Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

5th April 1923

Cigarettes and Matches in Pit

Whitehaven Miner Fined

At Whitehaven, on Thursday, Ernest Hellon, shifthand, Earls Road, Bransty, Whitehaven, was charged with having a box of matches and 13 cigarettes in his possession in Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, on 10th March.

George McClellan, 8, Williamson's Lane, Whitehaven, onsetter and searcher at Wellington Pit, said on 10th March he searched the men as they came down the pit to go to a part of the mine where safety lamps were used. On searching defendant he found a box of matches and a packet of cigarettes. Defendant said he did not know how they came to be there.

Mr. Sumner said defendant left for work in a hurry. He took a cigarette and instead of putting the packet and matches back on the shelf he put them in his pocket. No one was more surprised than defendant when he found he had them in his pocket at the pit.

A fine of 40s was imposed.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.