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Whitehaven Herald

Article from the Whitehaven Herald, 20th June 1874

Strike Of Whitehaven Colliery Lads

Prosecutions Under The Criminal Law Amendment Act

Thursday, June 18.

Before John Thompson (chairman), H. H. Watson, R. Gibbson, and W. Harrison, Esq, and the Revs. F. W. Wicks and A. P. Curwen.

Thomas O'Hara, 18 years of age, a driver in Croft Pit, was charge under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, with obstructing Moses Dodd, and preventing him from going to his work in the said pit — Mr. W. W. Lumb prosecuted. — Complaint stated that he was a coalminer, and worked in Croft Pit. On the evening of the 9th inst. he was going to work in the pit along with William Singleton and Moses Fryers. He had got to Howgill Head Gill, when he saw from 140 to 200 people standing on the brow side. The crowd was composed of pitmen and people belonging to the town, and some women. Defendant was amongst them. When complainant and his two companions got alongside, some people in the mob said they were to go no further, and in consequence they had to stop and sit down with the crowd. They did not go to their work. They were afraid to do so, from what was said. After remaining a short time, complainant and the other two men were returning home, when they met Mr. Alexander Henderson, the overman at the pit, and along with him they returned back to their work. Some stones were thrown at them, but defendant told the parties to "drop scopping," and no more stones were thrown. Did not know who threw the stones. — Moses Fryers, coal hagger, Croft Pit, who was with complainant at the time of the alleged obstruction, corroborated this evidence. Prisoner, he added, did not tell them to sit down. — William Singleton, collier, New Houses, also with complainant and Fryers, corroborated the above evidence. Did not know that defendant stopped them going to work, as they were "varra easy" about it; they would soon have turned back themselves if the crowd had not stopped them. They were in their pit clothes, and had their lamps with them. Prisoner was there, but he did not tell them to sit down or hinder them from going to work. — Mark Gregory, collier, Hensingham, also gave evidence as to obstruction and intimidation from a large crown near Mr. Jefferson's farm on the 5th inst. Two boys came out of the crowd to witness, and, when he told them he was going to work, they said if he did they would knock his eyes out. He did not see the prisoner there. Afterwards went to work with Mr. Henderson; he dursn't have gone unless that gentleman had been with him. — Alex. Henderson, overman in Croft Pit, said he had heard about the strike amongst the pit lads on the day in question. He went towards Croft Pit, and met complainant and the two men who were with him coming back in their pit clothes. They told him the boys had stopped them, when he asked them to go back with him to the Far Style, or Fish Pit Style, where witness saw a crowd of about 120 pit lads, young girls and children. Witness sat on the style, and the men went over it to their work. Defendant was in the front of the crowd. Asked defendant the reason why he had stopped the men, when he said he would continue to do so till they had got their money back. There had been a reduction in defendant's wages of 2d. a day, he being reduced from 3s 1d. to 2s 11d. — Defendant: An ower laal for it. — Witness: The boys had struck against this deduction on the morning of the 9th inst. — P.C. Whillans deposed to seeing defendant amongst a large crowd of persons at Arrowthwaite Brow on the above date. Defendant was with twelve persons, a little apart from the rest of the mob, and he appeared to be holding a sort of consultation with them. — Mr. Lumb asked that the Bench would inflict a severe penalty. — The Bench committed defendant to prison for one month with hard labour, the Chairman adding that they had no option in the matter, and defendant had made himself liable to a three months' imprisonment.

John Knox, also employed at the above pit, and charged, with the same offence, did not appear to his summons; but a medical certificate, stating that he was suffering from measles, having been put in, the case was adjourned for three weeks.

Nicholas Morgan, 16 years of age, a trapper at William Pit, was charged under the same act with obstructing and intimidating a boy 13 years of age, named William Macklin, working in the above pit. — Mr. Lumb prosecuted. — Complainant was going to his work on the night of the 9th inst., when the defendant came from a crowd of boys who were near the pit mouth, and told him he was to stop and not to go to work. Complainant ran away in the direction of the pit, when defendant followed him, took hold of him by his muffler, knocked him down, and took his lamp from him. — Mr. Alexander Wilkinson, overman at William Pit, corroborated this evidence. — Prisoner, who admitted striking complainant and taking his lamp from him, was committed to prison for fourteen days.

Hugh McMullin, a boy also employed in William Pit, was charged with preventing William Green, 17 years of age, driver, from going to work in the said pit — Mr. Lumb prosecuted. — The charge being proved, defendant was committed to prison for 14 days.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.