Mexborough and Swinton Times May 12, 1906
Burglary at Conisborough
Extraordinary Housebreaking Case
Stealing a Donkey
On Monday, at Doncaster West Riding Court, Frank Wright, fitter, Mexborough, was charged with breaking into the house of John Martin, bottle maker, Calder Terrace, Conisborough, on Thursday last and also with stealing a donkey belonging to James Rogers, miner, Mexborough.
Superintendent Hickes said the facts were singular. It was stated that on Thursday night prosecutor retired to rest about 10 o’clock and left all secure so far as he knew.
About 10:30 o’clock his wife awakened him. He got up, but saw nothing, and returned to bed. A few minutes later he heard a noise, and going downstairs found a pair of trousers, a vest, a jacket, and overcoat, and a pair of clogs. In the jacket pocket he found some implements, including a hammer and a knife blade, and discovered that the pantry window had been pulled down sufficiently to allow a man to get through.
He assisted the police to examine the premises, found no one, though later he and PC Thompson found prisoner in an adjoining outhouse, with only his shirt on.
Prisoner said to him, “I lost my money in your attic,” and prosecutor on going there, found 3 ½ pence on the floor. Prisoner also said, “You have nothing in the —– house worth pinching. If I want to pinch anything I’ll go to a mansion where I can get something. He further said, “I can get in anywhere.”
Prisoner denied this, and said he put it this way: “If I want to steal anything I’ll go to a mansion and not to a working man’s house.”
Sgt Horton stated that at 12.40 on Thursday morning, previous to the housebreaking, he met prisoner riding on a donkey from Mexborough in the direction of Doncaster. The sergeant said, “Who put you there?” And he replied, “My boss.” He further said that is “boss” was Tom Tuby, roundabout proprietor, Doncaster, and it was going home, that he lived in Doncaster and Mr Tuby wanted the donkey taking home.
At that time the sergeant did not know the donkey are been stolen, but when he saw him in the cells he said, “Where’s Tom Tuby’s donkey now? And he said, “I didn’t steal it, I found it on the roadside.” He was sober.
Prisoner was committed for trial on the charge of housebreaking, and for stealing the donkey, which was taken from a stable at Mexborough, and found in a field at conisborough, he was also committed for trial.