Silly Conduct of a Driver

Ernest Hauer, driver, at Denaby Main colliery, was summoned for a breach of special rule for by doing in the mine lightly to endanger his own life and the lives of others on Tuesday, 18 August.

He pleaded guilty.

The roof at the place where the defendant worked is clod, short, heavy stuff, which is likely to come down at any time; and what he did was to remove a prop with the result that about two tons of dirt fell out of the roof.

Mr H. H. Hickmott, who appeared for the prosecution, suggested that the defendant acted in this manner in order that he would not have to work, as work was stopped when the road way was made up.

David Lamb, Corporal, said that about a 2:45 in the afternoon of the day in question the defendant made a complaint to him with respect to a prop which he said was in his way. Witness inspected the prop and remove the corve rails away from it and fastened them down. About half past eight the same night the defendant told him he was going to knock the prop down. Witness told them not to do so, and followed as quickly as he could. He heard a noise like someone pulling dirt down, and when he got to the spot he found the defendant had removed the prop, and that about two tons of clod had come down. It was a very dangerous thing to do. If a prop had to be removed there were men especially to do the work.

Mr Hickmott informed the bench that life had been lost at Denaby Main by a similar act to that which the defendant was guilty, and the company regarded it is a very serious offence.

A fine of 10s and costs were imposed.