Mexborough and Swinton Times, February 28.
Threatening the under viewer at the Denaby Main Colliery.
William Hewitt, a colliery stallholder, was charged with using threats to Enoch Caswell, the under viewer at the Denaby Main Colliery, on the 25th, January.
Mr Parker Rhodes said he was instructed by the Denaby Main Colliery to prosecute the prisoner.
The complainant would swear that he was afraid of the prisoner. When he said in the dock that he did not know the man, it was perfectly true. He told Mrs Blewett that he intended to take the prosecutor’s life that evening, and to be peace for him if he could only come across him. When he was going away she asked him for his name, and he told her to go to —-; she would be a widow before tomorrow morning, and he went away.
Mrs Blewett sent word to her husband take care, and come home by a another way. He was instructed to press this matter because the owners of the Colliery considers it was a very serious question if threats like those were to be used to a person who had never done anything more than carry out his duty to the best of his ability for his employers.
He held in his hand a bundle of letters which were a disgrace to the country and a disgrace to the workmen had penned them. They were addressed to persons who have never done anything else than manage the colliery to the best of their ability.
The complainant have been told that he might meet the fate of Lord Leitrim, and had received other letters containing similar threats. If such letters came to him he should put them on the fire back, but when they were received by men who were doing their duty through a dispute, such as had taken place at Denaby, they were apt to make the man who receive them feel uncomfortable. If he proved what he had stated he should asked their worships to take so steps to prevent this man from carrying out the threats, he had made.
Mrs Letitia Blewett said she was the wife of William Blewett, who was an under viewer at the Denaby Main Colliery. On the evening of 25 January, the prisoner came to the door of their house, and asked her if her husband was in. She told him that the master was at the pit, and asked him what he wanted. He said that her husband had robbed him of 10 shillings. She told him that ifhe will go to the pit, and there is anything wrong, it would be made right. He said he would not go to him, but if he met him he would give him a blow between the eyes.She told him not to talk like that. He replied that he would be Peace for him that night. She asked him what his name was, and he replied go to —, you will be a b — widow tonight. He swore that he would kill her husband. She sent to her husband immediately, when she saw him. She told him what had taken place. She had no doubt about the prisoner being the man.
William Blewett said that he was afraid that the prisoner would dohimsome bodily harm.
Elizabeth Farmer, a girl, 15 years of age, corroborated Mrs Blewett’s evidence.
William Blewett was recalled, and in reply to questions by the chairman said there had been no dispute between him and the prisoner in reference to money. He had never claimed any money from them, and the prisoner had never told him that he had prevented him from getting any money. At the time of the strike in October all the men left, and the prisoner amongst them. He was a Stallman, and witness did not know what holing or bearing there had been done.
When the men went in the prisoner asked him for work and he told him to call again. Whenhe hadseen the deputy, and asked if there was room. If so he would find prisoner work. He was to call again at 1:30 o’clock, but he had never done so.
PC Midgley said that he apprehended the prisoner at Platts Commonon Saturday about 2:30 o’clock. He had been trying for some time to findthe prisoner but could not do so.
Enoch Caswell, said that when they went out on strike. There would be about 40 yards of coal holed in his place. They would be about £10 worth. After the strike, he got another place, and mended his job. He asked Mr Blewett if he come back again, and he replied that he should not work there any more. He promised to pay what was due to him but he did not do so. When he saw Mrs Blewett he told her that when he saw her husband he should tell him how he had robbed him. He did not say five words to the woman.
The Chairman: You lost your work and your place. It shows the folly of leaving it you know.