Sheffield Independent – Saturday 20 February 1841

Disorderly Workman.

Hodgson was summoned by Thomas Cardwell, melter at Messrs. Wilson’s steel works, at Kilnhurst, for leaving his service without notice.

Mr. T. Badger attended in support of the information, and Mr. Joseph Badger for the defendant

Cardwell stated that when he engaged the defendant, he agreed with him on the usual terms of giving and taking a month’s notice, and he had left three week’s ago at a moment’s notice.

In cross-examination by Mr. Joseph Badger, he said that complainant never engaged a man without making that agreement with him. He engaged him at first on the terms stated, at 24s. per week, but had since advanced him to 28s., but that did not interfere with the original contract. He had discharged men at a moment’s notice when they were destroying property.

He knew John Preston and Adam Tyas.

Had discharged them at a moment’s notice ; but Hodgson’s work and theirs was quite of a different kind

Col. Fullerton remarked that the principle for which the complainant was contending, was the regular custom of the country.

Mr. T. Badger, however, called Mr. Wilson in corroboration, who said that an advance in the wages from 245. to 28s., did not alter the custom.

Cross-examined by Mr. Joseph Badger: Cardwell was a servant, and the other men were engaged by him, but all were subject to his general surveillance and approbation.

The man was ordered to pay expenses, and go to back to his master for a month.