Mexborough & Swinton Times, June 19, 1915
Damage at Denaby
Pit Boys Fined
At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court on Tuesday, before Mr J.W.Hodgson (presiding), Mr W Dotson, Mr Callard Kilner, and Mr W Hinchcliffe, two lamp boys, 14 years of age, were summoned by the Denaby Parish Council for damaging a fence at Denaby, on June 2
Mr Frank Allen, who prosecutor, said the council had been seriously troubled by people damaging fences in the vicinity of the swimming bath. They took a shortcut. Boys have been repeatedly warned, which appeared to have had no effect.
On this day Witty Milner, a watchman, saw the boys climb over a wooden fence and break off some boards. The damage was estimated at sixpence each. The council have been put to a lot of expense.
The boys were ordered to pay 4s, witnesses costs and the damage.
The father of one of the boys rather impudently remarked to the Bench, “You will have to give him time to pay,” as he was leaving the Court, whereupon the Clerk (Mr E.W.Pettifer) said, “just stand back and make your application properly. Don’t say the Court was give you time to pay, and just behave yourself.”
The Father: I have no desire to be impudent. My idea is that the boy should pay the money out of his own earnings.
The boy, it was stated, was earning 11 shillings a week.
The magistrates allowed defendants a week in which to pay.