Robbing Jack Ashore - The Dens Of Tiger bay.

 From,

Matlock Visiting List - Tuesday 19th May 1903.

Robbing Jack Ashore by The Traveller.

Crimp - A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are trapped and fleeced.

Though many writers have painted the so called horrors of the opium den and Sir Walter Besant has given us a very pretty picture of Rotherhithe, I do not remember reading in either fact or fiction, a history of that salubrious district known as Tiger Bay.

And this is very hard on Tiger Bay - for there was a day, and not so remote, when no policeman dared to show his nose in it if he had not the company of at least six of his fellows; a day when the discovery of the dead body of a sailor, pitched from some low drinking den was almost as common as the account of a suicide from Westminster Bridge.

Alas! Tiger Bay knows it's romance no more. It is even possible for Jack to rome ashore with the knowledge that robbery and plunder at the most awaits him. No longer is there in all Shadwell a street which is really closed to the police. We have let light into the dens and the light is reflected even in the cellars which the murderers haunt.

If this happy state exists in dockland it must not be thought that the crimp has turned honest, or that the despicable creatures who hover about ships no longer make a profession of that picking and stealing against which the catechism warns us.

Though detectives have ventured into the dens, the dens remain, often hideously repulsive holes where Jack is relieved of every shilling he possesses and when penniless and speechless with drink and therefore of no more use to the crimp, he is "shanghaied" to some foreign skipper for a meagre wage.

Shanghaied.

"Ah! it was a bad job sir," said a young seaman to me the other day; "I came home last November with fifty odd pounds in my pocket and I hadn't a shilling in two days. How did I spend it? Heaven knows! A crimp came aboard before we were paid off and wheedled me like they will do."

"Jack my boy," he said, "I've got the neatest place in Shadwell; good grub, good boys and good music, why, you can dance all night. You come along with me and I'll show you what London is like." 

Shadwell slums in 1899

"I'd never signed from London before and somehow this chap seemed friendly. But, there, ain't that the gab of 'em. He took me ashore and said he'd see to my bit if I'd sign a paper he gave me. I didn't know nothing about it and I set my name down. What do you think it was? Why, a receipt for a months board and lodging at three pounds a week."

"Making you free of his place for a month?" I suggested. He laughed sorrowfully. "Oh yes, free enough, and be blamed to him. He drew twelve pounds of my money right away and then he sold me whiskey at six shillings a bottle, I was blind drunk that night and for two nights after. The third morning, when I woke up, he made me sign another paper, saying the police wanted all the names of all the men in his lodging. Well, I signed it and before I knew anything more I was aboard a dirty Dutch brig bound for the St Lawrence. That's what we call 'Shanghaied' sir."

The Question Of Crimps.

I met this man in Poplar and shortly after our chat I spoke to Zanchi on the question of crimps in general and East End dens in particular. He was wonderfully enthusiastic and could, I'm sure, have given me enough matter on this gruesome subject to have filled a column.

"It is years now," said he, "since I made a practice of hanging about the crimps' places whenever I wanted a man. But I go down there sometimes and I should be slow to admit that things are improving to the extent that some people make out. There is more police inspection, it is true, but to say that Jack is robbed the less, that his case is improving materially is all moonshine. Partly, of course, it's his own fault, sailors have altered little since the days of the press gang. Give Jack a pocket full of money and he is the greatest ass in the kingdom."

"I heard a case quite recently of a fellow landing in the docks with sixty pounds in his purse, that is he drew sixty pounds when he was discharged. Well, how did he spend it? Why, he made a sandwich of beef and bread and a five pound note to begin with and ate the lot. Then he gave four pounds to an organ grinder to play outside the crimps house all day. After that three or four pounds went on the crimps whiskey, the crimps daughter wheelded the fool into buying her a gold necklace, which cost him over ten pounds and the balance was stolen from him while he was drunk. Thus you see, a poor beggar set ashore with sixty pounds, yet penniless in less than three days."

"Then you don't think the crimps are becoming honest?"

"Do I think the moon is made of green cheese! Police or no police the rogues are much as they were. I don't say that you can't find clean lodgings for Jack and straightforward men keeping them, but I do say that such places are exceptions. I could take you to twenty houses in Shadwell and Poplar today where in nearly every bedroom which is let to sailors there is a hidden trap door or panel to admit the crimp while the victim is asleep."

"What does it mean? Why the simplest thing in the world. Jack comes ashore, is made speechless drunk, is put to bed in one of these rooms, the moment he is properly unconscious in comes the crimp's confederate who empties the sailor's pocket of every shilling it contains. There cannot be less than twenty men, at a modest computation, robbed in this way every seven days of the year."

"What improvement there is is the improvement brought about by owners who refuse to serve men afloat with rum but give them cocoa instead. That class of ship is multiplying in a very satisfactory way, but she must multiply considerably before the crimp is exterminated."

"But Jack himself, is he not growing less of a fool than he was?"

"I should doubt it, for one thing, poor fellow, the competition of rascally Dutchmen, Norwegians and Swedes is taking the biscuit out of his mouth.  And beyond that there is something in the spirit of the sea which breeds an indescribable recklessness. What can you hope from a man who comes ashore with twenty pounds and begins by buying up the stock of the first flower girl he meets, giving her three pounds for something which cost her perhaps two and sixpence, I saw that done in Rotherhithe the other day."

"Ever this folly was capped down at Barking a fortnight ago when a jolly Jack Tar met an Italian with plaster busts of Lord Salisbury and Mr Gladstone, and bought twenty of them for the sum of five pounds odd. What did he do with them you ask? Why, he went round to a neighbouring coconut shy and insisted on aiming the whole twenty busts at the nuts. Fine times, of course he thought that he had enjoyed himself immensely."

The Ripper Scare.

"Tell me," said I, "on recovering from the surprise of this remarkable investment; is it true that a detective who goes to these dens of the East End carries his life in his hand?"

"It is true in a sense, but only if he's a fool of a detective. No man possessed of his senses would hunt a rogue in Shadwell unless he had men and help at his back. Of course, if he is going there merely to spy it is another thing; and he is not likely to come to any harm unless the fact that he is 'searching' is widely known about the docks."

