Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 10 October 1930

Cattle Held Up.

Kilnhurst Farmer and Signalman.

“Bash His Brains Out.”

Because a train was held up at a railway crossing, preventing the passing of cattle across the line, Ernest White, a farmer, of Hall Farm, Kilnburst, rushed into the signal box at Thrybergh junction and obstructed the signalman.

At Rotherham West Riding Police Court on Monday, White was charged with trespassing on the L.N.E, Railway and obstructing the signalman.

The Chairman (Mr. J. S. Colton box) described the case as the worst that had been before the Bench for a long time, and fined defendant £7 on both charges. He was also ordered to pay costs.

Mr. Robert Garbutt, solicitor, who prosecuted, said the offence took place on Sept 16th. It was a foggy morning, and it was impossible to see more than 30 yards ahead. Special fog regulations were in force, and at 6-15 a mineral train had to be stopped at the junction because the line ahead was occupied by another train. The train drew up across an occupation level crossing, of which defendant’s father held the keys as occupier of the Kilnhurst Hall Farm. Shortly after defendant entered the signal box with a stout stick in his hand, and, rushing across to the signalman, gripped him by the throat, raised the stick as though to strike him, and said, “If you don’t more the train, I will bash your brains out.”

The signalman managed to free himself, and defendant then left the box. He had no right to be on the line or in the box, and by his action he endangered a number of lives.

Edgar Norton, 306. Badsley Moor Lane, Rotherham, signalman, said it was his duty to keep the train back until he got orders to allow it to proceed. It was held up from 16-45 to 7-5 a.m.

Joseph Clark, 104, Vale Road, Sheffield, the fireman of the train, who went to report at the signal box also witneesed the assault.

Asked if he had anything to say, defendant replied, “I should say that he deliberately pulled the train over the crossing.” He admitted assaulting the signalman. He and his father went out to fetch their cattle, and had to crawl under the wagons. When they came back some time later, the train was still over the crossing, and they had to wait until nine minutes past seven before it was moved. In the meantime, the cows were agitated and were forking each other.

The Chairman: It is very catching, I suppose.

Defendant admitted that he became agitated. There was a danger of the cows going in the canal. His opinion was that the train should not have been held up over the crossing, and said the signalmen was the worst one they had had to contend with. It was not his (the signalman’s) fault that animals had not been killed on previous occasions.

In conveying the decision of the Bench, the chairman said they had hesitated whether they should send defendant to prison.