A Pious Prisoner and His Lodgings

November 1907

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 16 November 1907

A Pious Prisoner and His Lodgings

At Doncaster yesterday elderly man named Thomas Henry Squires, who was described as a mechanic, and said he came from Huddersfieldwas charged with stealing a watoh and chain, the property of Patrick Fitzgerald, of Conisbro’, and he was further charged with obtaining food and lodgings by false pretences from Annie Gabbitas, wife of Alfred Gabbitas, engine driver March Street, Conisbro’

. Mrs. Gabbitas proved that prisoner obtained lodgings at her house in October, arranging to pay 13s. per week for board and lodgings. He represented that he was working at the Conisbro’ Hospital as a mechanic and engineer. He remained, three days, and on Saturday morning left after breakfast and did not return.

Before going away he told her husband to wash his dog, as his brother was coming in motor-car to see him and buy the dog for £5. She had heard prisoner pray and sing “Safe in the arms of Jesus.” After the prisoner had gone a watch and chain belonging another lodger named Patrick Fitzgerald was missed.

Prisoner, who behaved strangely in the box, frequently interrupting the witnesses and making irrelevant remarks, was committed for trial on the charge of false pretences, and was remanded on the other charge.