Rose Mylett, murdered in Poplar December 1888

"One of my prettiest experiences was had in a crimp's den at Poplar at the time of the Ripper scare. I went down there on my own hook, determined to try what I could do where so many has failed. I remember that some idiots in the force were then proclaiming that 'Jack The Ripper' was no other than the woman Pearcey, who committed that detestable crime at Kentish Town."

"The reason for the faith that was in them was the discovery in one of Mrs Pearcey's cupboards of no less than seven brass wedding rings. All the wretched creatures who were murdered in Whitechapel wore brass wedding rings, which were torn from their fingers by the madman who murdered them. The fact that this woman in Kentish Town had so many similar trophies was set down as proof that she had committed the crime."

"It was, to my way of thinking, the apotheosis of nonsense. I have always held that the assassin was a Dutch or Norwegian seaman and to this opinion I cling. Certainly I felt very strongly about it at the time of the general excitement and I must have spent a full month in Shadwell and the purlieus of the docks."

Into The Den.

"It was on the hunt for the Ripper that I came near to losing my life. I was sleeping, or rather pretending to sleep, in a foul den in Poplar. The room was crowded with dirty seamen, many of them Dutch, a few French and a few Lascars. My own bed was a dirty hammock slung upon a rope and you may judge how I enjoyed the experience when I tell you that the room was heavy with the odour of opium, stale tobacco, onions, garlic and other nauseous compounds; and that the bodies of most of the men were quite in an indescribable condition of uncleanliness."

A Poplar slum.

"My object in sleeping in a den like this was a simple one. I thought that I might learn something from the conversation of the men. I learnt nothing beyond the fact that my disguise was a very poor one. I was dressed as a fireman, my face was dyed brown, as though I had served in the East, my hands were carefully stained. The role seemed pretty enough, but I must believe that I had not been as careful as usual and when one o'clock in the morning came, I had to pay for my carelessness."

"Just about that hour, a little rogue, whom I had once laid hands upon in Liverpool for a highway robbery in that town, entered the place and took the bunk next to mine. I never thought for a moment that I was in any danger of being recognised by this man. Even if I had feared it, my suspicion would have been quelled when the fellow rolled helplessly into his bunk and began to sleep."

"Most of the others were then snoring, but one ruffian was raving with delirium tremens and two Lascars were having a little difference which promised to end in knife thrusts. After a time, however, the whole room fell to quiet and I was just preparing to dress and steal out when the rogue from Liverpool sprang from his bunk crying out that I was a 'nark' and was about to sell the lot of them."

"The fellow was half drunk, but strong as a madman; and while I struggled with him the others woke up and listened in amazement to his tale. You may judge that they were not long in joining the fray, I seemed to have a dozen a top of me before the tick of a clock had passed. The probabilities are that I should have been murdered then and there had not the crimp come running in crying that the police were in the street and were surrounding the house."

"This was an old trick of his, but happily for me it was successful on this occasion. The room was as empty as a balloon before he had done talking and the cheat was not discovered until he had smuggled me out through the attic window and I was a quarter mile from the spot."

In Conclusion.

"I tell you this little story to emphasise my description of the kind of place in which Jack often finds himself when he is ashore. To depict the multitudinous ways in which he is robbed would be to write a volume on the subject. One of the commonest of tricks is to pretend that he must write his name in the crimp's visiting book, must show what a jolly fellow he is."

"That signature, ingeniously removed and appended to a promissory note for twenty or thirty pounds has robbed Jack of half his savings again and again. Often though, the crimp meets him in the ship and says ' you just sign your name to this paper and I'll see all about your money at the office.' The crimp does see all about it. He takes precious good care that every shilling of it goes into his own pocket."

"He is always in league with a number of third rate agents and skippers for whom he provides crews of drunken and helpless men. Jack comes home looking for a jolly holiday, alas poor fellow! He is often at sea again in a week, having been carried from the crimp's house to his bunk after every shilling of his money has been stolen."

Blackshirt meeting ends in violence - A Mean Streets Tabletop Game in 28mm

    Blackshirt meeting attacked in Drovers Road.

A meeting by the BUF was broken up by an orchestrated attack by Communists, the meeting began at half past eight on Thursday night in Drovers Road.

Just out of sight the gang of Communists gathered and the plan of action was finalised. 

BUF speaker, Mr Hargreaves, had attracted a small audience and was just getting into his stride, after around five minutes, when a group of men were seen coming towards them. 

The fighting was short and brutal, two Blackshirts were knocked down and Mr Hargreaves received a bloody nose, after which he retreated down the road. The brunt of the fighting now fell to two Fascists who, although outnumbered, bravely took on their adversaries.

Soon two mounted police officers arrived and immediately felled one of the Communists with a crack on the head. Three of the Communists pursued Mr Hargreaves down Drovers Road, the police were too late to rescue him.

Hargreaves received another punch and was knocked unconscious with a club, at the scene of the fight a police car arrived and the Communists scattered, the mounted officers then charged down Drovers Road in pursuit of the other three.

 The wounded Blackshirts received first aid while the injured Communist was arrested, meanwhile the other three Communists disappeared down the alleyways and were searched for in vain by the police.

Communists versus Fascists: London Street Fighting Volume Four - 1938 to 1940

              Streets Paved With Blood.

                       Volume four 1938 - 1940.

During the 1930's political street fighting in London reached epidemic proportions, battles between various left wing groups and the British Union Of Fascists were frequently vicious. These are their stories, gleaned from contemporary newspapers, the events that left the capital with streets paved with blood.

                 East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 14th January 1938.

Differences between Limehouse Fascists and Condor Street, where their headquarters are situated, were ventilated at Thames Police Court, when Mrs Emily Hughes, of Condor Street, who stated that she had had 20 children, was summoned for assaulting Annie Hagaty of Burdett Road, Bow and for wilfully damaging Miss Hagaty's glasses.

Mr C Hay Reckitt appeared for Mrs Hughes and entered a plea of not guilty to both summonses.

