Alleged Robbery with a Bite at Conisborough

November 1907

Mexborough and Swinton Times November 2, 1907

Alleged Robbery with a Bite at Conisborough

At Doncaster, on Monday, Frank Kelly, George Briggs and William Richard, all of New Conisborough, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of Sydney Gelder with intent to steal.

Siydney Gelder said he was a confection and tobacconist, and lived in Low Road Conisborough, having a lock-up shop in Doncaster Road.

At about 10.45 on Sunday day night he went to the shop and saw two men jumping the rails against the shop. He followed them and met a constable. The latter stopped Kelly, and they all went to the shop and found the back door had been forced open, but no goods were missing.

PC Cousans deposed that from something said to him by the prosecutor he stopped Kelly and questioned him. They went back to the shop and found the door of the tea room had been forced open. The prisoner Kelly said “I will tell you all about. Me, Briggs and Richard saw Sidney leave the shop, and we went round to the back and broke the door open, but we did not get anything because the dog flew at us and bit me.” He was then charged and made no reply.

Witness later apprehended the other prisoners and Richard said “I helped to break the door open, but I did not go into the shop. Briggs and Kelly went inside, and the dog went for them.”

Prisoners were remanded until Friday.