Thread: Coal Pits
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Old 02-05-2016, 01:37 PM
janwhin janwhin is offline
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Prosecution of William Reed (Reid) Morpeth Herald 10 January 1903

“William Reed, engineman, was summoned for being guilty of an alleged contravention of the Coal Mines Regulations Act, which set forth that any person who shall have in his possession any intoxicating liquor or be about the mine in a state of intoxication would be liable to a penalty. – Mr. Charles Percy, solicitor, Alnwick, appeared on behalf of the Shipley Coal Company, by whom it appeared the accused been employed. - Mr. Percy alleged that Reed was found in a state of intoxication when he was on the point of lowering the men down the colliery, and there might have been a serious matter if he had not been found out. – Reed said he had been dismissed on the spot, and had since been at Radcliffe, consequently he had not received the summons to appear at court till the night previous. Under the circumstances, he applied for an adjournment to bring forward witnesses to say he was solid and sober at the time. – The Bench adjourned the case.”

He was found guilty after contradictory evidence was given at the next hearing. Witnesses included: Joseph Wolf, manager; George Stoddart, engineman; James Thain, deputy overman; John Stoddart, miner; Thomas Bolton, miner; William John Stoddart, fireman; Andrew Youll, miner.
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