Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 March 1913

Negligent Pit Workers

There were a number of prosecutions for breaches of colliery rules.

Sam Rushton, a “jinneyer,” of Mexboro’, was summoned at the instance of Mr. Harry Watson Smith, manager of the Denaby mine, for a breach of rule at Denaby on Feb. 19th.

Mr. F. Allen, prosecuting on behalf of the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Co., said there had been rules enforced at the colliery, and those prosecutions were brought not only for the sake of the mine, but for the protection of the men in the mine. Rushton was a “jinney man,” and it was his duty to see that the tubs were properly coupled up.

On Feb. 19th he was sent by a deputy named Blenkinsop to start his tubs at a very excessive rate, the result being that a boy was knocked over, and there was a big stoppage in the pit. It was very lucky the boy was not killed. The defendant did not use ordinary care, but did an act which was very dangerous to the mine and to himself.

The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s. and costs, or in default 14 days.