Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 20th, 1932

Thurnscoe Squabble

Abuse and Assault

A scuffle between two Thurnscoe men had a sequel at Doncaster West Riding Court on Saturday, when Joseph Cliff, 15 George Street, summoned Daniel Conley (41) unemployed, 60 Church Street, for assault on April 27th. There was a cross-summons for assault.

Cliff said that about 11 a.m. on April 27th he was going with another man to sign on for the “dole” at Highgate. Just before he began to sign, he heard someone call “Cliff, Cliff,” and saw Conley approaching him. Conley said “What are you slandering me about?” Witness replied that he was not slandering him, but that it was Conley who was slandering witness and his family. Conley said, “If there is any more of it I am going to knock your ____ jaw off.” Witness told him that he did not want any trouble, but that he would have to answer for what he had called him and his family. Conley challenged him to fight and said he would give witness some boot. Conley then took a running kick at him, got hold of him by the throat, and kicked him nearly unconscious. “I then saw his foot coming towards my face,” said witness, “and I remembered nothing else until I came to in the police station. Later the same day he was going to see the doctor when he met Conley who asked him to go into a field and have another fight.

Cross-examined by Mr. W. Bridge (defending), Cliff said he was formerly a member of the British Legion, but he had no grievances against the officials. He knew that Conley was a member of the committee, but was not aware that he was vice-president of the Thurnscoe branch. He denied that he had written to the Legion headquarters abusing the branch officials, or that the central office had approved him being st-rnek off until he apologised. He admitted smith’s a letter to headquarters, describing the officials as “a low-down lot who are either os the dole or on the parish,” and that he sent four letters in this strain. He received a reply from the local administrator that “your complaints are very vague. Your only complaints seem to be that you have not had assistance every time you have applied.” He complained that he had been “done out of his bit of money,” and agreed that headquarters informed him that “having regard to your attitude we have advised the local committee that further assistance on your behalf cannot be granted.” He denied having threatened the branch officials.

The chairman (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough) pointed out that there was suggestion in the letters that Cliff should apologise, that they were written in January 1931, and had no connection with the assault.

Evidence in support of that of Cliff’s was given by William Francis Cunningham.

Conley said he served in the Army from September, 1914, to the end of the war and was wounded three times. He had been vice-president of the Thurnscoe branch of the British Legion for the past three years and had been treated with abuse by Cliff since July, 1930. On April 27th the Legion was distributing money to ex-Service men, and Cliff said to him, “I see you are giving it out again to-day, so you will be all right, and later remarked, “If you wait until I have signed on you will get what is coming to you.” Witness told him that the branch was contemplating summoning him for libel, and Cliff replied, “You can do what the —- you like. You are nothing but a set of twisters.”

After leaving the Labour Exchange, Cliff went up to him in a fighting attitude and suddenly struck at him. Witness closed with him and they both fell He denied kicking Cliff or gripping his throat.

John Taylor, of 23, Norman Street. Thurnscoe, said he “felt a commotion in the air, and saw the two men struggling the ground. When Conley got up blood was streaming from his finger. Cliff shouted, “What do you think about a man kicking me?” and Conley replied “You don’t think I am going to let yon strangle me, do You ?

Cliff showed no signs of losing consciousness.

The Chairman said that on the balance of evidence they were bound to come to the conclusion that the trouble was started by Conley. He would be fined £2 and bound over for two years.