Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 21 February 1930
Torn Coat as Evidence
Samuel Earp and Edward Windle, miners, of Bramley, Rotherham, were committed to prison for three months with hard labour by the magistrates at Doncaster West Hiding Police Court on Tuesday. They were charged with breaking and entering the shop of David Haigh, Ltd., pawnbrokers, West Street, Conisboro’, and stealing jewellery to the value of £25. The men were alternatively charged with receiving stolen property, and it was on this charge that they were committed.
Mr. S. Furniss represented defendants and put in a plea of “Not guilty.”
Thomas H. Wildsmith, manager of the shop, said that it was securely locked on January 22. During the night the cellar grate was forced, and when he went to the shop the following morning he found that a number of articles were missing from a showcase. He identified about £17 worth of the stolen goods which were recovered by the police. On searching the premises, witness found a piece of cloth under the show case. The police produced a jacket with the pocket torn out, and witness said that the pocket found corresponding with the torn jacket.
Randall Rowland Foster, pawnbroker, of Rotherham, said that Earp pawned a ring with him on January 27. He became suspicious, and when he looked up a list he found that the ring was one of a number of articles stolen at Conisboro’. He at once informed the police.