South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 May 1934
Conisboro’ Man’s “Terrible Record”
John Henry Goodman, a Conisborough labourer, was sent to prison for a month by Doncaster West Riding magistrates on Tuesday on a charge of having stolen a scarf, value 5s. 6d., on March 22nd. He pleaded “Guilty.”
Inspector Wilde said about 2-40 p.m. on March 22nd Henry Thomas Williams, of Conisborough, left his car in Wellgate, Conisborough, and on returning found the door had been tampered with and a scarf taken from the driving seat. Prisoner was seen near the car and to have put something in his pocket. He was interviewed the same evening in Balby Workhouse by the police, when he produced the scarf and admitted the offence, saying, “I must have done it, but I had had some beer.”
“He has a terrible record from 1913 to 1928,” added Inspector Wilde. “He has been in prison fifteen times.”
The Chairman (Mr. G. B. Shiffner): “From your record you seem to have been an inveterate thief.”
Asked why he took the scarf, prisoner replied that he did not want it.
The Magistrates’ Clerk: “What did you take it for then?”
“I had some beer.”
“That will not do. That does not lead to stealing things, you know. Yet you do seem to have tried in the last six years.”
Saying they had no option in face of his “fearful record,” the Bench sent Goodman to prison for a month.