Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 11 August 1919
Assault and Robbery.
A Serious Attack on a Mexborough Man, Mr. Sam Spencer. Wheatley House, Mexboro’ a well-known figure in local sporting circles, was attacked and robbed last night within a few hundred yards of his home in Cemetery Road.
Between 10 and 10.30, at the corner of Park Road and Cemetery Road, on his way home, he was overtaken by three young men who had evidently been shadowing him. He was struck twice and knocked down, and held there while his assailants went through his clothes and took between £20 and £30 in loose notes from his pockets.
He was gagged during the operation, but the gag was afterwards removed, and he was left lying in a semi-unconscious state. The affair took place under a public lamp, and there were people about at the time, but the attack was so quickly accomplished that no one actually saw the incident.
Mr. Spencer bad clear view of his assailants, but he did not recognise them. He was afterwards found by two men, who took him home. There he was medically attended, and found to be suffering from bruises and shook.
He is 70 years of age and under the circumstances the assault was a serious one. The police have the matter in hand.