Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 09 March 1927

Fight on a Tram

Three Thurnscoe Miners Sent to Gaol.

The sequel to an assault on a colliery deputy, Lewis Simmonds, of Thurnscoe East, while he was riding in a tram between Wombwell and Thurnscoe, was heard yesterday when Harry Hardman, a miner, of Thurnscoe was sent to prison for two months and William Hardman and Edwin Blackburn, miners, for one month.

In evidence Simmonds said the defendants boarded the tram and began to talk about the “scabbing” question. They said there was a man in the tramcar who was a “capped” and he would have to go through it. Present Blackburn said to witness “You are a –—- – ‘scab.’ In fact all the whole family have been scabbing during the strike and your brother told me so.”

Blackburn’s attitude became threatening, although witness said had never handle coal during the strike. Henry Hardman then threatening and produced a 10s.note and said he would fight witness for that amount.

Ultimately there was a scuffle, all three defendants attacking witness, who was hit and kicked on the forehead and in the mouth.

Passing sentence, the Chairman, Mr G.E. Cooke-Yarborough, remarked: This is a disgraceful case. We thought we had done with this old grievance about men being called “scabs” and afterwards assaulted. You ought to thoroughly shame of yourselves, and in addition you have all gone into the witness-box and committed perjury.