Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 13 January 1882
Indecently Assaulting a Bolton Female
Samuel Cooke, collier, of Bolton, was summoned for indecently assaulting Mary Ann Beaumont, aged 13, of the same village.
On the 31st of last month, the complainant said she went for some beer at a Bolton Inn, at about a quarter to nine o’clock. She saw the defendant there. He “moved” to her and left the house before her.
On going home she met him near the garden. He gave her a penny saying, “This is a Christmas-box, and you must give me a kiss.” She replied that she should not do so, and he said, “Well, I’ll take one, then.” He then placed one hand on her shoulder and another under her clothes.
She was very frightened and ran away. The man called out, “You are a ‘rum-un’; you won’t give me a kiss and say ‘Good night.’”
When she got home, she told her mother what had happened.
Lord Auckland said he had seen the man before, but did not know him.
The defendant said he never saw the girl on the night named.
The mother stated that her daughter came home crying on the night in question, and she complained of what had happened.
The defendant said he had been brought in a wrong case.
The complainant said she had no doubt about the defendant being the man by whom she was assaulted.
Lord Auckland said the bench believed every word the child had spoken. She seemed a very respectable girl, and whereas she was of tender years, unable to defend herself, the defendant was a middle-aged man, and they must defend children from such filthy fellows.
He was fined 60s. and 16s. costs.
The defendant said he could not pay.
Lord Auckland said he would have to go to the House of Correction for one month, with hard labour.
The defendant again said he could not pay in a wrong cause.
He was then removed to one side of the court, and subsequently asked how long he would be given to pay the money.
Lord Auckland said he must pay it now or go to prison, adding that if they had had the power they would have sentenced him to a longer term.
The money was not paid.
Smashing a Lamp at Manvers Main Colliery
Wm. Breach, trammer, of Mexboro’, was summoned for a breach of colliery rules.
Mr. Hall (Messrs. Gill and Hall, of Wakefield) appeared on behalf of the prosecution, and stated that the defendant was charged with damaging his lamp at the Manvers Main Colliery on the 23rd ult.
The man was throwing a piece of wood at one of the pony-drivers, when it struck a Davy lamp, smashing the glass to fragments. It was unnecessary for him to state how dangerous this was, especially at this time of the year. If there had been much gas in the place, an explosion might have been the consequence, and the lives of all the men in the pit would have been jeopardised.
The defendant complained that the pony-drivers would not let him go past them, and that made him angry.
Thomas Ward, under-viewer, explained that it was the defendant who would not let the lads go by him.
The defendant had expressed the hope that the lamp was smashed.
He was fined 30s., including the costs.
A Grievous Complaint against Kilnhurst Youths
Thos. Birkinshaw, Harry Muscroft, Geo. Holland, and Enoch Johnson, youths, of Kilnhurst, were summoned for obstructing the footpath at that village on the 28th ult.
Police-constable Hutchinson proved the case, and added that complaints had been very numerous of late by shopkeepers in consequence of lads standing in front of their shops and doing damage to them. At present there were three large panes of glass broken in the village.
Having heard the remarks of the shopkeepers, he kept a watch, being determined to put a stop to this objectionable practice.
A fine of 10s., including costs, was imposed upon each defendant; seven days’ imprisonment in default.
Another excellent set—this one especially shows public order policing, youth behaviour, and workplace safety underground all in one issue.