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At the Rotherham police court, on Thursday, Alderman J. C. Morgan and Mr. Francis W. Waide, his partner, stove grate manufacturers, Rotherham, were summoned by Mr. John Hale, of Wythburn, Cumberland (formerly manager of the Company), "for that on the 30th August 1877, at the township of Rotherham, the Lake District Hematite and Mining Company Limited, being a company under the Companies' Act of 1862, and having a capital divided into shares, unlawfully did make default in forwarding and did not forward to the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies, a copy of the list of persons who on the 14th day succeeding the day on which the ordinary general meeting was held were members of the said Company, with their names, addresses, and occupations, the number of shares held by each, with a summary specifying certain particulars, as required in section 26 of the said Act, and the said default continued for a space of fifteen days down to and including the 14th of September, and being directors of the said Company — unlawfully, knowingly, and wilfully did authorise or permit such default." The Company referred to was formed in Rotherham, and with one or two exceptions the directors are residents of that town. The object was to work the hematite and lead ore in a mountain near Helvellyn, but up to the present the success had not been so great as had been anticipated. Mr. Middlebrook, of Leeds, appeared for Mr. Hall; and Mr. Rhodes for the defendant. — Mr. Middlebrook said Mr. Hall had been the manager for the Company for four or five years, but the Company had got into difficulties, and a large sum was owing to him for the wages of himself and workmen amounting to upwards of £200. He had never been able to get that money, and there appeared no probability of his getting it, as the Company apparently had collapsed. Nothing had been done in connection with it, and since the early part of November 1876, no list of members had been sent to the registrar as required by the Act. — A discussion followed between the solicitors and Mr. Rhodes said that if anyone would petition to wind up the Company, he might have all there was, and so he could get the unpaid calls from the shareholders if an official liquidator were appointed. — Mr. Middlebrook said that he had no objections, but this amount was due to him for wages and what he had paid; and if the concern was wound up, the assets were said to be only £30. — Mr. Rhodes said that Mr. Hall had valued the assets much higher than that. He had written, "Let me have this mine; put the other creditors on one side, and I will pay every farthing you owe besides mine." He had letters in his hand about which he would examine Mr. Hall, if he were only put in the box. There was something behind this action; there was the West Cumberland Consols. His clients would not consent to pay on a criminal information like this. The complainant might take the assets of the Company, and call up the unpaid capital. His clients had been led to spend their money in this rotten mine to a great extent by the inducements held out by the person they put there to manage it, and they had lost altogether £3,000. Now, because they would not turn the place over to the man who had led them to work it, they were to be dragged into a Court, and made to pay a penalty. He would say that they would not pay him a shilling. — Mr. Middlebrook asked how much capital had not been called up, and Mr. Rhodes stated that it was £170, the greater part of which might be enforced, if there were an official liquidation. — The Bench suggested that the case should be compromised by the defendants paying £10, which was ultimately agreed to, and the case was then withdrawn, it being understood that proceedings would be taken to wind up the Company.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.

 

Name	Age	Occupation	Notes
Hale, John
Middlebrook, —		Solicitor
Morgan, J. C.		Alderman
Rhodes, —		Solicitor
Waide, Francis W.

 

Wythburn/Helvellyn No.4 (Lead Ore)