Mexborough Swinton Times January 10, 1896
A Dangerous Cartload
Thomas William Liversedge, of Sheffield, was summoned under the Breach of Explosive Act for committing a breach of the same at Cadeby on 23rd December.
PC Lund stated that he was on duty at Cadeby, when he saw the defendant driving a cart over the bridge leading from Conisborough to Cadeby Main Colliery, and when he got over the bridge he got out of his car and enquired his way to the colliery offices, and being told he left his cart with no one in charge, and made his way to the offices.
Some colliers were coming back, and one of them out of curiosity went and looked in the cart. PC Lumb then overheard him say, “By jove, mates, it’s dynamite, keep clear of it.”
PC Lumb then went and found that it was dynamite, 250 lbs altogether, had no cover on it, as he could read the name on the boxes. PC Lumb thereupon kept guard over the cart and its dangerous contents. When the defendant came back he asked him his name and address, which he at first declined to give, but eventually did so.
The cart and its contents belong to Messrs Roper and son of Sheffield.
Mr Pawson defended.
Sgt Ambler testified as the cart being there.
Defendant was placed in the witness box, and stated that he went to deliver the explosive, and not having been there before, went to enquire the way to the colliery offices. Leaving the cart in what he considered to be the safest place, he went to the office to fetch the key of the magazine in order to put the dynamite therein.
By Superintendent Blake: He did not know that it was the law that he should carry instructions with reference to leaving loads to take care of themselves.
Mr H.S. Witty said that the cart are been left on the company’s premises and not on public road. He could not get his cart any further towards the offices, because of an embankment.
The Bench said that when a man takes a cart with 250 lbs of dynamite in it through a populous district like Denaby, and leaves it for half an hour, the offence could not be punished too severely.
They will put on the full penalty – £10 and costs.