Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevmust recover the property; if a horrible crime excites the public mind, they must track the offenders and bring them to justice. If they fail they are condemned. Often the magistrates are too lenient and render little support and no encouragement.
When I was Chief Magistrate in 1900, the Chief Constable (Mr. Enright) drew the attention of the Bench to the increasing number of assaults on the police. He pointed out that fining, as a deterrent, had little or no effect on the offenders, as their companions subscribed the amount amongst themselves, the money being forthcoming directly the fine was imposed. Nothing, said he, would stop those assaults but sending the defendants to prison. He asked for support, and got it.
Shortly afterwards a serious affray took place in Westgate, in which Police-constable Hather was rough]y handled. When tbe case came before the magistrates, the court was packed. Police-constable Hather, an excellent and considerate officer, gave evidence whilst suffering severe physical pain, his head and face being swathed in bandages. The defendant was sentenced to six months in prison without the option of a fine, a decision received with audible murmurs of disapproval from the back of the court. This was, I believe, the first sentence of this length given in this court.
Whilst I think a grave responsibility rests on those who, otherwise than in a case of absolute necessity, send youths or girls, or for that matter men or women, to prison for the first time, punishment should act as a deterrent, and this did. From that date serious assaults on the police have been few and far between.
THE MARKET FIRE
. Reference to the death of the Chief Constable and the fire he was hastening to, recalls the destruction of the public markets by fire in 1888. Accustomed as we were to the sound of the fire buzzer the alarm at midnight on Saturday, January 21st, had a special significance. Calls at night were becoming frequent, two having been made in quick succession, owing to works in the town requiring the services of the brigade. The climax came, however, on the date and time mentioned, after the markets were closed. Early as I was on the scene, I found myself surrounded by a huge crowd, many of whom had assembled in any place where a view could be obtained. Some delay in dealing with the flames was caused owing to the water being shut off at the main, and not until Mr Luke Berry, the water-works manager, had been aroused from his slumber was a supply available. What a wreck! Everything combustible was destroyed. The damage amounted to over £10000. Unfortunately this fell on the ratepayers, the premises being uninsured, negligence it was impossible to fix on any particular individual when the enquiry was held. Nor was it possible to fix the origin of the fire; this has remained a mystery, although many conjectures were made at the time.JABEZ BALFOUR
There are many who, although they will remember Jabez Balfour, have probably forgotten that he contested the Doncaster Parliamentary Division in 1888 at a by-election caused by the death of poor Walter Shirley. Along with Councillor Cox and Daniel Jennings I addressed one of the meetings he held in Maltby. We found him a man of charming personality, and an excellent speaker. Betting on the result was freely indulged in, as much as 10 to I being laid on Balfour. This proved his undoing, as it was well known that scores of voters accepted the odds and voted for the Hon. H. . W. Fitzwilliam, although opposed to his views in order to win their bets. Fifzwilliam was returned by a majority of 40. GAS WORKS. The Rotherham Gas Company was the first or second company to be acquired by a local authority acting under the Act of Parliament of 1869, which gave them compulsory power to acquire such undertakings next »prev « «
Reminiscences of Rotherham - Rotherham's Open Markets
Reminiscences of Rotherham - Markets and Fairs