Boy’s Strange Freak At Doncaster

On Saturday morning, at the Doncaster West Riding Court, a boy named Percy Butcher was charged with stealing a mare and bridle, value £8, the property of William Webster, gardener, New Conisborough, on the 13th inst.

The defendant went to the stable on Tuesday, and told Jack Gibson, machine inspector, at Denaby, that Mr. Webster had sent him for the horse to get it shod. Gibson helped him to get the horse out, and lifted him up on to the horse, and he rode away.

Prosecutor’s son saw the boy going towards Mexborough on the horse, and later a youth named Ernest Oxley found the horse in a field with part of the bridle round its legs. Knowing the horse he took possession of it, and handed it over to the police.

The Chairman said the magistrates did not think the boy took the horse with the intention of stealing it, and dismissed the case. Still there were previous convictions against him, and the Chairman warned him to be careful what he did in future.