Stones on the Line

Extraordinary Affair Near Doncaster

Two young men, Ralph Gray, 25 years of age, and William Gray, 20 years of age, brothers, were brought before Messrs. J. W. Hodgson and W. Cocking, at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, yesterday, charged with placing an obstruction on the Great Central Railway at Warmsworth on Sunday evening.

The prisoners live at Levitt Haggs, in the Warmsworth parish, and are boatmen.

Detective-inspector Lardner, in the employ of the Great Central Railway, stated that in consequence of complaints he had received about stones being on the line near Conisborough, he and Police-constable Richardson were on the watch on Sunday evening.

At seven o’clock he received information that some stones had been placed on the rails at Warmsworth. He and Police-constable Richardson proceeded to the place indicated, and when half-way between the river bridge and the quarry witness saw the two prisoners on the line.

There was a heap of stones there, and the prisoners appeared to be lifting them. Prisoners ran away; witness and Richardson followed, and after 15 minutes’ search found them in a quarry.

William was sitting down holding a dog, and Ralph came towards them with a gun under his arm. Witness asked them what they were doing on the line, and Ralph said, “We saw some stones on the line, and we did not want anyone to get hurt.”

Witness asked them why they ran away. Ralph said, “We did not want to be seen there.”

Inspector Mallard, in the employ of the Great Northern Railway Company, stated that, in consequence of what the stationmaster said to him when he was leaving Conisborough for Doncaster by the 7.14 train, he kept a sharp look-out and saw the prisoners on the line 500 yards on the Doncaster side of the tunnel, half-way up the bank.

The train was going only four or five miles an hour, and prisoners were only three or four yards away when he passed them, therefore he got a good look at them. When he got to Doncaster he wired to Detective Inspector Lardner.

Prisoners were remanded till Saturday, bail offered by their father being refused.

It appears that the stationmaster was led to take action because the driver of an excursion train, which arrived from Doncaster at Conisborough just before the 7.14 left, reported that he had struck some object on the line.