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ABERAYON COUNTY POLICE.I

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ABERAYON COUNTY POLICE. I MOXDAY.—Before: Alderman. J. M. Smith (in I the chair), Capt. J. Preston, Messrs. H. Burgess, and R. Evans. AN EXPENSIVE QUARREL. I William Henry Taylor and Lilian Taylor were summoned for using bad language at Rock Houses, Cymmer. P.S. Evans gave evidence as to defendants quarrelling and using bad language on the eve- ning of the 30th ult.—Tayor was fined .£3, and the woman .£1. NOT "FOR FUN." I Thos. Wm. Thomas and W. Rowlands were summoned for gambling on the 6th inst. P.S. Davies sated he saw the two lads at Blaengwynfi playing cards for money at 3.30 in the afternoon. When he caught them Rowlands said he was only playing for fun, but Thomas made no statement.—Each was fined 10s. FOUND ON THE ROOF. I Frederick Slater was brought up in custody charged with being a deserter from the Welsh Regiment. Supt. Ben Evans said prisoner was before the Court on July 15th, charged with assault, when, taking into consideration that his leave would expire in a few days, he was let off with a warn- ing. He did not return to the Army, however, and had evaded arrest ever since. It was his fifth leave, and he had failed to return to time on each occasion. P.S. Swaffield stated that at midnight on the previous Saturday he raided the house in which the prisoner was supposed to be in Aberavon, and found him hidden between the ceiling of a bedroom and the roof. Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was re- manded to await the arrival of a military escort, and the police sergeant was recom- mended a gratuity of 10s. SCHOOL CASES. I There were several of these cases, and fines I as usual were inflicted. UNWELCOME PASSENGER. I George Bevington (a discharged soldier) was summoned for behaving in a disorderly manner whilst travelling on the G.W.E. between Neath and Port Talbot, on Sept. 7th. Mr. A. H. Deer (Messrs. Deer and Deer) appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Railway Company, and Mr. Daniel Perkins was for the defendant- Robert Germain, ticket collector, stated that' on Sept. 7th he was acting as passenger guard on the 9.35 p.m. relief train. Just before the train arrived at the Aberavon Crossing, it was stopped by a passenger pulling the communica- tion cord. Going along the train he found a man leaning out of a window, bleeding from the mouth and nose, who told him he had been struck. Witness took the man to the guard's van, and the train went on to the Port Talbot Station. At the station he fetched the man from the guard's van, and as they were going to the station master's office, defendant came up, and struck the man down. Daniel Deverill, Taibach, mill manager, stated that he was in the train, and his com- partment was full. Defendant was one, having entered at Neath with a woman,.and the man that was afterwards struck. The man, shortly after leaving Neath, began to sing, and defend- ant told him "to shut his mouth, or he would shut it for him." The man was quiet for a time, but again began to sing, and defendant struck him in the face, causing blood to flow. Defendant was going to deal a second blow, but witness pulled the communication cord, and the train stopped. At Port Talbot the guard came to the carriage, and asked who had struck the man. and defendant replied, "I have," and getting out went up to the man, and knocked him down, and the blow was not returned.—In cross-examination, witness said defendant and the man. lie struck were neither drunk nor sober, but it was evident they had been drink- ing. The man who was struck did not use any bad language. John Anderson, inspector on de G.W.R., said a complaint was made to him about defendant's conduct when the train arrived at Port Talbot, and he spoke to him about it on the platform. The guard brought up the man who was said to have been struck by defendant, and as soon as defendant saw him he struck him again, knocking him down, and witness had a difficulty in separating them. Defendant said he got into the train at Neath, and made room for the man referred to to get in as well. They were lodging in the same house. As soon as they were in the carriage, the man used filthy language, and witness told him to desifet, and a lady asked him to keep quiet. The man sang in his ear, and asked what it had to do with him, and then struck him, and he (defendant) simply acted in self- defence.—Cross-examined, he stated that Mr. Deverill's evidence was false.—Fined Xi. ASSAULTING A COLLIERY MANAGER. I John Williams (40), collier, Cwmavon, and John Jones Edwards (32), checkweigher, Cwm- avon, were charged with a breach of the Mines Act fejr persistently following Thomas Redshaw, M-ft- of the Cynon Colliery, and with wil- fully preventing him„ £ a.tering the colliery pre- mises. Williams was further charged with as- saulting the manager. Mr. Daniel Perkins appeared for ,the Colliery Company, and Mr. W. P. Nicholas (Messrs. Morgan, Bruce, and Nicholas, Pontypridd) for the defendants. Mr. W. Jenkins, miners' agent, was also present on behalf of the Miners' Federation. Thomas Redshaw, manager of the Cyno. Col- liery, Cymmer, since December, 1917, stated that defendants were employed as colliers. On SaV urday, Sept. 7th, he saw Edwards in the office •about 10.30 a.m., and amongst other things the question of water in Thomas Morgan's heading in the west district was mentioned. Edwards suggested that Morgan should