Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 22April 1911
Warning to Denaby People
“We want Denaby people to understand that they must use the footbridge, and that when the gates are locked no one in any account was try to cross the railway line,” said Inspector Hall of the great Central Railway, who prosecuted, Thomas O’Malley, miner, Albert Smith, groundsman, Richard Jones, Alfred Gomerson, pit hands, all of Denaby and John Thomas Lawrence (14) pit hand of Mexborough, for trespassing on the railway at Denaby.
Detective Brown, of the Great Central Railway’s detective staff, when on special duty at the Denaby Crossing on 31st of March, saw Jones and Gunnarsson climb over the railings and cross the line when the gates were closed. It was just as easy for them to use the footbridge. Trains were due at the time, and the lads ran great risks.
PC Shuker spoke to catching O’Malley and Smith.
Detective Whitehouse saw young Lawrence also climb over the railings when the gates were locked.
The sergeant described the crossing as a very busy one; and the date in question, Saturday, April 1, thousands of people passed over it. None of them bothered using the footbridge.
The defendant, with exception of Lawrence, were ordered to pay 1/- and 10/6 costs each, and Lawrence was ordered to pay 2/6, the costs in this case been remitted to the company.
The Chairman hope the lads would take the case as a warning. They were all first offenders.