Mr Edward Fail, prosecuting, said that, if the story of Miss Hagaty and her witness were to be believed, Miss Hagaty was the victim of an entirely unprovoked assault. 

On New Year's Eve, Miss Hagaty and her sister, Mrs Peters, went to a meeting of the BUF at their premises in Condor Street, which were practically opposite Mrs Hughes' house.

Violently Attacked.

Whether Mrs Hughes had any interest in Fascism or politics of any sort, he did not know, but when Miss Hagaty left the meeting between 12 midnight and 12.12 am she had just got through the gate on to the pavement and she was violently attacked by Mrs Hughes. She did not know Mrs Hughes and had never seen her before. Miss Hagaty said she was grabbed by Mrs Hughes, who punched her in the face, breaking her glasses. She fell to the ground and was kicked. As a result she was away from work for two and a half days and lost 15s wages and her glasses cost 31s to repair.

Case dismissed due to lack of evidence.

                            South Western Star - Friday 8th April 1938.

Mosley Comes To Battersea, Disorder At Clapham Junction, Many Arrests.

Some weeks ago Battersea Town Hall was engaged for a Fascist meeting which was to be addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley. Fearing disorder, the Town Hall committee cancelled the letting of the hall. That, however, did not daunt the Fascists. "Mosley will speak in Battersea," they boldly chalked on the roads and later gave the date, "April 4." Still later the meeting place was chalked, namely Comyn Road.

Comyn Road

This road is a quiet residential thoroughfare heading from St. John's Road towards Wandsworth Common. The St. John's end has for some time been a pitch for a variety of organisations anxious to reform or instruct the public and ranging from religious bodies to Trotskyites. As the date fixed for the Mosley meeting approached, Comyn Road began to attract strangers, principally groups of young men who looked as though they needed occupation.

By Saturday the number of apparent idlers had considerably increased. It was suspected that people had a design on the pitch. The Fascists, therefore, took formal possession and in token thereof they placed a portable rostrum near the end of the road and guarded it day and night, the Captain of the guard being a sturdy young man who spoke with a scotch accent.

Attack On The Pitch.

During Saturday an attempt to carry the position was made by non-Fascists, but it was beaten off. Monday, the fateful fourth of April, saw considerable additions to the groups of young men in the neighbourhood. Handbill distributors multiplied themselves also. One handbill read: "People of Battersea! On Monday Mosley is to attempt a march into your borough." What many people considered a provocative paragraph followed and then came the invitation or command: "All out then to our mass meeting at Comyn Road, Monday, 7pm."

Saturday's "Daily Worker" published the following advertisement: "Battersea out against Mosley! All Comrades rally 115 Lavender Hill for leaflet distribution, today and Sunday. All to Comyns Road, Monday, 7.30." Battersea was being put on the map, despite the fact that topographical knowledge on the part of some folk was not perfect. There is no "Comyns" road in Battersea.

Comyn Road "upper end."

The authorities had decided that the meeting should be held at the upper end of Comyn Road, furthest from the main thoroughfare. The Communists prepared to hold a meeting in Aliwal Road, where they installed a loud speaker van. Before 8 o'clock everybody seemed to be "all out" for the meeting. Comyn Road was packed almost end to end, the throngs being dense around the loud speaker van. Sir Oswald arrived by car, he was greeted with tremendous cheering and booing. Sir Oswald boldly faced the music. He endeavoured to address the turbulent assembly from the top of a covered van which was fitted with two microphones and six loud speakers. For over two hours booing , jeering and yelling were almost deafening.

"Horsey, Put Your Tail Up."

At the junction of Comyn Road and St. John's Road, while mounted police were clearing the road, someone ran up to one of the police horses and pulled its tail. The horse reared and it's rider was nearly thrown. He drew his sword stick and struck out left and right as people surged round him. Several fell and rolled almost under the horse's hoofs. One woman was struck on the head and rendered unconscious. An ambulance took her to hospital.

St. John's Road and Comyn Road junction

A "South Western Star" reporter was pushed towards a horse and was dragged to the ground. While he was lying in the gutter he was kicked on the thigh by a horse. Communists continued to shout and jeer at the police and several arrests were made. One man, after giving the Communist salute, struck a Fascist. Blows followed, but for the alertness of the police there might have been a free fight.

Up and down Comyn Road and St. John's Road Communists sang the "Internationale" and "The Red Flag," while Fascists countered with the National Anthem. Shortly afterwards when Comyn Road was being cleared, there was a rush towards one of the windows of Messers. Hawes's drapery store. A large sheet of plate glass was smashed and fragments were flung over several people, "we've done it," someone shouted. During the Fascist meeting, Communists were holding a meeting of their own in Aliwal road, there was no disorder there, but afterwards the whole assembly marched into Comyn Road. Police reinforcements were brought up to deal with the rush.

Left Bookshop Window Smashed.

115 Lavender Hill

One of the plate glass windows of the People's Book Shop, 115 Lavender Hill, was broken after the meeting in Comyn Road. "Soon after 10 o'clock I was standing in the doorway of the shop, watching the crowd going by," said Mr Pritchard, the proprietor of the shop to one of our reporters. "A group of men crossed over from the other side of the road and started making insulting and threatening remarks to me about the shop. 

As they seemed to be spoiling for a row, I closed and bolted the door and went to the rear of the shop to telephone to the police.While I was phoning I heard the crash of glass and then found that the window had been smashed." On a board covering the window is pasted the announcement, "This is Fascism."

    East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 10th June 1938.

Trouble between a young Communist and a young Fascist, after a Fascist meeting at St. Peter's Road, Mile End, was described at Thames Police Court, when Benjamin Becow, alias Beckoff, of Mile End Road, Stepney and William Liddiard, of Duckett Street, Stepney were charged before Mr Harris with using insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace was likely to have been occasioned in White Horse Lane, Stepney.

Becow pleaded not guilty, but Liddiard pleaded "guilty under provocation."

Inspector Smyth said that a meeting was held in St Peter's Road, Mile End and there was considerable heckling and after the meeting a large crowd proceeded along Mile End Road and turned into White Horse Lane, Becow and Liddiard being among them.

