Newspaper Transcripts

Reynolds Newspaper

EMail Me - Surname Home Page - Titles and Dates - Spanswick ONS - Spanswick's In the News

Some Selected Reports from Reynolds Newspaper



Sunday 1st July, 1866






ALLEGED INTIMIDATION OF WORKMEN.

At Southwark Police-court, on Wednesday, Henry Conway, 22, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Woolrych for final examination charged with assaulting Thomas Spanswick, a journeyman in the employ of Messrs. James Terry and Son, packing case manufacturers, timber-merchants, and Government contractors, Collingwood-street, Blackfriars-road.
It appeared by the evidence that about six weeks ago something like forty men struck work at Messrs. Terry and Son's factory in Collingwood-street, in consequence of some disagreement about the apprentices, and the present complainant and others were taken on to complete extensive contracts. Since then the man on strike and others have daily assembled in the streets leading to the factory, waylaying the workmen and intimidating them because they were earning their livelihood in an honest and peaceable manner. On the 8th instant a man named Balfour, late in Messrs. Terry's employ, was sentenced to six weeks hard labour for assaulting and threatening Spanswick, and since that he had been interrupted and annoyed while going to and leaving his work. On Wednesday evening, the 20th of the present month, the complainant was leaving his work, when the prisoner followed him to the corner of Stamford-street, and, without the least provocation, struck him, and knocked him down. While he was getting up the prisoner struck him again, and saying, "You know what that is for," ran away.
Mr. Woolrych asked if the prisoner had ever worked for Mr. Terry.
Witness replied that he thought not. He knew nothing at all about him. He, however had seen him almost daily loitering about with the men on strike. Witness understood that the men struck because Messrs. Terry would not reduce the number of apprentices.
Mr. Woolrych observed that it was insolent and arrogant conduct on the part of the men. What connexion had the prisoner with them ?
Mr. Terry, sen. Informed his worship that he did not know anything of the prisoner, but it appeared that he had mixed himself up with the men on strike. As for the latter, their demands had been so extravagant and unjust that no master could concede to them without compromising his independence. He never had the number of apprentices that the trade was accustomed to.
Mr. Woolrych asked the complainant if the prisoner used any intimidation towards him ?
Spanswick replied in the negative. All he said was "You know what that's for." Witness supposed it was because he had been working for Messrs. Terry and Son.
James Trampleasure, a workman in Messrs. Terry's employ, corroborated last witness's testimony. He was sure that the prisoner was the man, as he had seen him frequently loitering about the factory.
The prisoner said they were all mistaken. He was not the party.
Mr. Woolrych told him that the evidence was conclusive against him, and he had not the least doubt he was the man who committed the cowardly assault on peaceable and hardworking man. Had it been proved that he had used any intimidating words to him he should have punished him with far greater severity. It could not be tolerated that a number of men should commit such unlawful acts. Under all the circumstances, he committed the prisoner for the assault, and sentenced him to six weeks hard labour in Wandsworth House of Correction.