Denaby Man’s Runaway Lodger Caught

At Doncaster West Riding Ct on Friday, John Pratley, coupler, Denaby, was charged with stealing a suit of clothes and a pair of boots belonging to Robert Mellor, colliery labourer, Doncaster Road, Denaby.

Pratley got a situation at the Denaby pit and went to lodge with the prosecutor, who obtained a suit of clothes and a pair of boots from him, for which he was to pay out of his earnings.

Prisoner left suddenly on July 13, owing 19s 5d for lodgings and taking the clothes and boots with him. He was apprehended in London and handed over to the West Riding police.

He now said he gave his earnings to the prosecutor, who gave him some feedback for pocket money, the magistrates disbelieved his statement, and, as he had been previously convicted for stealing in 1906, he was committed to prison for 14 days.