Singing in a Railway Carriage.

September 1899

Sheffield Independent – Saturday 30 September 1899

Singing in a Railway Carriage.

At the Barnsley West Riding Police Court, yesterday, Mr. W. Norton presiding, Edward Clarke, labourer, of New Conisbro’, was charged with a breach of railway bye-laws, on the Great Central line, on the 19th inst.

The charge was laid by Thos. Waterhouse, a detective in the employ of the company.

Mary Ann Tennant, shopkeeper, of Mexboro’, said she was a passenger by a train on the 19th inst. After leaving Stairfoot a man who was in the same compartment, and had two dolls with him, began to sing “Sweet Rosie O’Grady.”

Defendant objected to the song, and said if the man sung it again he would give him something. Defendant was very abusive and used bad language. Witness caused the train to be stopped, and defendant was put into another compartment.

Dunn, a passenger by the train, said he was the man who sang “Rosie O’Grady.” When he had done defendant said he must not sing the song again. Witness told him he should sing what he liked.

Defendant then used abusive language and seized witness by the throat.

Defendant to witness: Are you the man who was in the carriage — Witness: I am.

Defendant: Then you have shaved your whiskers off. (Laughter.) — Witness : I have not.

A booking clerk, in the employ of the company, said on the arrival of the train at Wombwell Station he received a complaint from Mrs. Tennant, and he removed defendant from one compartment to another.

Defendant, in answer to the charge, said the man who sang the song was a deputy, and had whiskers on. He denied he interfered with the comfort of passengers, and said the man who sang was the man to assault him.

The Bench imposed a fine of 5s. and costs.