“Carnival of Window Breaking” – Wholesale Damage at Denaby

November 1907

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 2, 1907

“Carnival of Window Breaking”
Wholesale Damage at Denaby

Three rough looking dishevelled boys were brought up from the cells charged with wilful damage to windows, the property of the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries Ltd.

Their names were George Bodkin, pony driver, Mexborough, Ernest Marriott, pony driver, Conisborough, and Thomas Fisher, pony driver, Denaby.

“These lads,” said Mr F Allen, who prosecuted, “appear to have indulged in a regular Carnival of window breaking on Monday, and altogether brought 58 panes by throwing stones, doing damage to the amount of £4 2s 6d.

Mrs Bullock, of Loversall Street, Denaby Main, said that on the afternoon in question she saw the boys Marriott and Fisher, engaged in throwing stones at windows in Loversall Street and Marr Street. Two panes were broken in Loversall Street.

William Simkins said he had examined all the broken windows, and produced a list of the damage total £4 2s 6d.

Mrs Squires of 30 Balby Street she said that on Monday she saw all three boys throwing at a window, and shortly afterwards when she went past the windows she saw that they were broken.

Other Denaby Matrons came forward and spoke to seeing the three youthful defendants who engaged upon the wanton damage to windows.

I don’t know what on earth possessed them to go on like this,” said Mr F Allen.

The stonethrowers had no explanation to offer.

The Chairman: This damage is excessive; it is more than one can conceive that boys like you could do, unless you deliberately set your minds to it. You will be fined 1/- and costs, and the damage will be divided among you.