Mexborough and Swinton Times December 5, 1908

Denaby Miner’s Impudent Theft
Steals His Mates Clothing

A Denaby miner named Harry Hodder who lodges and Swinton, made his appearance before the

West Riding Magistrates at Doncaster on Monday, on two charges of theft.

One was the he stole a shirt, value 2/6, the property of George Farmer of Mexborough, underground manager at Denaby Pit, on Friday last.

The second charge was that of stealing a coat, value 5/-, belonging to Leonard Millington, a filler of Denaby on the same day.

From the evidence given, it appeared that then Farmer went down the pit on Friday he took off his shirt before starting on has work. At half-past eight at night he found that it was missing.

Information was given to the police and suspicion fell upon prisoner. The latter, when arrested and charged by P.s. ‘Wessell said, “I took it in mistake for my own.”

As to the coat, Millington hung it up on a nail in the pit and afterwards found that it had disappeared. When taxed with this offence, prisoner who was apprehended at his lodgings early on Saturday morning, said, “Yes, I took it. Somebody else had taken mine.”

Prisoner now stated that it was his intention to take the coat back to the mine when he went to work on Saturday stop

The Bench imposed a fine of 30 shillings, including costs in each case, a total £3.