The corner of Skidmore Street c1937.

Upon reaching the corner of Skidmore Street, the defendants started to fight with each other and he saw Becow hit Liddiard on the face with his fist. They refused to stop and he took Becow into custody and PC Duling arrested Liddiard. When charged at Arbour Square police station, neither of the the defendants made any reply.

When searched, Becow had on him a membership card of the Young Communists and Liddiard had a membership card for the BUF. PC Duling, who gave corroborative evidence, said, in reply to the magistrate, that the meeting was a Fascist meeting.

In the witness box, Becow said he was at the meeting and afterwards the Fascists left in a body. He walked to Skidmore Street with a friend who lived there and in White Horse Lane the Fascists stopped and one of them said something to him that he did not like, so he went over and spoke to him. He was then struck a blow by someone and was staggered. As he stepped back, PC Duling rushed past him and arrested Liddiard. Then the inspector arrested him. He denied he struck anyone.

In reply to Liddiard, Becow denied he was selling a party newspaper

David Reback, of White Horse Lane, who was with Becow, said that a man hit Becow in the face. When Becow went to find out why the man had struck him he was arrested.

Liddiard declined to give evidence, Mr Harris gave Becow the benefit of the doubt as he was not satisfied  he had struck a blow, Liddiard was fined 10s.

                        Lewisham Borough News - Tuesday 14th June 1938.

A peace meeting held on Saturday evening at Limes Grove, Lewisham, ended in a fight.

Douglas Henry Coleman was charged with assaulting Donald Carruthers by striking him on the face at High Street, Lewisham.

Limes Grove and Lewisham High Street

Donald Carruthers: "I was selling newspapers for a political movement as I have been for the last two years. I saw defendant speaking at a meeting across the road about 500 yards from where I was standing and he got away from the meeting and started selling papers. I passed in front of him and he snatched some papers out of my pocket and threw them in the gutter. I turned round to get them back and he struck me. I retaliated. A police lady came across the road and he ran away. I was taken to hospital to have my nose looked at."

Ronald Dyke said, "I was selling the paper 'Action,' of the BUF. I was about 10 yards away from Carruthers and I saw defendant snatch the papers out of his coat. Then punch Carruthers and ran. He tried to get on a bus but the lady officer caught him at the Prince of Wales cinema."

When defendant took the papers out of Carruthers coat, Carruthers gave him a slight push.

Ronald Baxter said he was himself selling newspapers and he saw Coleman make a grab at Carruthers. Soon there was a free fight and Coleman ran down the road.

Prosecutor went into a fighting attitude and Coleman defended himself. He snatched the papers from the other man's pocket.

Mr Powell to prosecutor: It seems to me that you were the aggressor in this matter and you started the trouble. You will be bound over to keep the peace for the next six months in the sum of 40s. Defendant was discharged.

                          East London Observer - Saturday 18th June 1938.

Five men appeared at Old Street Police Court on Thursday following disturbances at a Fascist meeting held at Club Row the previous evening. They were Sidney Fireman, Reuben Doctors, Edward Cotter, Harry Parsons and Philip Abrahams. 

Club Row

Fireman pleaded not guilty to using threatening words and behaviour at Club Row and a constable said about 9 pm on Wednesday he was on duty in Club Row where a Fascist meeting was in progress. A police cordon had been drawn across Club Row to protect a loudspeaker van from a hostile crowd and Fireman broke through the cordon, used bad language to Blackshirts standing round the van and struck a man in the face.

Fireman: I didn't fight. There were six officers there. If I wanted to fight I did not have a chance.

PC Anserr said as a result of the disturbance a free fight broke out. Fireman said he was looking for his brother and when he crossed the road was "grabbed by two police." The magistrate found him guilty and imposed a fine of 20s.

Doctors, who was fined 30s for using threatening behaviour said he was not asked to go away and alleged he was attacked "from all sides by police."

Car Turned Over.

Turin Street

PS Heather said he was escorting Fascists away from the meeting. At the corner of Turin Street a motor car was on its side, having been pushed over and Cotter, who was with 20 or 30 people, had his hands upraised and tried to push the second car over. Bits of paper with German writing were found in his possession. Cotter said he was not a Fascist, but a sympathiser. He was remanded for a week.

Parsons pleaded not guilty to throwing a stone and was remanded on bail for a week.

A fine of £5 was inflicted on Abrahams, who denied a charge of wilfully obstructing a constable.

                            East London Observer - Saturday 18th June 1938.

Disturbance during a Fascist meeting on Sunday morning in Philpot Street, Stepney, had a sequel at Thames Police Court on Monday, when Nathan Jager was charged under the Public Order Act of 1936 with using insulting behaviour in Philpot Street. He pleaded guilty.

A police sergeant gave evidence that he saw Jager among a crowd of persons assembled at a Fascist meeting in Philpot Street at 12 noon on the previous day. Jager was standing about 5 or 10 yards away from the meeting itself, when he suddenly rushed into the crowd and started striking a man. The man defended himself but Jager still kept on trying to strike him.

Witness went up to arrest Jager. He said: "I was indoors reading a book when I heard a noise and came out and saw the Blackshirts, I lost my head then." He was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months.

                               Eastern Post - Saturday 25th June 1938.

Disorder at an open air meeting in Ridley Road, Dalston resulted in the appearance at North London Police Court of Kenneth Gold (20) of Weaver Street, Stepney on a charge of using threatening words and behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. He pleaded not guilty.

Ridley Road, Dalston

PC Leathley 514G stated that at 9.45pm one meeting was breaking up and another was forming at Ridley Road. As the first meeting marched off he saw Gold rush across the road and attack a man shouting "Get him! He's a Blackshirt." 

Witness told him he was a police officer and would take him into custody. He replied "I know, why don't you arrest the Blackshirts?" he went on "Can't you see the bastards who take your bread and butter have got me? Get me away from them." The situation got ugly and only the timely arrival of other officers in uniform saved him.

When charged Gold said "I never had a chance to say anything". A fine of 40s was imposed.

 

    East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 1st july 1938.

