Mexborough and Swinton Times May 21, 1910
A Denaby Greenhorn,
How a Country Lad Lost his Money,
With innocence written on his fresh coloured face, Cyril Wraithmall, an 18 year old labourer of 17 Tickhill Square Denaby, peered up through his spectacles at the Sheffield’s Stipendiary on Monday as he told the story of how your son of his watch and money upon a second visit to Sheffield, on Saturday morning.
After hearing the evidence on which two men were accused of practising the confidence trick, the Stipendiary Magistrate charged both, and administered a severe lecture-to the unfortunate prosecutor, whom he described as “a greenhorn with sporting instincts.”
The prisoners, John Kelly, who lives without work, and John Madden, a hawker, of Silver Street, were charged with stealing 24 shillings by means of a trick.
Wraithnall’s story showed him a youth of superlative rusticity. Mr. Rickardson described him as a lad scarcely short witted but of a type of intellect that readily lost itself to the operations of the vultures who preyed on innocent and simple-minded people.
About nine o’clock on Saturday morning the lad arrived in Sheffield where he had come to visit the Hospital for treatment of his eyes. At the bottom of Station Road, he told the Stipendiary, he was stopped by Madd_en, who said he had come from London and had left his mackintosh in a carriage.
He asked the way to the Billiard Commission Club, a place that does not exist.
After a while Kelly walked up and Madden suggested that he should ask him. Kelly said he knew the place. Madden volunteered information that he was an English jockey, and come to Sheffield to back a man at a billiard tournament. Kelly gave Madden what looked like half a sovereign to put on and he went up Granville Hill and returning, handed him three half sovereigns. The inevitable followed. The country lad parted with nine shillings, all the money he had and pawned his watch 15 shillings and handed the lot over to a man who we saw was Madden.
The latter he said was away again for 20 minutes and when he came back said they were “lucky devils”. “You must not say anything about it,” he told the lad, “because of the police get to know it would be a matter of about five or six years for us.”
Mr Richardson: Did you believe that?
Prosecutor: I didn’t know Sir. I didn’t know what to do about it. I wasn’t used to that game.
Did you wonder where your winnings were if you are such a lucky devil? – Yes.
Did you ask for them? No, sir.
Prosecutor added that Madden told him to go and fetch £4 13s but said he had not got it. He wanted Kelly to go for some money also.
Eventually, said prosecutor they had a drink, and man direct into the railway station. Afterwards, he identified the two men at the Police Station, recognising Madden by his walk.
Kelly (to prosecutor): You never seen this man (Madden) in your life.
Prosecutor: Get away. Boo!
Kelly (mimicking): Boo!
Evidence was called us the visit of the prisoners and prosecuted to a public house.
The Stipend he said there was no doubt that between the prisoners managed to relieve the prosecutor of 24 shillings and there was a strong appearance of their being old hands at the game. At the same time the charge was one of stealing, and the young man sporting instincts were such that a jury could only take the view of stealing.
He discharged both men.