Denaby Pit Lads in Trouble

March 1895

Mexborough and Swinton Times March 8, 1895

A Denaby Lad in Trouble

George Bradshaw described as a pit youth was brought up charged with being the unlawful possessor of a pair of boots, the property of Roland Dunn, boot and shoe dealer, high Street, Mexborough, on March 2

Roland Dunn said he was the proprietor of a boot and shoe shop at Mexborough. On the Saturday night in question he hung a pair of boots outside his doorway along with several other pairs. About 9 o’clock he missed the boots, and immediately gave information at the pawnshop, lower down the street, and on hearing from them shortly afterwards he (witness) went in and identified the boots as his property. They were worth 3 11d. He had not sold them to anyone.

Ennis Braithwaite said he was an assistant to Mr. Robert Miles, pawnbroker, Mexborough. At 9 o’clock on Saturday night in question a boy, whom he afterwards identified as prisoner, came into the shop. He had a brown paper parcel with him which, on being unwrapped, proved to contain the pair of boots missing. The boots were pledged for 3s, the boy stating that the boots belonged to his father, who asked him to pawn them for him.

Witness at once communicated with Mr Dunn, and in the meantime handed goods and the boy over to the police

Defendant, who appeared to feel his position keenly, pleaded that another boy had stolen the boots and handed them over to him to pawn

Police Constable Truman stated that he received prisoner into custody in the shop of Mr Miles, Mexborough. Witness charged him with having stolen the boots, and he replied, “My father sent me to pawn them.” Afterwards he said “Another lad cut the string and he (prisoner) took the boots.” He also stated that he wrapped them in piece of paper and took them to pledge. They were without paper when hanging out.

Defendant also pleaded that a boy named Stokes had stolen them and told prisoner to pawn them.

Prisoner’s father, who was in court, asked the bench to deal as leniently as possible with the lad, saying that he would take care he was kept out as such wrongdoing in the future

The chairman said that as nothing previously was known against him the bench were inclined to give him another chance and deal with him under the first offenders act.

He would be bound over to come up for judgement when called upon.

Stealing a Quart Bottle

James Sheldon, age 15, pit lad, hailing from Denaby Main, was charged with having stolen a quart bottle, the property of Messrs. Kilner Bros., Of Conisborough.

William Chapman, miner said he was in Conisborough and saw a boy coming down the street towards the works of Messrs. Kilner Bros. It would be about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. He saw him take a bottle from the yard and put it in his pocket

John Kilner Bateson said he was in the employee of messrs. Kilner Bros. The last witness came to him and handed the bottle over to him, saying that he had seen a boy steal it.
The boy had no right to be on the premises, and he had handed him over to the police.

Messrs Kilner Bros. desired to press the case against the boy because they were continually suffering annoyance from these thefts. They desired prisoner to be made a warning to other boys.

Defendant pleaded guilty.

The Chairman said though the article still them was only a trivial nature, it amounted to theft but as he was a first offender he would be bound over to come for judgement when called upon.