Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 29 1936

Prison for Assault
Relieving Officer’s Lot not a Happy One

“The lot of a relieving officer is not a pleasant one,” said Mr HL Nokes, chairman of the Bench at Doncaster on Tuesday when George Heeley (junior), labourer, Bligh Street, Denaby Main, was summoned for assault.

“Lads like you are not going to knock them down because they will give you what you want,” he added, committing defendant to prison for one month.

Mr C Phythian, prosecuting, said that James Edward Carlyle who was an assistant relieving officer, was in the church hall at Conisborough with a subcommittee considering applications for relief on April 28 and one of the persons who appealed for relief was the defendant.

He was brought before the committee and stated his reasons and was sent out while the committee considered their decision. They decided what to give in, and Mr Carlyle went out and gave him his identification cards with a notification of the amount he was going to receive for the next two weeks.

Defendant said it was not enough to last him two weeks, and Carlyle told him that it was the decision of the committee, and he would have to abide by it. Defendant then said it was not the decision of the committee, but it that it was the relieving officer’s fault, and he began to abuse Carlyle. Carlyle went back to the committee who decided that their original decision was to be abided by, and Carlyle went outside and told defendant so. Heeley was told to leave the church, that when Carlyle came out again from the committee he had not done so. Carlyle told him to go away as he wanted to lock it up. Defendant went out into the yard and began to threaten to “flatten and floor.” Mr Carlyle told him not to make a scene, and if he wanted to make a complaint, he had better come inside.

Defendant came inside and immediately struck Carlyle on the throat. Carlyle add to clawed with him because defendant was trying to hit and kick him. Defendant later picked up a chair and threatened to hit Carlyle was it, but Carlyle took it away and ejected him from the building.

“Relieving officers have a difficult time,” concluded Mr Phythian, “and in view of that, I ask you to take a serious view of defendant’s conduct.”

James Edward Carlyle said that defendant struck him on the throat, and attempted to kick him. Witness knocked him backwards and he swung a chair over his head and tried to hit witness with it. In front of the committee defendant admitted that he had assaulted witness.

Heeley said that Carlyle said to him in the all, “If you don’t get out, I will put you out.” Witness told him that 5s was not enough. He was trying to barge pass to see the relieving officer, when Carlyle struck him. Witness happened to put his hand up, and Carlyle struck him on the jaw. But Carlyle kitchen witness got all of the chair, but he put it down again.