Sheffield Evening Telegraph – December 28, 1891
Drunken Freak At Denaby.
Beer, Port Wine, And Rum.
Patrick Campbell, Patrick Gallagher and James Mc Coy were charged with having stolen two ducks, value 7s, the property of Edward Rodgers, miner, Denaby; and Patrick McDermott was charged with having feloniously received the birds.
Mr. Hickmott appeared for McDermott.
On the 24th prosecutors missed two ducks from an outbuilding, which had been broken into. On Christmas Day Police-constable Midgley went to McDermott’s house, and found a dead duck in a cupboard and hidden beneath some clothing. In the fire grate he noticed the neck and wing of a second duck. There were feathers and blood near the place. Midgley called McDermott from the bedroom, and when he got downstairs, noticing that his wife was in tears, he said, “What are you crying about.” She answered, “It is enough to make anyone cry. The police have found that duck, and I told you what it would come to.” McDermott then swore at the woman remarking, “It is only a case of suspicion.” When charged, McDermott answered, “All right. Aren’t you going to lock the lodgers up?” The prisoners Campbell and Gallagher were called downstairs, and on their clothing there were several small feather and bloodstains. On Sunday McCoy told the officer that it was he who had stolen the ducks, and that he wished to be locked up. McCoy was accordingly taken into custody.
Mr. Hickmott’s story for the defence revealed an extraordinary state of things. He said the three men had been spending Christmas Eye in a way that might be enjoyable to them, but not to most people. First of all, in the afternoon, they started drinking beer, consuming a large quantity. Then they turned their attention to port wine, and aster a time they thought it desirable to have some tees. The four of them had with this beverage three pints of rum. When they had consumed the rum they again turned their attention to the beer, ultimately going to the house of a man named Lang, who had provided himself with a barrel. HHhIle asked the men to help him to sup it, but when he thought they had had a sufficient quantity he told them the barrel was empty. The men did not believe him, and by consent took it away with them. There was a considerable quantity of drink remaining, and Lang had only made this statement because he thought they had had sufficient. The men went to McDermott’s, and by this time we very drunk. McCoy, who did not lodge there, left, but afterwards returned, bringing two ducks with him, one of which he threw on the tire and the other he put in the cupboard.
Mr Hickmott argued there had been no felonious intent, remarking that the ducks had been taken in a drunken freak.
McCoy was fined 20s and costs, 20s 6d and the other two prisoners discharged.