Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 9 April 1904
Wanton Damage At Conisboro’
Edward Ward, Denaby; George Smith, Joseph Green, William Williams, Thomas Oldfield, Patrick Riley, New Conisboro’; miner, Robert Shaw, John Rattigan, and John William Parker, pony driver, of Denaby, were summoned by Roden J. Clarkson for damaging a fence at Conisboro’ on March 20th.
All the defendants appeared, with the exception of Green, Williams, Oldfield, and Parker, and pleaded not guilty.
P.C. Thomas stated that on Sunday he was on duty on North Cliff Hills, Denaby, concealed behind a hedge with P.C. Horton, when they saw a batch of about 40 to 50 members, about 70 or 80 yards away, on some grass land belonging to Mr. Clarkson. They were engaged in a game called “tossing.”
They watched them until 3.30, and then went towards them. When they got within 20 yards of them they saw them break up and run away in all directions. They ran through the hedge, breaking them down, doing a lot of damage.
They ran the defendants in the direction of where P.C.’s Wales and Ransom were concealed, and they saw the defendants. They had received many complaints from Mr. Clarkson respecting the damage.
P.C. Horton, P.C. Wales, and P.C. Ransom gave corroborative evidence.
They saw the defendants break up the hedges. They could not get into the field without going through the hedges.
Mr. Clarkson assessed the damage at 1s. each.
Defendants pleaded ignorance, but the Bench fined Green, Williams, Oldfield, Riley, and Parker 10s. including costs and damage. Ward, Smith, Shaw, and Rattigan were fined 5s.
Serious Charge Against A New Conisboro’ Miner
Oliver Lloyd (28), miner, New Conisboro’, was charged at Tredegar, Monmouthshire, on Tuesday, with stealing a quantity of jewellery, value £113, the property of James O’Connor, jeweller, New Tredegar, on Feb. 1st.
Sergeant Humphreys stated that he arrested prisoner at New Conisboro’. He admitted having a ring, and the sergeant said that the ring was one of the articles found on the prisoner.
Prisoner was remanded for a week.