Joking at Denaby Pit

William Wilson, William Jackson, and William Ackroyd, miners, appeared on remand on a charge of stealing a shilling, the property of Samuel Hughton, at Denaby.

Prosecutor said on the fifth of the present month he was in his working place in Denaby pit. Ackroyd came up and got hold of him, and shouted to the other two prisoners, who were near. Wilson took the shilling from his pocket, and Ackroyd and Jackson held him.

Wilson now questioned prosecutor as to whether he had not been rattling the shilling in his pocket during the day. He admitted that he thought it was all a piece of fun, and that the prisoner had also said so. Mr Chambers, the manager of the colliery, had advised him to put the case into the police man’s hand and the defendant were only working men he hoped the magistrates would deal leniently with them.

On Wednesday morning Jackson told him it would be all right. He did not then understand that Jackson intended by that to pay the shilling back. He thought the defendant had carried the joke too far – defendant pleaded guilty – and denied that it was their intention to keep the shilling.

The magistrates ordered the prisoners to return the shilling, which police Constable Midgley had in his possession, to the prosecutor, and fined them 5s and costs – or 14 days to the house of correction.