Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 27 February 1904
Colliery Prosecutions from Denaby
A number of cases were before the Court on charges of breaches of colliery rules. Mr. W. M. Gichard appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company.
John Owen, a pony driver, of Denaby, was summoned for a breach of colliery rule 65 in neglecting to fix a backstay or drag behind some corves which were ascending an incline. He was also summoned for having ridden along an underground road without permission.
He was fined 10s., including costs.
For having taken matches and tobacco pipes into the mine, John Wilson, Edward Cuddy, and John Cowan, miners, Denaby; William Ackroyd, dealer, Conisboro’; Edward Bansor, clipper, Denaby; and Fred Hinchliffe, driver, Denaby, were each fined 5s., inclusive of the costs.
Tom Nicholson, miner, Denaby; Henry Jowett, miner, Mexboro’; and Thomas Freeman, miner, Denaby, were respectively fined 5s. and costs for having failed to set a prop at proper intervals to prevent an unexpected fall of roof.
Henry Simpson, a pony driver, of Mexboro’, was summoned for ill-treating a pony at Conisboro’ on the 22nd January.
Mr. Gichard stated the defendant was charged with cruelly ill-treating a pony named Frank. He was seen by a deputy coming up an incline with some full tubs, which were being drawn by the pony. He was thrashing it unmercifully with a piece of wood which was formerly a prop, one of the sides of which was jagged. The defendant hit the pony about a dozen blows, causing wounds on the pony’s back, causing it to be off work two days.
Defendant pleaded guilty, and a fine of 20s., including costs, was imposed.