Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 08 October 1910
Denaby Father Gets Six Weeks
George Cosgrove, miner, of Annerley St, Denaby, told a pitiful story to the Bench, but they didn’t believe him.
He was charged with industrial school arrears in connection with his two children, Margaret and George, were in a St Helens institution. Defendant was ordered by the court to pay 18p weekly for the last child, but when he had paid nothing since October 1909, when he paid arrears up to the previous June.
Supt. Hickes said the man had been trying to avoid payment, and PS Ramsay swore that Cosgrove had been seen repeatedly by the police, but he had made no effort to pull up the areas. He had been out of Denaby for several months now, but had good work while he was in the place.
Answering Cosgrove, the Sergeant admitted that he might have lost a fortnight’s work last year on account of eye disease.
Cosgrove, on oath, stated that he was afflicted with miners eye last November, and applied for compensation. Mr W H Chambers suggested that he should do light work in the pit top. He “paddled along” at that for some time, and then went to Grimethorpe colliery, when he did similar light work. His eyes still troubled him, but two months ago he made a big effort to work as a miner. The result was that a pick went right through his hand the first day he worked.
Cosgrove gave the names of several doctors he had been under, and handed in a certificate from Doctor Forster.
Cross-examined by the Superintendent he denied that his reason for leaving Denaby was to get out of reach of the police, were pressing him to pay up. His eyes were still bad stop
Supt .Hickes: but you read out the words of the oath all right.
Cosgrove: Did I?
While he had been away from Denaby he had helped his wife and family, who still lived there.
21 days’ imprisonment was ordered in each charge