Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 16 September 1890
Breach of Colliery Rules.
Samuel Adsetts, a filler, was summoned for having infringed special rules 106 and 85 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act by disobeying the lawful commands of Sheldon, a deputy, and Wm. Rosser, hanger-on tho Denaby Main Colliery on the 4th September.
Defendant entered the mine, and on seeing Sheldon said he should not go to work the place where he had been the day before. Sheldon ordered him to to his work, but he refused, and intimated his intention of leaving the mine. Sheldon told him that if was dissatisfied with his employment he could give notice and leave.
Defendant went the pit bottom, and inasmuch as had no special order the declined to allow him to ascend. Just when the signal had been given for the cage to go up with a miner named Jno. Draper, defendant jumped in at considerable risk to his life. The shaft was 450 yards deep, and the time occupied in reaching surface was rather over a minute.
Mr. Hickmott prosecuted, and stated that unless the rules were enforced the mine could not be satisfactorily carried on.
Mr. Willis, who defended, questioned the right of the colliery company to keep a man in the mine for eight hours when he desired to leave it. Why had not the deputy given a note to pass the defendant out? The defendant, he argued, had not committed any offence against the rules for which he should punished. The reason the defendant objected work because he had only been able to earn 4s. 10d., which was for removing dirt on the previous day.
The Bench imposed fine of 5s. and costs in each case.