Disturbances at a Fascist meeting held at Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green, on 16th June, were recalled at Old Street Police Court on Monday when five men appeared on remand before Mr FO Langley.

Harry Zussman, charged with using insulting behaviour and wilful obstruction of Inspector Gordon. Maurice Silver, charged with obstructing PS Emms.

Harry Mills, charged with wilfully obstructing PC Brown with intent to resist the lawful apprehension of another man.

Maurice Lebovitch, charged with wilfully obstructing PC Smith and assaulting PC Brown.

Barnet Bercow, charged with assaulting PC Smith and PC Clarke.

Mr EA Hawke appeared for the Commissioner of police and Zussman, Lebovitch and Becow were represented by Mr Platts Mills.

Trying To Assist.

Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green

With regard to Mills, Mr Hawke said that he intervened at a time when PC Brown was having a certain amount of trouble with Lebovitch. There was a considerable amount of disturbance going on and when Mills was seen by two police officers to go up to PC Brown and intervene, he was taken into custody. As soon as PC Brown was able to make a statement about the matter he said his view was that Mills was trying to assist him. In those circumstances he was not proposing to offer any evidence against him as it was clear that a mistake had been made.

Mills was accordingly discharged.

People From Whitechapel.

Outlining the case for the prosecution against the remaining four men, Mr Hawke said the charges arose out of a meeting held under the auspices of the BUF. The meeting started at 8 pm and apparently there was no disorder until 9.20, when a large number of people approached from the direction of Whitechapel.

From their conduct it seemed that they did not altogether approve of the meeting, there was a probability of trouble and consequently the police formed a cordon between the meeting and the people who were approaching, with a view to preventing any trouble.

Attempts To Break Through Cordon.

There were a number of attempts by the new arrivals to break through the police cordon and it was in connection with those attempts to breakthrough that Zussman became prominent, and it became necessary to arrest him and take him to Bethnal Green station.

There was some considerable difficulty in getting him there and it was while he was on the way that Bercow came on the scene, and tried to release him. He first attacked Inspector Gordon and then PC Smith.

Bethnal Green Police Station

The inspector managed to get Zussman into the station but the constable had to deal with Bercow. He was doing so when Lebovitch appeared on the scene and jumped on his back.

PC Brown went to PC Smith's assistance and pulled Lebovitch off. The latter became violent and threw PC Brown against some railings in front of the police station and also punched him on the body. As a result of being thrown against the railings the officer had to go on the sick list.

At The Head Of The Crowd.

With regard to Silver it was alleged that he was at the head of the crowd which came from the direction of Whitechapel and that when the police were trying with difficulty to prevent disorder, he obstructed them, making things generally difficult and telling the crowd to stand their ground.

Mr Hawke added that Zussman was a young man under the age of 18 and it was quite obvious that he was thoroughly over excited. With regard to Lebovitch he was very violent and caused injury to a police officer. Bercow appeared to be in quite a different category to the others and it was alleged that he kicked one officer on the knee and bit him on the hand.

Cross Examination.

Inspector Gordon and PC Smith gave evidence.

Cross examined the inspector said he did not hear the Jews accused at the meeting of being responsible for "every evil in England."

Mr Platts Mills: It would be right to say that this class of meeting in particular is the occasion for foul abuse of the Jews who are standing around? - The inspector: I don't agree.

You say it never occurs? - It has occured, but not that night.

The accused were remanded on bail.

Bercow was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour and Maurice Lebovitch was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months with an order to pay 12 guineas in costs.

                                  St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 8th July 1938.

Appeals to their supporters by Communist and Labour speakers at the big rally at Castle Road on Sunday not to leave the meeting and "demonstrate" by shouting against the Fascists as they marched to Islip Street, where Sir Oswald Mosley addressed a crowded meeting and the fact that the marchers' route was changed by the police at the last moment, prevented any serious clashes between rival factions.

Castle Road looking towards the Fascist meeting area

Fascists marched through Camden Road and Sandall Road instead of by Kentish Town Road. There were nevertheless eight arrests.

The sound of bagpipes and drums heralded the approach of the Fascist procession, preceded by a police car and a police motorcyclist. The Fascist van with huge loudspeakers on the roof had appeared in Islip Street earlier.

The procession, about half a mile long, stopped when the van was reached and many of the women from the various London branches represented sat on the ground, weary from the march and gazed in rapt attention at their leader. Sir Oswald mounted the ladder and began his speech, which echoed through the loudspeakers, so that it could be heard distinctly at Kentish Town Road and even as far away as Leighton Road.

Several people in the crowd lining the footway gave the Fascist salute, occasionally there were bursts of cheering as the speaker emphasised his creed of Britain for the British and castigating Jews, financiers and press lords. After Sir Oswald had spoken for an hour the meeting dispersed quietly.

One man wearing a green hat and a broad grin, walked up and down before Sir Oswald was really launched on his speech and shouted "He's a baby killer!" but few took any notice of him.

It was after the meeting dispersed that most of the arrests were made, mainly for trivial offences. One serious case of alleged malicious wounding, when a young Fascist was stated to have been struck on the face with a glass and badly cut in a public house at the corner of Islip Street, led to an arrest. The young man was taken away in an ambulance to have four stitches put in his face.

The Oxford Tavern where Gregory was glassed

The following day Joseph James Rowe was remanded on a charge of maliciously wounding Charles William Gregory by striking him on the face with a drinking glass with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. PC Price said that he was on duty in Islip Street and saw Rowe in a heated argument with other people outside a public house. He dispersed them. A few minutes later Rowe ran out of the public house followed by Gregory, who was bleeding from the face. 

Gregory said that an argument started in the public house. Mrs Rowe said something about kids and kicking them downstairs. Mrs Rowe went after a young woman. Gregory alleged that Rowe who had entered with his wife, jabbed the glass from which he was drinking into his face, causing injury. A witness said that he and Gregory belonged to the BUF.

The magistrate said he would convict, Rowe was remanded for his fingerprints to be taken.

Francis Cecil Jacobs and a youth aged 16 were charged with obstruction and Jacobs further charged with assaulting an officer.

