Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 28 May 1904
Denaby Colliery Company’s Prosecutions
Serious Offences
The Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries Ltd. were prosecutors in several cases where breaches of rules in the collieries had been committed. Mr. W. M. Gichard prosecuted in each case.
The first taken was one against a youth named Arthur Wood, who lives at Mexboro’, but whose occupation was not stated. He was charged with a breach of special rule 4, by doing an act in the mine likely to endanger the safety of other persons in or about the mine.
Mr. Gichard, in opening the case—the defendant having pleaded not guilty—said on the date named in the summons, the 9th of May, after the workings shift the defendant, with other workmen, was being drawn out of the pit in the cage when he reached over the shoulder of a man who was stood between him and a lad named Depledge, and pulled his hair, and then knocked Depledge’s cap off. The boy Depledge left go his hold upon the rail, which was provided so they could steady themselves, and tried to prevent his cap falling down the shaft. The man who separated the defendant and Depledge caught hold of the latter, and so prevented him from falling down the shaft too. It appeared that only on the previous day the defendant had struck the boy Depledge, and the defendant and others must be taught that interference of that sort must be put a stop to. A very serious thing might have happened in that case, as the Bench would see, the lad having a very narrow escape with his life. The defendant was a much bigger lad than Depledge, and he had bullied him on several occasions, saying he would report him to the management. Only a fortnight ago he gave him a black eye.
Charles Depledge gave evidence bearing out this statement, and John Whetton, the man in question, also was sworn and gave corroborative evidence.
Mr. Gichard said he was instructed to press the case, and it was most serious.
The Chairman, who characterised it as a most serious offence, fined the defendant 20s. and the costs, which amounted to 23s. 6d.
James Joyce, of Denaby, was summoned for a breach of special rule 51, by disobeying the orders of the hanger-on, on the 6th May. Defendant appeared and pleaded guilty.
On the date in question, whilst the hanger-on was engaged in his duties at the pit-bottom in the Cadeby Colliery, the defendant and others came up. The rule was that all should take their turn in entering the cage to be taken out of the mine, but defendant and others jumped on the cage and would not leave when requested. The others did so after some time, but the defendant refused, and the drawings were delayed for some time.
The defendant was fined 20s. including the costs.
Henry Ogden, of Conisboro’, was summoned for riding upon an underground road without permission, thereby infringing rule 90. In consequence of frequent offences of this description, men had been told off to watch, and the defendant was caught.
He pleaded guilty, and he was warned by the Chairman, and fined 15s. including costs.
William Childs and Robert Smith, pony drivers, residing at Mexboro’, were summoned for cruelly beating a horse at Conisboro’, on the 11th May.
On this date the two lads were seen to thrash a pony with a whip when in the stables.
Each defendant was fined 10s. and 11s. costs.
Richard Childs, a pony driver, of Mexboro’, was summoned for a similar offence on the 13th May. He was seen to strike a pony with a “peggy.”
Defendant said he was very sorry he lost his temper.
A fine of 20s. including costs was imposed.