The Express. — 1867-04-11 (London, England)

ENGINE-DRIVERS ON THE NORTHEASTERN HAlLWAY.—Yesterday morning the whole of the engine-drivers on the Darlington section of the NorthEastern Railway, in connexion with the mineral and goods department, struck work. The reasons alleged by the men for this step are that faith has been broken with them by the railway authorities, and that arrangements agreed upon at a meeting with Mr. Fletcher, the locomotive superintendent, on Thursday last, have been broken by their foreman, Mr. BelL It appears that the men, besides being promised certain rates of wages and a fixed number of hours of work, were also told that they should have one day a week allowed as a "shed" day, for cleaning, packing, and keeping their engines in order. This work had previously, they state, been done partly in their own time. They state that on Monday their foreman broke this engagement by not permitting them to have their " shed " day, but instead of that putting them off work for a time, which would lessen their amount of pay. They had one or two interviews with their foreman, but not being able to come to an arrangement with him they struck es stated, and the immense traffic from the coal field of Durham and the other mineral products of that and the adjoining counties has been stopped. The men at Newcastle and other places on hearing by telegraph what had occurred at Darlington also struck, and one passenger-driver at Darlington had left work. It is feared that unless some agreement be come to that to-day will see the whole traffic passenger and mineral, on the line "impended, and oleo on the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The locomotive superintendent (Mr. Fletcher) states that the men hold aloof from him, notwithstanding that he has invited them to discuss their grievances, and always told them if they had a dispute to appeal to him. AN ABSURD Strurriow.—On Thursday last the Rev. James Hunt, incumbent of Northmoor Green, made application in the local police-court fur a wai-rant against • boy (whom he did not name), under the following singular and somewhat ludicrous circumstances:—He said that on Sunday afternoon last, after Divine service at Northmoor-green Church, a young woman, who formed one of the congregation, was being maltreated by a mob of twenty to thirty boys, " backed up " by a few men, and be (Mr. Hunt) interfered to protect her. The evident design of the mob was to precipitate her into the river, but he frustrated this by catching hold of her clothes and pulling her back. The boy of whose conduct be complained got upon a donkey and rode it against him. The road was very narrow and the mud deep, and lie was covered with dirt. He got into an orchard, and while getting over the stile the boy caught hold of his coat and once pulled him back. Having left the orchard, the boy rode the donkey against him again. He endeavoured to escape, but was driven into a corner, and there the boy made the donkey kick him several times with its hind legs. Hoping to attract the attention of Mr. Sealy, who resided near, he called out " Murder !" thrice, and then the boy promised to let him go " for a shilling." With a view of "fa ilitating the ends of justice" he handed the boy the money, but again withdrew it on his demanding three shillings. Ultimately he managed to get away. He understood that in thus molesting him, and not allowing him to pass away without a money payment, the boy was guilty of felony, and he accordingly asked for a warrant. The bench declined to grant any more than a charge for a common assault. The rev. gentleman said he should not accept that, adding that he should " make application to the Court of Queen's Bench."