Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 20 March 1899
The Birch for Conisborough Boys.
On Saturday, Doncaster, John Henry Waterfield and John William Thomas, seven and eight years of age respectively, were charged with putting stones on the line at, Conisborough, on the 21st ult.
Walter Scott, lampman in the employ of the Central Railway Company, said he saw the boys place the stones on the line, and then run away.
He removed the stones. Afterwards he saw the boys throwing stones at the tram
Defendants were sentenced to six strokes with birch rod, and 15s. costs each.