Mexborough & Swinton Times, November 13, 1891

Breaches of Colliery Rules at Cortonwood

James Edward Seales, miner, employed at the Cortonwood Colliery, was summoned for having committed a breach of special rule 94 by neglecting to see that his safety lamp was securely locked

John Hutchinson, lampman at the same colliery, was summoned for having violated special rule 75 by neglecting on giving out a certain lamp to see that the same was securely locked.

John Pallister, deputy, was also summoned, the charge against him being that he neglected to examine the safety lamp to ascertain whether it was in working order.

Mr. Gichard prosecuted. He stated that on the 28th October defendant Scales went to the lamp cabin to get his lamp. While there he asked for a spare lamp which was accordingly given to him. He proceeded down the pit, and having gone a distance of something like a mile he found that one of the lamps was not securely lots. It might have been a very serious matter, especially in a pit of that description where the seam was a fiery one.

The deputy and the lawman was charged with offences connected with the same case, but under different rules. The lamps were locked by means of a lead plug. It was alleged that the deputy neglected to examine the lamp as it was his duty to do. When the miner went down the pit he was in company with a man named Randerson. Immediately he discovered that the lamp was not properly locked he took it to the deputy who took it out of the pit at the end of the shaft.

Evidence having been given in support of the case, the magistrates fined Pallister and Hutchinson 5s. and costs each, and Seales 10s. and costs.