Reminiscences of Rotherham by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.

Reminiscences of Rotherham

by G. Gummer, J.P.

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Mr. Stoddart came to Parkgate in the year 1864, and rose to the position of managing director of the ParkGate Iron and Steel Company. Having served on the Rawmarsh Local Board for several years and acted as chairman of the Rawmarsh School Board, he was not without experience in local government. He certainly had been trained in the right school for dealing with recalcitrant members, as the Rawmarsh Board, at this period, had evidently determined fully to sustain its unenviable reputation

THE DEATH-KNELL OF MUNICIPAL POLITICS

Politics as a factor in municipal elections had been vigorously denounced by the Con servative Party ever since their inauguration. Although the first to introduce them un officially, they protested against their use directly the Liberal Association began to act on the same lines. In 1889, Mr. Richard Corker, who represented the North Ward. decided not to seek re-election. Mr. Benjamin Sorsby, whom I defeated in this ward in 1887, thereupon announced himself as a candidate and although known to be a rigid Tory, came out on non-political lines.

Mr. Geo. Cartledge entered the field as the duly selected Liberal candidate, and proceeded to address public meetings. A stout fight was anticipated. To the astonishment of the ratepayers, when the time fixed for nominations arrived, not a single paper was received on Mr. Cartledge’s behalf. The explanation came on the following Saturday when an address appeared in the Rotherham Advertiser. After thanking those who had helped, George Cartledge proceeded soundly to rate the Liberal Association upon whose support he had reasonably counted, having been waited upon and requested by them to become their candidate. he accused them of offering no help when appealed to, saying with the exception of W. M. Gichard, Mr. Councillor Hickmott and myself, no notice was taken of his cry for assistance. Deploring their apathy and indifference, which were appalling, he prognosticated the downfall of politics as a factor in the life of the town. The elated opposition made the most of this Liberal fiasco and asserted that such an exhibition of weakness meant the death.knell of the politico-municipal policy.

THE TICKLING-UP CASE

We can congratulate ourselves on having had few reasons to complain of the conduct of our police. On the whole I should say few forces have excelled Rotherham in general good conduct. in a few years after the Borough Force was established, a serious complaint was lodged against a constable for unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm on a young man he had apprehended for being drunk and disorderly. After a struggle in which truncheons appear to have been freely used, the prisoner - one of a number of other rowdies - was taken to the police court, where he lost consciousness. After several attempts to bring him round and believing the man was shamming, Dr. Cobban, the police surgeon, gave Instructions 'to tickle him up' . A cane produced by a constable quickly did the tickling to such purpose as to smash the cane, which, by the way, disappeared and was never seen again. Several large weals were left on the man’s legs. The case aroused considerable interest in the town, the constable having to appear before the magistrates who fined him for the assault. The Watch Committee held special meetings of enquiry which resulted in Dr. Cobban handing in his resignation. Inspector Barham, the officer present when the tickling-up took place, was reprimanded, and so far as the Watch Committee were concerned the matter there ended. The indignation of the public was not so easily appeased, and several discussions took place in the Council Chamber, which only caused more unpleasantness. Threats were made to take the case into the County Court, but whether this course was taken I cannot say.

THE GUARDIANS

In the late sixties the Board of Guardians consisted of something like eighteen members. Amongst them were some good and influential next »

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