Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 April 1902
Denaby Colliery Prosecutions.
David Lowe, William Parkes, John Tracey, all miners of Denaby Main, were summoned at the instance of the Denaby Main Colliery for a breach of Special Rule 106.
Mr. W. M. Gichard, prosecuted, and stated that the three defendants were charged with a breach of special colliery rule 106. which provided “that all persons employed in the mine shall be under the control of the manager, under-manager and deputy, and obey their lawful commands.”
The three defendants were summoned for not obeying the lawful commands of the manager. Those defendants and another man, who was at present in hospital suffering from injuries he sustained through contravening the Laws, were all in the West Plane on the 20th March, in the Cadeby Main Colliery; that was a plane in which the tail rope worked, and by it the corves were drawn up.
On the date in question the three defendants were going up the incline, when they came to a door which prevented people going up the incline, and for the purpose of ventilation. They were told by the hanger-on that they could not go up the road until the corves had been stopped, and the rope had ceased working. That rule was very well known by the men, and notices posted at intervals of 300 yards. When they got to the door the hanger on told them that the rope was working, and that it would cease at 9-45–it was then 9-30.
The defendants attempted to push through the door, but the hanger-on, noticing the danger, spragged the door by putting a piece of wood in the catch, but by working the door the defendants. who were determined, and had made up their minds to go up the incline, whether the hanger-on wanted to do his duty or not, got through the door, and were proceeding up the incline when, unfortunately, some corves broke loom, and came back upon the men. Two of the men got out of the way, but Killahieney (the fourthman) and , Tracy, wore not so fortunate, although Tracy escaped with a few bruises, but Killahieney had his ankle broken.
Ernest Davis and James Springthorpe gave confirmatory evidence.
There previous convictions against Low and Parkes, who were fined 30s., including costs, and Tracy was fined 20s.. including costs.