be paid extra on account of. water in his sump heading. Witness told Edwards that the man had been paid every- thing he was legally entitled to under the -ha,uliew agreement. Edwards pressed him to pay more, but he declined. Edwards said, Well, you can expect trouble in that heading if you do not pay the extra asked far." Wit- ness replied, "I am very sorry to hear that, but I can do no more, and if you wish you may put it fcefcre tCI Disputes Board." On the follow- ing Monday he went to the colliery, and at 6.30 I a.m. he descended with the first cage. He found the colliers on the bank. The first cage began to descend at five minutes to 7, and they even- tually got to the cage bottom. He noticed a number of men hanging about the roads,- as if they did not intend to work. At about 7 o'clock the haulier Morgan came to him along with Ed- wards, and asked if witness was going to pay him extra for the water, and witness told them both that he had paid everything that Morgan was entitled to, and it was out of his power to do anything further. He was then told there would be no work in that heading, but he saw some of the men make a sign of going to work in the western district, and the horses were brought from the stables. Morgan refused .to take his horse, and witness then returned to the surface; and was almost immediately followed by the men, who left their work and returned home. On the following morning, Sept. 10th, as he was approaching the pit, he noticed some- thing unusual. About five or six yards from the office he was "held up" by a number of men, including Edwards and Williams, who sur- rounded him. Edwards knew how important it was that he shotgd go to his office as usual, and inspect the firemen's reports, so as to see that the pit was safe for. the men to work in it, and he was prevented from entering by Williams, who told him he would not be allowed to enter the office until he had settled the dispute. Wit- ness again stated he had paid as much as he could and all that Morgan was entitled to, and if they wanted him to pay more they must apply to the proper authority. Upon that, Williams caught him "roughly by the shoulders, and began pushing him towards the field mear by, shouting "Up to the field!" Williams continued to push him by the shoulders and one of his arms, and thex attempted to throw him down. Williams lifted him up by taking hold of him round the waist, and carried him a short distance. Edwards was close by, and the conduct of both and their followers was most threatening. Such was their conduct that he was very much afraid of them. The crowd shouted, "Are you going to settle our dispute?" Witness told them that" he would resign his position, as he had had enough of them, and was going home, as he meant to leave them. This decision was through fear that they meant doing him bodily harm. Williams held him until he told them he would resign. He went down the road with Hinton, who had come up, and together they proceeded along the road to the Oakwood Col- liery yard to speak to Mr. Wright, the manager. He noticed a number of the colliers, boys and men, coming in the same direction. Edwards was present soon afterwards, when he was told the men intended to march him home in front of them to Aberavon, but he said he intended to go by train, and added, "Have I not already told you I have finished with you, and I intend to resign my position?" Turning to Edwards he said, "Will that not satisfy you?" and Edwards replied, "Yes, yes." A policeman approaching, the men went away. Williams and Jones and a section of the men from the pit were at the station, and there was a demonstration against him. The crowd sang, "Farewell" in a hostile manner. Mr. Nicholas (cross-examining): The defend- ants Edwards and Williams have worked there for some time?-So far as I know. Edwards is a collier, but does he not hold some other office ?-He is secretary of the miners' lodge, I believe. Has Williams any connection with it?—Yes, as chairman. So you are brought into contact with them frequently?—Yes. Is Edwards, as lodge secretary, appointed to meet you every Saturday morning?—I cannot say, but in nine cases out of ten he has come nearly every Saturday morning. Amongst other things, he mentioned Morgan's case on this Saturday?—Yes. Did he mention it on the previous Saturday? —No, not at all; but I found afterwards that he had mentioned it to some of the men. Had he mentioned it to Mr. Hinton?—Mr. Hinton told me he had not. Morgan had been receiving extra money all the time; he was being paid half a turn extra. If there is one set of employees more inclined to take the bit between their teeth, it is the hauliers, is it not?—I do not think they are any worse than the others. I am- very glod to hear that the bAuliers have a good character, but have you mat found that if they take a certain notion into their beads, they generally carry it out?—I have known them for a good many years, but I have not found them to be different to the other work- men. This dispute is all over the paltry sum of 3s. 9<1., and your colliery was stopped and all this trouble caused for this small amreunt ?—It is not a question of the amount of money, but a ques- tion of principle. Besides, there are more hauliers than Morgan in the colliery. It is a matter of principles, because I had no right to pay him more. Did Edwards, when he came down into the pit, try to get some of the men to work?—I èiø not know. Did Edwards go to Aberavon to try to get into touch with Mr. Percy Jacob?