Denaby Miner Sent to Prison – “A Bad Lot.”

September 1926

Mexborough and Swinton Times September 3, 1926

“A Bad Lot.”
Denaby Miner Sent to Prison.

“I am sorry to say he is a bad lot stop and has been in several things we know of, but he has never been sent here,” commented supt. T. Horton, at the Rotherham West Riding police Court on Wednesday, when William Frost (26), miner of Doncaster Road, Denaby, was charged with stealing a gentleman’s bicycle and a raincoat together valued at £11, the property of Charles Alfred Woodson, colliery worker, of 7, Riley Road, Wath on Dearne. It was alleged that the articles were taken from outside the Don hotel, Swinton, on August 11.

Frost was also summoned for keeping a dog without a licence, and allowing it to stray without the collar, on August 10th.

The Prisoner, who previously had been convicted for stealing, was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour, the sentence covering the free charges.

Charles Alfred Hudson, stated that on Monday, August 9, he returned from Mexborough to Swinton and had a bicycle with a raincoat strap onto it. He left it at the rear of the Don Hotel, Swinton, and went into the hotel. He stayed there until 10 o’clock, and on coming out found the bicycle missing.

P.C. Butcher, of Swinton, said that at 1 pm on Tuesday, August 10th, he received information about the theft. He made enquiries and at 6.20 pm that day he visited the defendant lodgings at Doncaster Road, Denaby, and saw his wife. A conversation took place, with the result that she fetched the bicycle, which corresponded to the one which was stolen outside the Don hotel. Witness continued his enquiries, and receiving permission, searched the bedroom, where he found the raincoat hanging behind the door, and the toolbox belonging to the bicycle in a box under the bed. At 12.15 pm on Wednesday, August 21st he charged the prisoner with the theft and cautioned him. He replied: “It is all right.”

With regard to the dog summons, witness said the prisoner was living at an address in Doncaster Road, Denaby, on August 10th, but on that day he absented and had not been back there since. As he was continuing his enquiries, he saw a dog in the road without a collar. Later he spoke to defendant about it, and he admitted that he had not a licence for the animal.