Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 October 1893
A Youthful Swindler
John Bell, a lad of about eight years of age, was charged with stealing 5½d. from Leonard Laycock, of Conisborough, at Denaby, on the 13th inst.
The prosecutor said he was the son of a newsagent at Conisborough, and on the day named he was selling Stars at Denaby. The defendant came up to him and said he wished to buy a Star, and gave him what he thought was a sixpence. Defendant said it was sixpence, and although it was too dark to see what the coin was he gave the defendant the 5½d. change.
Subsequently he went into a shop to get the coin changed and then discovered that it was a metal token struck in commemoration of the recent Royal Marriage. He went to the defendant’s father and told him what had happened. Bell, senior, went in search of the lad and subsequently returned with him. He had only twopence of the money left, which Bell, senior, returned to the witness.
Defendant’s father said the lad was incorrigible and he could not reform him.
The lad pleaded guilty and was sentenced to receive four strokes with the birch rod.