Sheffield Independent 15th of March 1850

Sheep Stealing at Conisbrough

Thomas Hallam, 28, was charged with having, on 5 January last, at Conisbrough, stolen a sheep, the property of Joseph Cudworth. Mr Farrar prosecuted; the prisoner was undefended.

It appeared, from the evidence that the prisoner and a man named Bell were drinking at a public house at Conisbrough, on the night in question.

On leaving this house, they went to the field of the prosecutor, in which there were nine sheep. One of these animals was lame, and the prisoner had, consequently, little difficulty in catching it. Having slaughtered the sheep, they took the carcass into a stone quarry, and, and cooked and eat a portion of it.

The case for the prosecution rested almost exclusively upon the testimony of Bell, which detailed at length all the circumstances. The prisoner in defence, admitted that he had taken part in the transaction, but that Bell actually killed the sheep, and had sworn falsely against him.

Guilty. – To be imprisoned and kept hard labour for 12 months.