Sheffield Independent – Tuesday 10 January 1888
The Denaby Miners and Relief.
“Beggar” In Trouble.
Yesterday, at the Doncaster Borough Police Court the Mayor (Mr. Wainwright) presiding, Wm. White, a collier, employed at the Denaby Main Colliery, which is at present closed in consequence of the recent disastrous fire, was charged with having been on premises for unlawful purpose.
According to the evidence of Annie Martin, niece of the landlord of Young Union Inn, Doncaster, the prisoner and another man called at the inn and represented themselves as miners from Denaby Main, desiring that relief should be given them.
The young woman said relief had been given the day previous to a Denaby miner, and that they could not give relief to everyone that called. However, she went to the kitchen where her uncle was, to see if he was inclined to contribute anything, and the prisoner followed her.
In the meantime, the man left behind robbed the till of a shilling and sixpence, and was seen in the act of closing the drawer. When Miss Martin saw what was doing, she called out, “What are you doing there?” and the man at once decamped.
Prisoner was detained, and policeman was sent for. Police-constable Cobb apprehended the prisoner, who admitted that he came across the other man in the Saracen’s Head Inn. The prisoner was drunk at the time.
ln reply to the Mayor, the prisoner said he did not know the man who stole the money.
The Magistrate’s Clerk (Mr. Fisher): Don’t you know it is illegal going about begging for Denaby miners? It is legal in clergymen, ministers, priests, and ladies, but not miners.
Prisoner: I have six children and nothing to eat.
The Clerk: I am only telling you what the law is.
The prisoner was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.