Mexborough and Swinton Times February 25, 1938

Father and Son Attack Police
Fracas Outside Hotel
Praise for Men Who Intervened
Crowd At Thurnscoe Brawl

After a Thurnscoe father and son had received prison sentences on charges including the assaulting of a police sergeant, at Doncaster West Riding Court on Tuesday, three Thurnscoe men were complimented and thanked by the Magistrates and Supt. T. Gordon for the assistance they gave in arresting the prisoners. The Court had been told of a scene outside the Station Hotel and how a police sergeant had been hindered rather than helped in his duty by members of a large crowd, When the officer appealed for help three men went to his aid.

Three Out Of 100.

`You are three men out of a hundred’, said Supt. T. Gordon to them. ‘I Want to give you the grateful thanks of all the Police Force of the West Riding. I thank you for what you have done for us’.

The chairman of the Bench, Mr. Mark Lane Nokes, said:- ‘A man has got to have a little English spunk in him to go and help a policeman in these circumstances. Men, when they have had a little drink, do not want the police. It I is a question whether Serg. Smith would have been here if you had not done ‘ what you did. On behalf of this Bench I want to thank you men. You have done your duty in front of a crowd. You will never have any cause to regret it’.

The three men were Alan Kempen, a young colliery deputy, William Childs, an elderly grey-haired man and Harry Turner.

The prisoners were John S. Bonas, 50, miner, and his son, Walter, 20 a haulage hand both of Stuart Street, Thurnscoe. They were charged with assaulting a police officer; assaulting Alan Kempen, who was acting in aid of a police officer; asaulting William Childs; and obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty. Walter Bonas was also charged with an assault on Harry Turner.

The father pleaded not guilty on all counts, but the son admitted some charges.

MAN ON GROUND.

Supt. T. Gordon said at 10.15 p.m. on February 18th, Sergt. Smith was on duty in plain clothes in Station Road, Thurnscoe, and saw a disturbance outside the Station ‘Hotel.. He saw Walter Bonas with his coat off standing in the middle of the road and shouting.

A  man named Turner was lying on the ground, his face covered in blood, and it was evident Bonas had been fighting with him.

Sergt. Smith intervened, assisted Turner to his feet, and told him to go away. Bonas said, `You have nothing to do with this; go away’. Sergt. Smith replied that he was to go home, but prisoner answered, ‘I know who you are’ and at the same time struck the Sergt. in the face.

The Sergt. closed with him and told him he was taking him into custody. While they were struggling the father came on the scene and, swearing, said `You will not lock him up’ and kicked the Sergt. as he lay on the ground. The Sergt. asked for help, and two other men—Kempen and Childs—went to his aid. They got the pair of them to the Police Station, but there was another scuffle on the way in which the two helpers were assaulted. Walter Bonas struck Kempen four or five times after breaking loose.

`It was only due to the restraint exercised by the Sergt. over these two other men’ said the Supt, ‘that these prisoners are not in a worse condition than they are’. He was referring to the bruised state of the men in the dock, the elder Bonas’s right eye being closed with a large bruise.

The struggle was prolonged, went on the Supt., because the Sergt. and the two men were merciful to them. When cautioned and charged Walter Bonas was still defiant and said, ‘If I get time you will get it when I come out’. John Bonas said, ‘I know we shall go down, but you look out’.

Treated By Doctor.

Sergt. Smith bore out this statement, and added that he had to be treated by a doctor afterwards. Five or six other members of the crowd kicked him.

Alan Kempen, Chapel Lane, Thurnscoe, said when he came up the Sergt. was just getting up and Walter Bonas was struggling with him. He saw the father kick the Sergt. on the elbow as he was getting up. ‘I was going down to the police station with them and thought I should be helping them as well as the Sergt.,’ said witness in describing how he himself was assaulted. Walter Bonas suddenly sprang at him and struck him in the face. Witness closed with him and turned him over on to his back .

William Child, miner, Dane Street Thurnscoe, said he helped the sergeant and told how he was struck and how he retaliated.

John Bonas told the magistrates that he was friendly with the sad. His version ran: “I said I will take him to the police station, Sergeant. He won’t hit me. The sergeant said “Ah John, you take him on.” I took no part in the case whatever.

The bench centres Walter Bonas to six months imprisonment and John Bonas to 3 months, with sentences of one month each of the charges to run concurrently.

Chairman’s Remarks

To the son, Mr Mark L Noakes, the chairman of the Bench, said, “Why do you do things like this? You’re only young chap. You have to keep the sergeant as well decide to keep order in the Parish and he’s not going to be kicked up and down. As long as I sit here I’m going to see police constables can walk about just as I can. We do not want you ever to come here again. You could be as respectable as anyone else in the Parish.”

Superintendent Gordon said the son of 11 previous convictions, including two for assaults on the Police