Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 10 February 1893
A Drunken Spree
William Morris, pit sinker, Denaby, was charged at the instance of Joseph Richman, of Balby, with stealing six tame rabbits, at Balby on January 28.
Mr Hall defended.
The complainant said he kept seven rabbits, and he saw them at 1030 on Saturday last, and he missed them all but one at 4 o’clock in the same day. They were two months old and he valued them at three shillings.
Robert Scholey, brick drawer, Balby, was in defendant’s company on Saturday at the plough Inn. Prisoner came in at 1230 and left at 230 and witness and David Lund left at four. He saw Morrie’s near Temple’s coal yard and follow him into his (witnesses) house. Prisoner said to his little son, “Here, I’ll give thee these three rabbits,” and threw them on the floor. He asked where prisoner and got them, and the reply was, “I’ve bought em.”
Cross examined, prisoner had been at witnesses house all Friday night. Neither easy nor prisoner were sober. Prisoner stopped at their house all Sunday. Prisoner did not tell witness that he had only a penny left out of 32 14s.
Clara Scholey, married woman, Balby, saw prisoner sat on the wall of her garden and found that he had been setting her son to dig a hole in the garden which he said was a grave, and was going to get 7s 6d when he had dug it.
Mr Hall said the man had lived in Denaby 20 years and had testimonials from Mr Chambers, of the Denaby Main Colliery, and other gentlemen. There was no doubt the man was drunk. He had been drunk on the Saturday at 10 a bottle of whiskey and another of port wine to the witnesses’ house. He remember nothing whatsoever of the offence.
The Bench decided not to convict, but warned the defendant that he had been periously near a conviction that would have produced a lasting stain upon his name. It should be a warning to him to keep off the drink. He was ordered to pay the costs of the case and the cost of the rabbits.