they swore on oath that they never had a conversation about the matter. (Shame.)
“I next proceeded from Denaby and arranged for groceries to be got from the following gentlemen—Messrs. Jowett and Tiptaft, Mr. Bullock, and Mr. Millson, of Mexboro’, and Mr. D. Smith, Conisboro’. Mr. Broadhead followed me down, and it was finally agreed that part should be paid in money and part in goods, one-third in money and two-thirds in goods, and Mr. Broadhead paid over the £50.
“Could this be done without conversation? (‘They swore lies.’) But, again, during these strikes the council passed a resolution—‘That no official be empowered to get relief for the men out on strike, either in the form of provisions or money, as best they can.’
“No. But in another resolution Mr. Frith was ordered by council to ascertain the amount to which Mr. Smith had supplied goods on this particular occasion; the answer was received, and he accordingly wrote on the 8th of February, 1880, stating that the £31 should be paid, but no more.
“Could all this be done without conversation? Does not what they swore on oath look like a falsehood from beginning to end? (‘Yes it does, and it was one.’)
“But why all this talk about this particular week’s and this particular item? Because at this time (February 8th, 1880) it was known that the men intended withdrawing, and that there was £120 (besides the £31) owing to Mr. Smith, which we have paid since that date, and this letter of the 8th February, 1880, was to acknowledge that amount which he had specially to do with, and to distinguish it from the £120.
“As before stated, we have paid this sum with others since division, amounting to nearly £500, so it cannot be said that we left them with Denaby Main liabilities. He swore I acted with him on their authority. He also swore that the Denaby men were allowed, and did keep back their contributions with which to pay this.
“From February 16th, 1879, but the men sent £155 to Barnsley before this was done, and a resolution on the minutes will show this; and but very little of this sum was devoted to the payment of the accounts.
“It was not until April that this permission was granted. Now for the other point as to which Mr. Frith swore upon oath about six times. In cross-examination, he swore he never had signed any bills. The following are the facts—December 9th, 1878, we signed a bill to Jowett, Tiptaft, and Jowitt, Mexboro’, for £200. This bill was partially met, and the remaining portion of £100 was again paid by bill, signed by all three of us, and was duly met on March 4th, 1879.
“We signed another bill for over £82. This also has been paid. These gentlemen are prepared to swear on oath that this statement is true.
“Again, we signed a bill for the Wharncliffe Silkstone men for £50. The money was got from Simon Eastwood, innkeeper, Birdwell. Signed no bills! Why we signed bills for Mr. Slater and Mr. Walters, Denaby, which were paid before we left.
“Again what is the meaning of the following resolution, passed on the 22nd December, 1879, the day I left the Barnsley department? The minute is either No. 3 or 4 on the sheet. ‘That Mr. Chappell be released from all responsibility of any bills he may have signed.’
“Now, I ask if that, with the foregoing facts, is not as conclusive as anything could be desired, that bills were signed. A gentleman has been to the bank where these bills were accepted for copies, and the results may prove very troublesome to somebody.
“Further, the meeting will remember that during 1880 we sent them £27, and considering that the Denaby men want hundreds of pounds of strike pay from Barnsley, they might have spoken the truth and have paid their share of the £31. (Cheers.)”
After passing votes of thanks the meeting terminated.