Sheffield Independent – Saturday 06 January 1883
An Unfortunate “Find”
The prisoners and the prosecutor worked at the Denaby Colliery, and on the date named he missed his watch at the pit.
Afterwards the elder prisoner offered it in pledge at Doncaster, giving the name of Wm. Jones, and upon being taken into custody he said that Henry found the watch in the mine.
The statements now made by the prisoners were to the effect that Henry picked the watch up in the pit, and gave it up to his father. They failed to find out who the owner was, and James, in order to get a suit of clothes out of pawn for Christmas, took the watch and offered it in pledge.
The jury acquitted the younger prisoner, but James was found guilty, and sentenced to three months’ hard labour.