Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 27 December 1913

“A Foolish Trick.”

Mexboro’ Pony Driver’s Offence

Thomas Dainty, pony-driver, of Mexboro’, was summoned for a breach of the Mines Act at Denaby, on November 26th.

Mr. Allen, prosecuting, said the defendant was summoned in respect of a breach of general regulation 20 in that he committed an act likely to endanger the life of the persons in the mine. In the Denaby mine one of the planes was known as the Montagu plane, and off that there was a level known as 92’s. The ventilation of the Montagu plane was cut off by doors. On the day when the offence was committed the defendant was one of those employed in that particular part of the mine, and he had occasion on leaving work to pass through both the doors, which were kept shut by the pressure of the air. When he got through he spragged the doors so that they could not be opened, and the whole of the men were fast in the workings. They managed to get out by breaking the doors open, which was their only way of egress. Immediately on going through the doors the boy went out of the pit. He was brought before the manager and admitted the offence, and said it was a foolish trick.

The defendant now pleaded that he thought there was no danger in his spragging the doors.

Mr. Allen stated that he did not wish to be unfair to the defendant, but three days after the offence was committed one of the ponies was found with an eye knocked out, though it could not be proved that the defendant had knocked it out.

The Chairman, in ordering the defendant to pay 35s., including costs, told him that he did not come there with a very good character, and the magistrates did not hear a very good character of him.