Mexborough and Swinton Times May 25, 1888

Using Threats to the Manager at Conisbro’
A Violent Fellow

George Booth, of no fixed abode, was charged with using threats towards John Kilner Bateson, manager for Kilner Bros. at the bottle manufactory, Conisboro’, on the 12th May.

Mr. Hall prosecuted, and said the prisoner had been remanded on the charge earlier in the week. He thought the Bench would perceive, from the nature of the threats he need, that he intended to do Mr. Bateson some harm. Prisoner had neglected some work, and Mr. Bateson had set somebody else on to do it, and paid 1s. for it. When he intimated to prisoner that he should stop the ls. out of his wage, he cursed him and violently threatened him.

The complainant said he was foreman at the works, and defendant had worked there three nights and half a day. He neglected part of his duty, that of emptying ashes, and witness put another man, Robert Bassendale, on to do it and paid him a 1s. Witness said he would stop the 1s. from prisoner’s wage, and when be informed prisoner that he should do so, he said,

“You are a —- liar ; if you do so I will knock your —-lights out.” Again prisoner said, “Now, I tell you straight, if you stop anything I will take your life’s blood.” Witness did not think of taking proceedings then, but in the evening he heard that the prisoner was threatening him in a public house, and from what the prisoner said then witness thought that he was likely to do him serious bodily injury.

William Halley, a workman at Rilner Bros., said he saw Booth on the night in question at ten minutes past nine going down the glasshouse yard. He said that Bateson bed stopped him one shilling, and that if he did not pay him he would ” break his —- back in two before he slept that night.”—John Martin said he heard prisoner use threats to the manager on Saturday morning ; he said he would knock his —- face off, and his —- lights out.”

The prisoner said this was the first time be had been before a magistrate. He had had a drop of drink, hot he had no idea of doing Mr, Bateman any harm He had served on active service abroad, and had also served in the army at home, and had two good conduct badges. He hoped the Bench would deal leniently with him.

The Bench said they could not allow workmen to abuse their managers, and prisoner would be bound over to keep the peace in his own recognisance of £5, and to pay the mate.