PC Taylor said that after a Fascist meeting at the corner of Islip Street terminated the Fascists formed a procession and went along Kentish Town Road towards Camden Town. A number of Communists and others went along the footway parallel to the Fascists and some sang the "Internationale" and shouted slogans. The attitude towards the Fascists was threatening and in view of the likelihood of trouble, the police drew a cordon across the road.

Witness alleged that Jacobs tried to break through and struck him on the chest, with the result that he lost his balance. While he was running to catch Jacobs the boy tried to trip him. Jacobs and the boy were bound over to keep the peace.

Knife Slashing Alleged At Kentish Town.

James Miller was charged with using insulting words and behaviour at Kentish Town Road after the meeting in Islip Street.

Police inspector Brice said that he saw Miller hanging onto the rail of a bus trying to kick a man who was at the bottom of the steps. Miller said the man tried to slash him with a knife. He denied that he tried to kick him.

Called as a witness by Miller, Robert Franklin said that he was slashed on the wrist and hand by the man with the knife. Franklin showed that his wrist and finger were plastered. "I think you got on the bus with a view to attacking the man and you should not have done it," said Mr Brodrick to Miller in binding him over to keep the peace.

Albany Street Scene.

Leslie Foster and Harry Walters were charged with insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been caused.

PS Oakenbee stated that at about 7.10 on Sunday night he was walking with the procession, when he saw Foster standing at the junction of Chester Gate and Albany Street selling the "Challenge" newspaper. Walters approached him, grabbed him by the neck, snatched the newspapers from under his arm and threw them to the ground.

The junction of Albany Street and Chester Gate

A fight then ensued between them and it was necessary to arrest them in order to stop it. Foster agreed with the officers evidence and said that the incident was entirely unprovoked.

Walters said that he attended the procession as a member of the BUF but he had to fall out because of a strained cartilage of the leg. While he was walking with his brother in law Foster came along shouting insulting remarks about "rats" and making other uncomplimentary remarks. Suddenly a boy dashed from behind and took his placard away and he dropped his papers. Foster then started lashing out at him (Walters) because he happened to be the nearest one to him. "I forgot myself and......."

Defendant did not finish the sentence. Mr Ivan Snell, the Magistrate, remarking that he was not going to take sides in the matter, fined each of the accused 1s with 7s costs.

                                    St. Pancras Gazette - Friday 8th July 1938.

Islip Street

A sequel to a Blackshirt meeting at Islip Street, Kentish Town, on Wednesday night was heard at Clerkenwell yesterday, when Horace George Franklin was charged with assaulting William Fairman by striking him in the mouth with his fist.

"I plead guilty purely in defence of myself" said Franklin, who was discharged.

Fairman, a fitters mate, said he was proceeding from the meeting when he saw Franklin and two other men standing on the kerb. When witness had passed him he came up and asked who he was looking at and then struck him on the face with his right fist.

Franklin said he was going from the meeting with his nephew, who was in the Air Force. While he was speaking to his nephew Fairman and a crowd of 15 to 20 young Communists surrounded him and barred his way. He tried to make way and Fairman struck a blow, which he dodged. Afterwards he struck a blow which Fairman could not dodge. He acted in self defence.

Defendant suggested that Fairman had been "pursuing" him for some time, at the meeting Fairman caused a lot of trouble. He was there with about 20 young Communists.

                           The Daily News - Monday 11th July 1938.

Whitechapel is getting a spate of speeches, Sunday is the big day, talking begins at 10am and goes well on into the night. The centre of Whitechapel oratory is Bloom's Corner, Osborn Street. Recently Fascist speakers, who previously confined their activities to Bethnal Green and Mile End have now raised their stand in the area between Whitechapel and Stepney Green.

Old Montague Street and Osborn Street

Last night 200 people listened to a young man in silvery grey flannels talking on behalf of the Jewish People's Council. The orator, using a loud speaker van, told the audience that the meetings were held to combat Fascism's entry into their district. Meanwhile people living in Old Montague Street sat in their doorways watching their children playing cricket. They cannot find much pleasure in the booming of the loud speaker throughout the day.

I was told that the recent increase in meetings held here is due solely to the Fascist invasion. Scarcely a night passes without a meeting for one or the other in the area. My informant said "Most affected by these meetings, perhaps, are the police. Each assembly makes demands on their tolerance and calm and they seem to be growing tired of listening to the same thing over and over again".

                      East London Observer - Saturday 16th July 1938.

Reply To Coun. Turpin.

Sir, As District Officer of the South West Bethnal Green Branch of the BUF, I wish to refute the statement of Coun. Albert Turpin in your issue of 9th July in reference to a meeting at the "Mount" on 15th June. 

Coun. Turpin knows perfectly well that the BUF did not hold a meeting there, but at Club Row, some two hundred yards away, as after we had advertised our meeting to take place at the Mount, the "lovers of free speech" jumped the pitch thinking it would stop us holding a meeting in that part of the district. So upset were they to think we were holding a meeting, that out went the call for the sub-men and razor gangs from the "Ghetto", who arrived in taxis, ect.

All came to beat up Britishers who dared to come on the street and give a policy of "Britain First." Eight Blackshirts were badly injured. The police tried to restore order on the streets and guard us from the alien methods of the so called "lovers of free speech" - so Coun. Turpin dares to accuse the police of taking sides and failing to do their duty.

In Eric Street the Communist Party took up the position which it had been announced Sir Oswald Mosley would occupy, while in Maplin Street there was another meeting.

Eric Street

Mosley spoke in Mossford Street for over an hour and during that time the police, who were present in large numbers, prevented people from moving from one meeting to the other. At the Fascist meeting two arrests were made and the window of Mr H. Cohen's hairdressers shop at the corner of Mossford Street and Solebay Street was smashed.

Sir Oswald's arrival was heralded with boos, cheers, the Fascist salute and the waving of the clenched fist. Throughout the speech there was angry movement in the crow, which surged around the platform.

Mosley declared "Our policy is British in character and method, born of Britain and comes from the blood and soil of Britain." At the end hundreds sung the "Internationale" and the police broke up the meeting shepherding the crowd out into Burdett Road and Mile End Road.

