Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Monday 16 May 1938

Obstruction on Pit Railway

Man’s Alleged Trick to ” Get His Own Back ”

Roy Llndley (22), haulage hand, Richmond Road, Thurnscoe, was sent to prison for three months, at Doncaster on Saturday, for wilfully placing an obstruction on train line in Hickleton Main Colliery, and for interfering with the signalling apparatus.

Mr. C. R. Marshall (prosecuting), said that on May 2 official found a pair of old truck wheels fixed between the rails on the “paddy” mall tine underground, and that the signalling wires had been pulled down.

When Lindley was interviewed by the manager, he said that he had done this because he wanted to “get his own back ” on a workmate.

Mr. Marshall said 150 men would have ridden the “paddy” mall from the coal face at the end of the shift, and. unquestionably, there would have been a serious accident had not the obstruction been found.

Lindley said that he was ill, and did not know what he was doing. He now realised the seriousness of it.

The Chairman (Mr. Mark Nokes) said It was the “silliest and most grievous act he had ever known committed in a mine.”