Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 13 January 1940

” Plenty Of Room For Me ”

Thurnscoe Man Ejected From Bus

“There is plenty of room for me,” Frank McKenning, pithand, of 93, Lidgett Lane. Thurnscoe, was stated to have replied when a policeman on a crowded bus at Goldthorpe asked him to get off the vehicle.

The policeman finally had to eject him, and as a result he was summoned at Doncaster West Riding Court or Tuesday for disorderly conduct on a public service vehicle. Police Sergt. Glasspool, of Goldthorpe, said in consequence of a complaint received on December 14th, 1939, he went to the bus station at Goldthorpe and saw accused on the bus.

The conductor asked him to leave the vehicle in witness’s presence and he refused to do so. Witness then asked him to get off the bus and he said. “There is plenty of room for me,” and witness then ejected him. When told he would be reported he replied, “I have had a drink or two but I am not disorderly.”

Jack Schofield, the conductor, said he allowed ten passengers to get on the bus and that meant there was the maximum number of eight standing. There were four or five people outside and suddenly defendant came from the back of these and jumped on. Witness asked him to get off but he would not do so, and as a result he would not start the vehicle. The driver then came round to see what wrong and requested McKenning to leave the vehicle was but he still refused. The hus driver then fetched a police officer who made him do so.

In a letter to the magistrates McKenning, who did not appear, said it was the last bus and he was the last person on it. He did not think it was fair that the conductor should have picked on him.

Mr M L Nokes, chairman, said, “There is plenty of trouble with these people at this time, especially these chaps having beer and not working. This chap is a source of trouble to the bus drivers.”

He imposed a fine of £5 with a month’s imprisonment failing payment.