Mexborough and Swinton Times, May 6th, 1932
Mexoro’ Collision
Amusement Caterer Fined
As a result of a collision at Mexborough on March 23rd between a traction engine and a horse and cart, Arthur Tuby, amusement caterer, Doncaster, was fined £5 and Richard Hobson, steerer, Sheffield, £3, at Doncaster, on Tuesday, for driving to the danger of the public.
Malcolm Isaiah Walker (18), Lower Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, said on March 23rd about 1 p.m. he was driving a horse and cart carrying coal in Market Street, Mexborough. He was in the bottle neck on the Denaby side of the Fire Station when he saw a large traction engine approaching. “I could only see the back of the driver, because he was bending down. I shouted to him to stop, as we could not both get through but he took no notice. I saw there was going to be an accident so I tried to get my horse and cart on to the causeway. The engine came on and his front wheel cashed into one on the cart. The horse was knocked down and dragged with the cart by the engine for five or six yards.” Tuby was driving the engine in the middle of the road before the accident. Owing to the collision the horse’s harness was badly damaged and the horse’s ribs were hurt, and its knees cut and bruised. “I asked the driver of the engine what he had been doing to hit my cart and he told me to shut up and he would see the insurance company.” Tuby had to reverse to release the cart.
Arthur Gillett, labourer, 7 Leach Road, Mexborough, and Leonard Millington, miner, (23) 32, Market Street, Mexborough who witnessed the accident, gave evidence.
P.c. Batterbee said there were horse hairs on the road and other marks showing that the horse had been dragged just over five yards. Other marks showed that the near wheels of the engine were three feet from the proper side. “It was obvious that Tuby had gone up the middle of the road without noticing where he was going.” The road at the bottle neck was only 14ft 7ins. wide. The width of the engine at the rear wheels was 8ft. 6ins. and that of the cart 5ft 6ins. When he asked Tuby for an explanation, Tuby replied that he was bending down mending the fire and did not think there was anything in the road.
Mr. C. S. Ward (defending) submitted there was no evidence against Hobson, who was not the actual driver. Tuby found it necessary to fire up and for a second or so failed to keep a look-out. When he did see the horse and cart he was so near that he could not avoid an accident, though he pulled up almost immediately
Tuby gave evidence to this effect and said his speed was only two miles an hour. It was the first accident he had had had in twenty years’ driving.