Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 15 July 1892
Alleged Robbery at Denaby
A Conisborough Miner Committed For Trial.
At the Rotherham West Riding Police Court, on Monday, Patrick Madden, miner, of New Conisborough, was charged on remand with having stolen£18 18s from the purse of William Smith, horse slaughterer, of Crowle.
Mr. Hickmott, who prosecuted said the offence was committed as far back as the 16th of February last. On that day prosecutor had been to Rotherham, where he had sold a number of pigs for £18 18s. He went on to Denaby to see a friend, named Wilby and they went into the Reresby Arms Inn. Wilby asked Smith it he could lead him 20s., and Smith took the bag containing the money from his pocket, and was getting the sovereign, when Wilby said he was only joking, and had made the requets to see if he would oblige him. The prisoner was in the room at the time. Soon afterwards Smith left, and the prisoner accompanied him. Outside the inn the prisoner pit his hand in Smith’s pocket, and took the money. He was pursued, but got away.
Proseeuter stated that on the day named be was in the Reresby Arms, Denaby, and a conversation took place respecting some money. He took the bag out of his pocket, and said there were some “quids” (meaning sovereign) in it.
Prisoner was in the room, and heard the conversation between him and Wilby. He (prosecutor) afterwards asked the waiter when the urinal was and the prisoner said be was going out, and volunteered to show him. They both proceeded to the place and prisoner put his hand is his (prosecutor s) pocket, and sees the bag containing the money, and ran away. He followed him, and eventually prisoner turned into a “ginnel” where he (prosecutor) lost sight of him.
The bag contained £18 10s in gold and 8s 9d in silver and copper.
Prisoner: Was you sober ?
Witness: I was sober, so that I knew what I was about.
Frank Chadfleld, waiter at the Reresby Arms, Denaby, deposed that he saw the prisoner and prosecutor and a man name Wilby in the tap-room. Prosecutor paid for a quart of beer. He saw prisoner and prosecutor leave the room together, and directly afterwards prisoner ran through the room followed by prosecutor, who cried out “Stop thief.” Prosecutor was sober.
Cross-examined by prisoner, witness did not hear prosecutor say, “he has done me; but before night I shall do somebody else.”
Margaret for Fennoughty wife of Patrick Fennoughty, publican of Westgate Rotherham, stated that on 16 February, between three and 4 o’clock in the afternoon, prisoner visited the house. He remained about an hour. He paid for drink for the company. Prisoner handed her £15 asking her to take care of it for him. It was tied in a handkerchief. He told her that he had had a quarrel with his wife and had sold up his home.
Witnesses husband shortly afterwards came into the house, and she told him that prisoner and given her the money to take care. At her husband’s request either she gave it prisoner back again. She knew the prisoner well.
Kathleen Maguire pianist, in the employ of Patrick Fennoughty gave confirmatory evidence.
Police – Constable Midgley, stationed at Denaby, said he received a warrant last February for the apprehension of the prisoner, who had absconded. On the seventh of the present month he found him in a house at Conisbrough. He apprehended him, and prisoner tried to get away, but was seized by another officer at the door.
Witness read the warrant over to him, and he replied “What’s the use of reading a warrant when you have got the man.”
Witness knew the house where prisoner lived last February. He did not sell up his home.
Prisoner was formally charged and asked if he had anything to say. In reply, he said he had not had “fair play.”
All the evidence which went against him had been hunted up, but none had been given in his favour.
Prisoner was committed to trial.