Mexborough and Swinton Times October 21, 1905
Police Courts.
Doncaster West Riding.
Saturday – before Mr G. B. C. Yarbrough (in the chair), Mr. W. J. Huntress. Mr J. Hodgson, Mr J. C. Coleman, and Mr Harrison.
Denaby Judgement Summonses.
Mr W. M. Gichard appeared on behalf of the Denaby and Cadeby Main collieries, Ltd who are the complainant’s in a judgement summons obtained three years ago against Thomas Cope a miner, now residing at Thurnscoe.
The usual order of 5/-per week was made, the commitment of a month being suspended so long as the payments are kept up.
A similar summons had been issued against John Thomas Thornton of Treeton who did not appear
Mr Gichard explained that the money had been owing for three years, and in this case he was instructed to apply for a larger order. He applied for 10 shillings per week.
The magistrates made an order accordingly.
Mexborough and Swinton Times October 21, 1905
Breaches of Colliery Rules at Denaby Main.
Two Denaby miners named Frank Baldwin and Noah Baker, were summoned for having committed a bunch of colliery rule 101.
The defendants appeared and pleaded guilty.
Mr Gichard explained that the offence consisted of not having set sufficient sprags underneath undermined coal.
The two defendants were miners, and worked together in one stall. On the date in question it was found that they had 12 feet of coal undermined to a depth of 3 feet without having any sprag set. Two sprags, in addition to those already up, should have been set.
The rule provided that they should be set every 6 feet.
Each defendant was fined 5s and costs.
Mexborough and Swinton Times October 21, 1905
Cruelty to a pony in the Denaby Main mine.
A Mexborough driver named Joseph Smith, was also summoned for having cruelly ill treated a pony in Denaby Main, on 5 October
Mr Gichard stated that the defendant was employed at the Denaby Main, and on 5 October whilst in number 70 gate, he was seen by another driver named Green to strike the pony, which had been entrusted to his care, twice with an iron locker. The blows were as heavy as one could give. He afterwards threw the iron locker at their animals striking it on its hind legs.
Green told the boy to leave the pony alone, but he told him to go to —– . The animal was off work, very weak in consequence of the injury.
Charles Green, the pony driver in question, gave evidence bearing out this statement.
Defendant pleaded guilty, stating that he did not mean to hurt the pony. – The costs were 17/6 and the chairman, in ordering defendant to pay an exclusive penalty of 40/-said there was considerable doubt as to whether or not the defendant had not been previously convicted.
If they were sure of it, they could have sent him to prison without giving him the option of paying a fine. If he was brought there again on a similar charge he would be sent to prison in all probability.