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Breaches of Rules at Manvers Main Colliery.

October 1891

Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 30 October 1891

Breaches of Rules at Manvers Main Colliery.

Walter Wray, employed at the Manver’s Main Colliery, was summoned for having violated Special Rule 4 by an act likely to endanger the safety of some person in the mine; and Joseph Vickers, engaged at the same pit, was charged with a breach of Special Rule 68, by neglecting to see that the couplings of certain corves were securely fastened, on the 15th lust.

Both defendants pleaded guilty.

Mr. Hickmott prosecuted, and said Vickers was employed as a “jennier ” in a self-acting jenny. Fifty full corves going down would draw up fifty empty ones. It was Vickers’ duty to see that the couplings of the corves were securely fastened before he allowed the train to go, and the other lad should have received a signal before he removed what was known as the juts” and run away points, which were placed in the jenny to prevent corves going in the event of an accident.

On the day named, Vickers, without seeing that the couplings were perfectly secure, took the locker out of the wheels and started the train down the jenny. The other defendant, Wray, without receiving a signal, removed his juts and runaway points. The couplings between the second and third corves, it transpired, had not been properly fastened and the result was that 48 of the corves dashed down the incline. Eight were smashed to pierce and others were also damaged. Altogether the colliery company sustain damage amounting to over £30. There was the greatest possible danger to life on account of the action of the defendants, because there were people working near the place. In going down the incline the calls left the rails.

A Corporal proved the case. The jenny, he said, was 1,500 yards long and self-acting. He corroborated Mr. Hickmott’s opening statements.

The magistrates fined Vickers 5s. and costs and Wray 2s. 6d. and costs.