Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 9 July 1904
The Late Denaby Strike.
Echoes in Court.
The now historical Denaby strike came up before the public mind again on Saturday, at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, before Mr. G. B. C. Yarborough presiding, and other magistrates, when several persons were summoned for failing to pay the £6 and costs granted to the company as damages for them leaving work without giving proper notice.
The first defendant was Wm. Cawthorne, described as a miner, of Thurnscoe.
Mr. W. M. Gichard, solicitor, Rotherham, prosecuted.
The defendant, asked if he had anything to say, said he had—he should like to ask Mr. Barnard, the agent, a few questions.
Mr. Leng, one of the Court clerks, produced the register of orders made in Court on the 8th of August, 1902. He found there was an order made against defendant to pay £6 and costs to the plaintiff company. So far as their books showed no payment had been made.
Mr. A. H. Barnard, agent, said defendant had made no payment under the order.
Defendant: “Do you know I was re-engaged by the firm after the strike was over?”
Witness: “Yes.”
“And do you know that subsequently the firm gave me 14 days’ notice to leave my employment?”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember that you wrote to me begging for that notice to be withdrawn?”
“Yes.”
Mr. Gichard here objected; the questions were irrelevant to the point at issue.
The Chairman (to defendant): “We cannot re-hear that case.”
Defendant: “I am trying to show cause why I should not be made to pay.”
The Chairman: “All the company have to do is to show that you are able to pay this sum.”
Mr. Gichard put in the average earnings of the defendant from May 17th to June 21st, 1904, and they were £1 8s. 8d. per week.
Defendant: “I was one of the first, your Worships, if not the first, of the old hands to be re-engaged by the firm on the Monday following when the strike ended.”
The Chairman: “We cannot listen to that; you have to show cause why you should not pay this amount.”
Defendant: “I cannot dispute the amount.”
The Chairman: “We have nothing to do with the original quarrel. That is all settled long ago.”
Defendant: “Well, 5s. a week is a heavy sum for me to pay. In the meantime I had to sell my home and establish another; but whatever your Worships order I will do my best to carry it out.”
The Chairman: “I think the Colliery Company have treated you all very easily. We shall make an order that you pay 5s. a week, the committal to be suspended so long as regular payments are made.”
William Wilson, now residing at Bolton-on-Dearne, was the next defendant. His wife appeared for him.
Mr. Gichard said defendant agreed to make payments of 2s. 6d. weekly, but only three had been made, and finding that he had no intention of keeping up the payments the company took these proceedings. He was earning £1 14s. 10d. a week.
A similar order as in the last case was made.
Wm. Walters, Swinton, and Fred Bright, Mansfield, were similarly dealt with.
The former is earning £1 6s. a week, and the latter £1 13s.