Conisbrough Visitors

May 1886

Mexborough Swinton Times May 14, 1886

Conisbrough Visitors

Henry Oldfield and Thomas Harrison, colliers, Denaby and Walter Brook, boatman Mexborough were summoned for being on licensed premises during prohibitive hours at Conisborough.

Sgt Noble said on Good Friday about a 5:45 he was at the Castle Inn Conisbrough. Said he found Oldfield and Harrison sat down, and Broke in another room. He asked them what they were doing there, and they replied, “No one had asked them where they had come from.” Police Constable Cade spoke to them.

He call the attention of the landlady to them, she said she had been busy and could not attend to them. Brook was 2705 yards from his home. There was about 30 people in the house.

Police Constable Cade corroborated.

Defendant pleaded guilty, and a fine of 5s and 12s 6d costs was imposed.

Sarah Hyde Holdsworth, licensed victuallers, Conisbrough, was summoned for having the house open during prohibited hours on Good Friday.

Mr Hall appeared for the defendant.

Sgt Noble said about causes six on the day name he visited the Castle Inn, Conisbrough in company with police constable Kay, and found the defendant in the last case there, with glasses in front of them. Two of the men lived at Denaby and the other at Mexborough.

Mr Hall said the men were strangers to the defendant. The question was whether the defendant took precaution to see that no entered the house who was not entitled to do so.

The Chairman said the bench did not think sufficient precaution and been taken.

Defendant was fine 20 shillings and 13s 6d costs.

George Addy, landlord of the Eagle and Child In, Conisbrough, was summoned for a similar offence on the same day.

Inspector Barrett said at 4:45 o’clock on Good Friday he visited defendant’s house and found a man named Walter Brook and several others in the house with pots and glasses in front of them.

From Brooks Radiance to the in it was 2 miles and 578 yards. A man named Walter Cunningham was in the house, and it was 2 miles and 736 yards to his home.

Sgt Noble corroborated, and in reply to Mr Hall, said the landlord stated that he had a man at the door asking people where they came from, and Cunningham replied that he had come from Swinton, but the man, when spoken to, denied that he was asked.

Police Constable Cade also confirmed the previous evidence.

By Mr Hall: Some of the other men in the room said they had been asked

William Cunningham, boatman, Mexborough said he went into the Eagle and Child Inn. No one asked him where he came from. He did not see a man named Laughton at the door. He had not been summoned for being on licensed premises.

Mr Hall, for the defence, said he could not understand why Cunningham had not been summoned like other men for being on the premises. It would have been better if the man had been summoned, because if anyone had committed an offence it was him. He fell that he had a right to complain of the action of the superintendent. Defendant took every precaution to see that no one entered the house was not entitled to do so. He had two entrances, and paid two men 5s each, to see that no one entered who had not come more than 3 miles.

Defendant was called, and repeated this statement, and said that when the police came he called Laughton in, who said that Cunningham told him he came from Swinton. The rest of the company rose and said they all had been asked. He took every precaution keep people out who had not come the proper distance.

Joseph Laughton said he was employed by defendant, and asked everyone who entered the house where they had come from, Cunningham said he had come from Swinton. The man told the officer that he had not been asked.
The case was dismissed.
Mary Ann Birks, married and Thomas Chapman, Collier, Mexborough were summoned for being on the premises of the Red Lion Inn Conisbrough, kept by Thomas Shutt, during prohibited hours on the 23rd ult.

Defendant pleaded guilty, and a fine of 5s and 5s costs was imposed upon each of them.