Mexborough and Swinton Times February 27, 1885
Setting Fire to a Stack
William Fellowes, Maurice Dunn, and Amos Lawley, Denaby Main, were charged with firing a Stack at Denaby Main on the 19th inst., the property of the Denaby Main Colliery company.
Mr Thompson, who appeared for the prosecution, stated at the beginning of the case that he would be unable to bring evidence showing that the firing of the haystack was intentional, and in order to prove a criminal act, intent would have to be shown. He would however prove that the haystack was set on fire and ask the magistrates to reprimand the defendants and discharge them.
A lad named Henry Smith stated that there was a haystack in the “football field” at Denaby Main and on the day named he saw the three defendants in the field. Dumnnone took a pipe out of his pocket and lighted it, and subsequently give it to fellows. The defendant then went towards the stack and commenced running round it. He could not say what took place behind the stack, but Fellows shouted out that the stack was on fire, and they all run away. The stack caught fire on the side where the defendants were standing. When the defendants run away he ran after them.
By Mr Thompson: Fellowes was smoking when they went to the stack
Mr Thompson said he would carry the case no further
The chairman said the defendant must let that be a warning to them, as they had had a very narrow escape. If he were Dunn’s father he would give him a whipping for smoking. The defendants would be discharged