Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 14 May 1889
Rotherham West Riding Police Court. Monday.
A Rash Pit Lad.
William Blant, youth employed at Denaby Main Colliery, was summoned for assaulting Stephen Galvin, a filler at the same colliery, on May 7 ; also with breach of special rules 97and 85.
The evidence showed that the defendant on being rebuked by Calvin for using indecent abusive language struck him on the head with a safety lamp, causing a rather serious wound.
This was breach rule against the misuse of safety lamps, as such the defendant’s might have caused a serious accident down the pit. On May be went out of his turn to get into the cage ascend, and when his passage was obstructed by the ” hanger on” be pushed him to the ground, and disobeyed his orders to wait until his turn, over 300 men being waiting.
For assault defendant was fined 20s including costs, or fourteen days’ imprisonment; and for the breaches of rules 5s. and costs in each case, or ten days’ imprisonment.