THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Man in court accused of part in attack on a coal train

An interesting case was heard at the Belfast Custody Court this week in 1909 when a local man named Edwin Gibson appeared accused of having stolen a quantity of coal belonging to the Great Northern Railway Company.

Harbour Constable related how as a train with 15 wagons of coal had earlier travelled between Queen’s Quay and Dee Street bridge it had come under attack from a mob of between 30 or 40 men.

The constable said that the prisoner had been seen on the top of the wagon and that when the train stopped another officer had to pull Gibson down.

The prisoner resisted arrest but was eventually put into the guard’s van before being brought back to barracks.

When he was charged Gibson was reported to have said: “It was the other fellows who brought me here, I have never been here before; there was no coal in the house.”

Mr John Graham who defended Gibson said that his client denied larceny and added that witnesses could be called to testify.

Mr Graham applied for bail explaining how his client had never been before the court.

He added that his client denied ever interfering with the coal on the wagon and had only been using the railway line as short cut home when he was caught in the rush and arrested.

The case was adjourned and bail was granted at £10 with two sureties of £5 each.