Mexborough and Swinton Times November 8, 1919

Goldthorpe’s Bad Name

“Notorious For Hooliganism”

It was stated in the course of a prosecution at Doncaster on Tuesday that drunkenness was on the increase, and that as a result, assaults on the police were becoming more frequent.

Richard Hepworth, a Goldthorpe miner, answered to summonses of been drunk and disorderly on 19 October, and the other on November 1. He was also summoned for having assaulted PC Mitchell.

Samuel Fudge another miner was summoned for having been drunk and disorderly on October 19 and Henry Hepworth, the other defendant’s son was charged with obstructing the police on November 1.

There was a row on Saturday, and when the police spoke to the elder defendant he became abusive and struck the officer, and also kicked him. He was very violent, while the son, who appeared in court in khaki, endeavour to get him away. The officer, who was accompanied by PC Pickering, said the elder defendant was mad drunk and seem to have been celebrating the homecoming of his son.

The two defendants pleaded guilty. Richard said he had no intention of assaulting the police, while the son said he merely tried to get his father home. He denied saying he could lay the police out. He was .collared by the police when he tried to get his father home. He had served three years in the war, and had re-enlisted for four years. That seemed to have affected his father.

Supt. Minty said for a long time there had not been any drunkenness and assaults on the police had ceased. Drunkenness was now increasing, and so were assaults on the police.

This might have been a good deal more serious than it appeared. Goldthorpe was notorious for hooliganism. In this case a big crowd gathered together, and there might have been. a serious -melee. Richard had been convicted on 40 previous occasions, and had been sent to prison several times for assaults on the police. His last conviction was for that offence. He had served in the Army. The son had also been convicted.

The chairman, Mr. J. Brocklesby, said it was regrettable the defendant had broken out again. They were bound to impose a penalty which would act as a deterrent, though they were not going to send him to jail. In connection with the first offence in October, he and Fudge would have to pay 40s., and for the second, Richard would have to pay 40s for having been drunk and disorderly, and £16 for the assault. Henry would have to pay 40s.

The chairman added that it was regrettable that these cases of drunkenness should occur immediately when the sale of intoxicants was enlarged, and it was exceedingly regrettable when they were followed by assaults on the police. It only meant that they would have to impose increased penalties in the future.