Mexborough and Swinton Times , June 16, 1928

Blamed The Drink
Denaby Youth Sent to Prison for Burglary
Doubtful Story.

“He is a good lad except for the drink,” said the mother of Patrick Caine (21), miner, of Annerley Street, Denaby, who at Doncaster on Tuesday was charged on remand with breaking and entering the dwelling house of Mrs. Floretta Elliott, Myrtle House, Conisboro’, and stealing a quantity of cutlery and silver plate of the value of £10 10s.

Inspector Varley said that on May 25 Mrs. Elliott went on holiday, leaving the key of the house with a friend. On June 1st the friend examined the house and found everything in order. On June 5th the friend again visited the house and found that an entrance had beep forced and the place ran-sacked.

A number of articles mentioned in the charge were missing. P.C. Schofield found fingerprints on a butter cooler and a writing cabinet. Photographs of the prints were taken and sent to police headquarters at Wakefield. In consequence of enquiries made by P.c. Schofield and Sgt. Hook, they saw the prisoner, who commenced to make a statement.

They warned him, but He then said “I will tell you the truth. I was drunk, got through the back window and supped that whisky, took some knives and forks, then slept in a field, and when I woke up I threw the knives and forks in the river.”

He was taken to Conisborough police station and charged. He said ”That’s, right.  I took the things and. threw them into the river one at a time.” Caine told the magistrates he was sorry, and blamed the drink. If they would give him another chance he would sign the pledge.

Inspector Valley said Caine’s conduct in this case was disgraceful. He committed any amount of damage in the house. He had cut an eiderdown to pieces and otherwise behaved in a disgusting manner about the house. The constable and the sergeant had spent about a week trying to recover the stolen property from the river, but had failed to find it. He very much doubted the correctness of prisoner’s story that he threw the articles into the river.

The prisoner had been several times convicted for various offences since 1923. He had spoken before about signing the pledge, but had not done so.

Prisoner said he was the sole support of two children and his mother. He was drunk at the time of the offence.

A constable said Caine consumed a bottle of sherry and a bottle of rum in the house he entered. There was not a room or a drawer which had not been ransacked.

Prisoner was sent to prison for six months.