South Yorkshire Times — Friday, 1 June 1934
Damage In Denaby Wood
A “Most Disgraceful Case”
“It is a most disgraceful case,” said the Chairman (Mr. G. B. Shuffler) on Saturday Bench three Conisbrough miners, John Howe, George Bishop, and Thomas Garner, were each fined 30s. for damaging a tree in Denaby Wood on May 7th.
P.C. Gregory said that at 11.35 p.m. he was on duty near the wood when he heard the sound of somebody sawing. On investigating he found a large tree had been sawn down. When charged with the offence, Howe said: “I thought it was all right.”
Garner said: “I was short of firewood,” and Bishop made no reply.
Walter M. Beeden, estate agent, asked the Bench to try and stop the damage. They did not mind people walking through the woods. If they were old trees he would not object to giving a proper written order for their removal, but these people were not damaging just old trees.
Inspector Wolfe said the damage was done at the time of the Cadeby strike.
Defendants pleaded that they were on strike and without fires.
In another case William Gaffner, carpenter, John Robert Burns, miner, and Clarence Heeley, miner, all of Conisbrough, were fined 15s. each.
P.C. Archer said the defendants were cutting branches from hazel and ash trees on May 9th at 7.30 p.m. Much damage had been done to saplings in the wood.