Rushing into the Policeman’s Arms

April 1870

Sheffield Telegraph – April 16, 1870

Rushing into the Policeman’s Arms

At the Doncaster Borough Court on Saturday, John Thomas Bell, an apprentice, was charged with malicious damage in a garden, in the occupation of Mr J.Balance, head gardener to Mr Copeland, of Conisbrough.

The circumstances of the case, which were of an exceedingly flagrant character, have already been reported in these columns. Actuated by some feelings of revenge or spite – prisoners own father being a gardener – Bell had entered Balance’s garden during the night of the second inst, and wantonly destroyed plants, shrubs, and trees, to the value of £10 or thereabouts. He was luckily caught by two police officers, Taylor and Ashton, as they happened to be passing the wall, the prisoner literally dropping into the arms of Taylor as he came tumbling over the garden fence.

He admitted to the offices that he had done the damage, and alleged as the reason that Balance was taking the bread out of his father`s mouth.

The bench treating the case as one of felony, and committed the prisoner for trial at the sessions, admitting him to bail.

 

 

 

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