South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 14 July 1893
Taking Wood from Denaby “Park”
Thomas Ramshaw and Watson Brown, miners, were charged with stealing wood rails and a deal board, the property of the Denaby Main Company, at Conisborough, on July 2nd.
Mr. Baddiley defended.
P.C. Jarvis, of New Denaby, said he was employed by the Colliery Company and paid by them. He was in Denaby Road, New Conisborough, between 11 and 12 on the night in question, and heard some knocking at boards. Walking on, he came up to the defendants carrying off some wood. When they saw him they sat down on the grass with the wood underneath them. He asked them what they were doing, and they said, “Nay, now,” and then said they had been for some water. When he drew their attention to the wood they said they were taking it home. There was a hammer by them and each said it was not his. A little further on he found some posts and rails missing from a fence of Denaby Main Company. The rails were some that had been removed from a place where a fire had been made by some children. The fence had been put back out of the way of the fire, and would have been replaced in a short time.
Cross-examined, the public went to the land in question and played on it. He did not know they called it the “Park.” He had to turn the children off regularly. The men were 120 yards from where the sticks were removed. They took them back when he ordered them.
Harry Sykes Witty, certificated manager for the Denaby Main Colliery Company, said he knew the place where the wood had been removed. The prisoners had no authority to take away any part of the fence. The wood was worth at least 1s.
Mr. Baddiley practically admitted the offence, and said a small fine might meet the case.
Fined 20s., including costs each.