                      Westminster & Pimlico News - Friday 29th July 1938.

William Patten and George John Taylor were charged with insulting behaviour whereby a breach of the peace might have been caused at Arthur Street, Chelsea. The pleaded guilty.

PC Smith 95B said that at 10.40 on Thursday night prisoners were fighting a man. He told them to go away. A few minutes later he saw them attack the man again and strike him down. 

Patten: The fellow took off his coat and started to fight. Taylor told the magistrate that he and Patten were challenged to a fight while they were listening to a Blackshirt meeting.

Prisoners were each fined 10s.

                                  Southern Blackshirt - September 1938.

British Union meetings are now a regular occurance in Bermondsey. A few weeks ago, as the loudspeaker van was drawing away at the close of a successful meeting, a half brick shattered the drivers window and two or three passengers were cut by flying glass. Needless to say, the missile thrower did not stop to witness the result of his cowardly action, which might have occasioned a serious accident.

Blinding Fluid Thrown.

The following week a bottle of Lysol was flung at the speaker. The bottle smashed on the side of the van and its dangerous contents splashed over members of the audience. Again it was only by sheer good fortune that no one lost their sight.

     East End News and London Shipping Chronicle - Friday 17th March 1939.

Ernest William Smith and William Cox pleaded not guilty to charges of using insulting behaviour at Clerkenwell Police Court.

PS James said that about 6.10 pm on Sunday, he saw a party of about 20 persons, including Cox and Smith, following four men "who were apparently of the Communist Party." They gradually closed round the four men and eventually attacked them. Cox and Smith, who were both fighting were arrested. Smith said: "They started it by hitting our women."

PC Burridge said he saw Cox and Smith make a rush at the four men and start punching them. It was Cox who struck the first blow.

Roy Henry Wen was brought into the dock on charges of insulting behaviour and of assaulting Caroline Slater. Cox and Smith were brought back and Miss Slater stated in reply to the magistrate, that she was insulted by four or five fellows, who were standing at a street corner and was struck on the right shoulder. She was in the company of other girls.

Asked whether the trouble was in connection with a meeting, PS James told Mr Hedley: "There was a large meeting of about 1,400 members of the BUF in Islip Street.

Cox and Smith were fined 20s each.

                              Hampstead News - Thursday 25th May 1939.

A violent scene at a Communist meeting at West Hampstead, during which the platform was rushed and the Communist speaker was brought to the ground by about 20 young men from a Fascist meeting in the next street, which was addressed by Sir Oswald Mosley, led to the arrest of four men and a young woman and their appearance before Mr Dunne at the Marylebone Police Court on Saturday.

The whole incident arose, it was said, from the mistaken impression that the police intended to arrest the Communist speaker, whereas their purpose was to protect him.

Some 20 or more men who had attended the Fascist meeting went along to the Communist meeting. Up to that point the Communist meeting had been perfectly orderly, but these twenty or so men tried to break it up. Fighting took place, there was a lot of bother on both sides and in the course of the struggle the Communist speaker was pulled from the platform, the platform was upset and the speaker was in danger of being trampled under foot.

PC Johns, seeing the man's danger, went to his assistance and tried to get him on his feet. PC Johns continuing the story, said that he was lifting the Communist speaker - Clifford M Wyndham - to his feet he felt a violent blow in the back, and turning round, saw Frederick Joshuah Wolmark and Miss Helen Rose standing behind him. Miss Rose was very excited and was throwing her arms about shouting "Come on boys, don't let him take him."

Wolmark then rushed towards him saying "Let him go," and at the same time struck him in the chest and the face with his fist. As he closed with Wolmark Miss Rose dragged him back by the arm. Wolmark again came for him and to protect himself he drew his truncheon and struck out at him with it. The blow caught him on the forehead.

Other officers assisted to arrest Wolmark, while Miss Rose hung onto witness's arm and tried to pull him away. She too was arrested and said "He is my friend, I was only helping him." Miss Rose was discharged under the Probation Act.

Wolmark, who called nine witnesses to support his statement that he did not strike or obstruct the constable and was struck without provocation was fined 40s for assault.

Jack Stanley Smith, who was said to have been found in the crowd striking at people with his fist and who had a knuckle duster concealed in his sock, was sentenced to three months imprisonment for having an offensive weapon at a public meeting.

Arthur Randall was acquitted on a charge of insulting behaviour, as was Noel Percival Whyborn.

                             East End Observer - Saturday 24th June 1939.

Alleged Knife Attack On Boxer.

John Sidney Rice, a boxer, described an alleged knife attack upon him at Old Street Police Court on Saturday. Before the court were William Robert Johnson and Charles Russell who pleaded not guilty to being concerned in wounding Rice by striking him on the head with a sharp instrument on 9th June.

Rice, who stated he had never seen the accused before, said he was accompanied by a Mr and Mrs Clark. As they approached No. 222 Green Street, the headquarters of the BUF, a car pulled up and Johnson jumped out and said "Here's some of those Blackshirt -----'s." Johnson, who had a knife in his hand, went to strike him. Witness received two blows in the back of his neck. Mr Clark went to witness's assistance and Russell, who had a razor in his hand, then came over and "was in the fight."

In reply to the magistrate, Johnson said: "My defence is that I never raised my hand or struck anyone, or used anything." Dr Parry, Divisional Surgeon said the wounds were not serious and had healed. A remand on bail until September was ordered.

                                Daily News - Tuesday 7th November 1939.

How the chief woman organiser of the BUF was arrested and put in a van after a disturbance at a meeting was related at Thames Police Court yesterday.

Shouts of "Dirty spies," "Dirty Germans" and "Go back to Hitler" were alleged to have been heard at the meeting, which was held in the East End.

The woman Fascist leader, Mrs Margaret Ellen Griggs was bound over for 12 months on charges of obstructing Inspector Munro and using insulting words at a public meeting. A further charge against her under the defence regulations, of endeavouring orally to influence public opinion in a manner likely to be prejudicial to the defence of the realm was not proceeded with.

Ernest William Smith was fined £5 for assaulting and 40s for obstructing the police and 1s with 5s costs for damaging the door of a police van.