—He knew Mr Jacob was away from home, so any such jour- ney would be futile. Do you suggest that a manager's hands are botind in regard to such payment of extras?— Yes, there are regular fixed rates by arrange- ment. Did not the defendants say you had power to do it if you so desired?—They said I was in a position to make allowances to colliers.. Did n.ot Williams .say, "There will be no work to-day unless you pay," and when you con- tinued to refuse, did he not ask you to come and tell the men yourself?—No; I was immedi- ately caught by the shoulders, and hustled off the premises. He cried, "Up to the field with him. There has been a great deal of exaggeration in this case?—I have not exaggerated it in any way- I put it to you that you were going to address the men in the field?—No, I was pushed and pulled along by Williams, who never took his hands off me. I had already told them all I had to say. I put it to you that you were going to address the men in the field, and immediately there was a rush to the field, and you being in the middle were carried along towards the field?—No; that is ridiculous-nonsense. Is it true there were men working down the pit, and you did not examine the firemen's re- ports?—Yes, it is true; I was prevented from en- tering the office to deal with them. Did you send for police assistance?—No; I could not get near any place from which to send for assistance. I heard that an attempt was made to send for a policeman, but the men held the messenger up, and he has since been an ob- ject of ricidule amongst the men. They did not follow you to Abervon?—No; I was protected by a policeman. Dr. D. Perkins (in relexamination): It has been suggested that you were stubborn and pig- headed that morning; is that true?—Not at all; I have been a manager for 24 years, and it is the first time that there has been any such trouble in a colliery with me. 'I There has been a question put relating to your hauliers; how many are there at this Col- liery ?—There are fifty-five. Arthur Hinton, assistant manager, corrobor- ated. By Mr. Nicholas: Did you have any claim for more payment made to you by Morgan?—Mor- gan asked me for extra payment on account of water in the heading, and I told him to refer it to the manager, but I did not give him a half- turn. How many are affected by this water com- plained of?—One. Did you hear Williams tell Redshaw to go and tell the men he could not pay any extra?—No. Samuel Tassel, winding engineman, said he 4 saw the crowd, and heard "booing," but he did not see anything done to the manager. Meetings of the men were sometimes held at the top of the pit, and sometimes in the field. Frederick Hopkins, shoeing smith, said he did not see anything done to the manager, but as he was descending the shaft the crowd was all round him. Mr. Perkins (holding up a written statement, including evidence he had given to him) said: Did I write this statement you see on these papers, which you made to me, and which you read before you signed AS true and correct?— Yes. James Wright, manager of the Oakwood Col- liery, said he saw Redshaw come into the yard, and whilst they were talking, a crowd came from Pontrhydyfen towards the yard. A man named Rees Evans began to talk to Redshaw, who, he said, was starving the men. Williams might have been present, but witness did not see him. Evans went to the front of the crowd, and then Edwards told Redshaw he must walk home to Aberavon in front of the crowd. Red- shaw refused to walk, and then Edwards told him a second time he would have to go. Red- shaw said he "aid not want anything more to do with them, and that he had resigned his posi- tion. Edwards replied that that was the very best thing he could do. Witness said, "Give Mr. Redshaw a chance; you ought to settle your disputes without going to such extreme meas- ures." Edwards told witness to 'mind his own business, whereupon witness ordered Edwards and the crowd off the premises, and P.C. Rogers coming in sight, they went off. P.C. Rogers said the crowd consisted of about 150, and on his asking what was the matter, he was told that he knew well enough, or he would have come upon the scene. They told him they were going to march the manager to Aberavon. He saw Mr. lledshaw, who was in a great state of alarm, as the crowd shouted and "booed" at him. and w6re singing in a derisive tone, "Hó1r can I bear to leave thee? One parting kiss I'll give thee." Mr. Nicholas: Did you see Williams there?— Yes; he was in the crowd on the bank. Both defendants denied having either threat- ened or molested the manager. As officials of tho li.Cg,*l lodge, they had from time to time to discuss disputes with the manager. Edwards said he had never threatened any man in his life, and Williams said on the morning in ques- tion Edwards, he and three hauliere who had been appointed as a deputation from the 'hauliers were waiting for the manager, and when he arrived they asked him to settle the dispute by paying the extra amount demanded. On the manager refusing, they asked him to put the matter right by himself addressing the men, and they went to hold a meeting in the field, and a rush was made for the field. The manager was not taken by the shoulders Of picked tip by anyone. Evidence in corroboration of the defendants* statements was given by Aneurin Phillips, Did. Samuels, and Evan Miles. The Bench considered the charges proved, and fined each defendant JM.

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