Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 03 October 1930

Mottying At Kilnhurst

Miner Fined at Rotherham.

Mottying by a miner at Kilnhurst Colliery was mentioned at Rotherham West Riding Police Court on Monday, when John Rix, miner, Victoria Street, Kilnhurst, was summoned for having attempted to obtain by false pretences 2s. 2d. at Kilnhurst on July 29th.

Mr. A. H. Jackson, solicitor, of Messrs. Jackson and Jackson, prosecuted, and Mr. Donald Dunn, solicitor, of Messrs. Fenoughty, Dunn and Co., appeared for Rix.

Mr. Jackson said although it was only an attempt to obtain money it could not be overlooked. Rix was working in an official position, and had an extremely good history and past. Two tube were filled by men named Jones, left near the gate, and were mottled 289. At the end of the night shift Rix was seen in a suspicious position bending over a tub with a motty in his hand. The man immediately went to Rix and said “What are you playing about with those tubs for?” Rix said, “I am pushing it up a bit.” The man said there was a motty numbered 284 on the tub. The motty was not securely fastened. The man told Rix that he looked like getting into trouble. The man said, “I do not like this,” and said he would fetch his mates. The man and others were going from the pit bottom when it was suddenly noticed that Rix was not with them. It was suggested that Rix went back and altered the motty to 289. It was a significant point that instead of Rix coming out with the other men he came out half-an-hour later. It was suggested in that half-hour Rix was engaged in altering the motties.

Subsequently, Rix saw an official and asked what was the talk about him. The secretary of the Y.M.A. branch said he was informed that he had been altering motties, and mentioned that he did not get out of the pit at 8-20. Rix said he would have to find somebody who would have to swear that he came out at the proper time. From the first, Rix had not denied the offence.

George Jones, of 22, South Street, Ryecroft, a miner, at Kilnhurst Colliery, said on July 29th he was on the afternoon shift. On that day he was working in stall 284. His stall and motty number were 289. In stall 234 there was only a trammer, and he was sent along to that stall. His mate, Jones, was working in stall 289. Those were the only stalls leading to the gateway. When witness filled tubs he mottied his own number. At the end of the shift there was one full tub mottied 289, and that was left halfway to the gate. His mate, Jones, also mottied 289 on a tub of coal he left. The value for a tub of coal was Is. Id., and the two tubs would make up 2s. 2d., the amount in question.

Cross examined by Mr. Dunn, witness said it was the duty of the trammer to motty the tubs. The trammer would have in his possession mottles 284 and 289.

Reuben Jones, miner, 24, Arthur Street. Rawmarsh, said on July 29th he was working at stall 289, and in the ordinary way. The previous witness was his mate. Geo. Jones had been sent by a deputy to stall 284. When the shift had finished witness had a full tub of coal. He pushed that in straight with the gate. He mottied it 289. George Jones had mottied his tub 289.

Ronald Lowcock, miner, of 24, Dale Road, Rawmarsh, said on July 29th he went on the night shift. His stall and motty was 289. He was sent to attend to a fall. Before coming away, he went down to the gate leading to 289 and 284 stalls. When he got there he noticed a tub of coal bearing a motty 284. He noticed Rix bending over a tub, and it aroused his suspicions. He went down to see what was happening. He asked Rix what he was doing, and Rig said, “I have just been clearing this road up. It is in a mess.” Rix then tried to shove the tub down. Rix was fully dressed. He had a motty in one hand, and was pushing the tub and was trying to pull the motty tight to the tub. When Rig said the gate was in a mess, witness said, “If this has had a 289 motty on, you’re in a mess as well.” Rix never spoke.

Wilfred Carr, miner, Goodwin A Rawmarsh, also gave evidence.

Charles Frederick Bisby, trammer, of I5, Hooton Road Kilnhurst, said he worked with Rix. There were two full tubs. Rix and Bisby filled a tub by clearing some debris, and that was mottied 284.

While Bixby was giving evidence, a man in the gallery shouted excitedly, “Thee speak the truth. Never mind what it gets thee.”

The Chairman of the Bench (Mr. J. S. Colton Fox) said, “Take him out and keep him till after.” A constable ejected the man.

Tom Licence, a corporal, of North Terrace, Kilnhurst, said the following morning he examined the two full tubs and found the motties had been altered back to 289.

James Riley, timekeeper, Sandhill, Rawmarsh, said Rix clocked out at 10 minutes past six. Witness asked him what he had been doing, and Rix replied, “Waiting at the pit bottom.

William John Hewitson, checkweighman, secretary of the Thrybergh Hall branch of the Y.M.A., said on August 1st Rix said to him, “What’s all this talk about?” Witness told him there had been evidence that he had been caught mottying tubs, and told him he had made it worse by going back and altering it to his own motty. Rix said, “They say I came out at 6.20,” and added, “Well I shall have to find someone to swear I that came out at the time of the others.”

That concluded the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Dunn asked permission to have a consultation with his client. That was granted. Mr. Dunn said the evidence of the prosecution would outweigh Rix’s own testimony and he had advised Rix to alter his plea to that of guilty. He asked the magistrates to deal leniently with Rix. He had worked at the pit for 40 years without complaint or conviction. He was a married man with children. He had been chairman of branch of the Y.M.A.

Mr. J. S. Colton Fox addressing Rix, said everything that could be said had been said by defendant’s advocate. Mr. Dunn had put in a strong plea, as he generally did. It was a serious case, and Rix would be fined £4 with £4 witnesses’ fees.

Rix was allowed eight weeks in which to Pay.