ONE FARTHING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 100, 8 February 1936, Page 5

ONE FARTHING

DAMAGES FOR SIR 0. MOSLEY. VERDICT IN SLANDER CASE. . FASCIST METHODS AT MEETING. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, February 7. The jury gave a verdict for Sir Oswald Mosley for one farthing damages, without costs, in the case in which he sued John Marchbank (secretary of tho National Union of Railwaymen) for slander, alleging that Marchbank in July, 1934, in a speech, used words to the effect that Sir Oswald Mosley secretly instructed Fascists to discover how many officers of the Forces would join tho Fascists and recommended members to use rubber clubs filled with shot, knuckle-dusters and knives, and also alleged that Fascists were assembling in the guise of a military machine to overthrow the Government. On June 8, 1934, a violent brawl between Fascists and Communists took place at Olympia, where Sir Oswald Mosley was addressing a crowd at a demonstration by the British Union of Fascists. Two hundred foot police and squads of mounted men were called in to settle the disturbance, which began when 100 Communists tried to smash the Fascist ranks outside the building. Inside, Sir Oswald Moslev, who wore a black shirt, was interrupted by yells and catcalls which led to hand-to-hand fights in which chairs were smashed as the combatants were ejected. In the street razor blaacs were flourished, arms were cut, coats slit amt stink bombs thrown.