Peter Gibbs was fined £5 for assault and 40s for obstructing the police.

Police Cordon In Crowd.

Mr Cussen, prosecuting said Mrs Griggs was chairman and speaker at a BUF meeting at Essian Street, Limehouse, at which about 150 people, mostly women, were present.

Essian Street

Mrs Griggs spoke on the reasons for the war and there were interruptions from the crowd. There were a number of people round the rostrum who were obviously supporters of the speaker and Inspector Munro put a cordon between them and the crowd.

Inspector Munro took notes in longhand of what Mrs Griggs said and among the remarks she was alleged to have made was: "If ever a country wants a revolution now it is Great Britain."

After Munro had warned Mrs Griggs she made some more remarks and a section of the crowd, which had become increasingly hostile, surged towards the rostrum. Mrs Griggs refused to close the meeting and demanded that the inspector should restore order under the Public Order Act.

The offences with which the men were charged were alleged to have been committed while Mrs Griggs was being put into the police van after her arrest.

              Bromley & West Kent Mercury - Friday 8th December 1939.

Sir,  I think it should be brought to the notice of yourself and the public, that once again Blackshirts are being subjected to acts of violence in the streets of Bromley.

On Tuesday night one of our members, whilst out delivering leaflets supporting our Peace campaign, was attacked and left lying in the gutter. But for the fortunate arrival of another member within a few minutes of this cowardly attack, the victim would have been left exposed to the dangers of the black out.

Yours ect.  EJ Fowler - District Leader.

                         Marylebone Mercury - Saturday 20th April 1940.

A policeman described at Willesden court on Monday how at a meeting at Tavistock Road, Harlesden, on Saturday, held by the BUF he saw a man force his way from outside the crowd to a place near the speaker.

Tavistock Road

He then heard the man shout "my brothers are fighting you, you ---- Fascist," after which he charged forward and grabbed hold of the rostrum, forcing the speaker to get down.

When arrested, the man shouted "Fascists in our country and we are fighting them."

Horace Walter Wilbraham was fined £1 for insulting behaviour.

                                      Daily Mirror - Tuesday 21st May 1940.

During the weekend, the Fascists, led by their chief coxcomb, were engaged in a near riot at a by-election meeting. The Blackshirt Baronet himself, with characteristic dignity, joined the brawl.

                                       Daily Herald - Saturday 25th May 1940.

Four of eight people arrested after a Fascist meeting at Dalston were, at North London, yesterday sent to jail.

John Spicer, an official of the BUF was given one months imprisonment for using insulting words and Behaviour.

George Grant, said to be an active member of the Fascist movement, was given three months on a similar charge.

Frederick H Poulton and his brother Richard Poulton, were each sent to prison for one month for assault.

Albert Polton was fined £5 for obstruction.

Thomas leach, charged with using insulting words and behaviour, was discharged and Evelyn White was bound over for a similar charge.

John Potter, a speaker at the meeting, who pleaded guilty to using insulting words, was remanded on bail for six weeks to see how he behaved.

On 23rd May 1940, the BUF was banned outright by the government.

                               Holloway Press - Friday 7th June 1940.

Hostile Crowd At Partly Wrecked Shop.

That the defendant, George Charles Arnold, a grocer of Blundell Street, Holloway, a local Fascist party organiser, fainted when he saw the hostile crowd which had gathered round his shop door, was stated at Clerkenwell Criminal Court on a charge alleging that he had caused grievous bodily harm to Harry Samuel Alley, also of Blundell Street, on 25th May by cutting him on the hand with a knife. The prosecution did not proceed with a charge alleging that the defendant had had in his possession a Webley revolver without a firearms certificate.

Blundell Street

Mr Walton, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was a demonstration outside the shop. It was nothing whatever to do with the case or with his character, but Arnold was an organiser of the BUF. That was probably the reason for the disturbance. In the course of the disturbance a man went into the shop and found the defendant brandishing a revolver and a knife. The man went to get the revolver away from the defendant and would say that he was cut by the knife.

PC Soames, who gave evidence of arrest, stated in cross examination that a showcase had been pushed behind the shop counter and was smashed. He could not say that the doors of the shop had been forced - they were open when he got there. The prisoner had an injury to his head.

Mr Ricketts: Would you describe it as an extremely hostile crowd?

PC Soames: They were extremely hostile towards the prisoner.

Mr Ricketts: The attitude of the crowd was such that it might terrify a person?

PC Soames: Yes. As a matter of fact, he fainted when he saw the crowd in the doorway.

Harry Samuel Alley, a motor driver of Blundell Street, said that at about 10.40 pm he was on his way home, when he saw a crowd outside the shop. The door was open and the lights of the shop were on. He looked in and saw Arnold, who had a revolver in his right hand and a knife in the left. "I rushed up to the counter and tried to disarm him," said Alley. "I laid across the counter and tried to knock the revolver from his hand. I felt a pain in my right hand, I found my hand was bleeding."

Replying to Mr Ricketts, he said that he could not say whether the door was forced open. He had no idea why the crowd were outside the shop. Witness heard shouts of "Blackshirt!" from the crowd. He knew that the defendant was a member of the Fascist party, because he had seen him selling "Action" and also because Arnold had had meetings in the street. He did not notice another man there.

Mr Ricketts: I suggest that you went into the shop, caught hold of a man and pushed him through the gap which had been made among the crowd?

Mr Alley: That is a lie, sir. - He denied having released the bolts on the shop door.

Mr Ricketts: And as a result of that the crowd rushed in and commenced to break up the shop?

Mr Alley: Definitely no, sir. I first went into the shop and said "George, why don't you be an Englishman and put that revolver and knife away? - He did not at any time see members of the crowd throwing the goods about in the shop.

Mr Ricketts: Do you agree that the prisoner might have unintentionally inflicted this injury?

Mr Alley: I quite agree.

The evidence disclosed that Mr Alley, possibly foolishly, did go into this shop and that the defendant was in a state of frenzy because there was an infuriated crowd outside the premises and had a useless firearm and a knife. 

Magistrate ordered a trial by jury so both sides could be heard in court.