Barnsley Chronicle — Saturday 02 January 1904

A Denaby Elopement
Wife, Lodger, & Children Found at Dodworth

On Wednesday, at the West Riding Police Court, Doncaster, Hannah Rushton was charged with stealing furniture, etc., the property of her husband, Richard Rushton; and James Edwards, collier, Dodworth, was charged with receiving the property knowing it to have been stolen.

The prosecutor, a collier at Denaby, stated that the male prisoner formerly lodged with him but left in September. On the 24th November, when witness got home from work, he found that his wife and four children had gone, along with a quantity of furniture, etc. On December 26th he went to Dodworth, and there found the two prisoners and his children all living together. He obtained a warrant, and the prisoners were apprehended.

In cross-examination, Rushton said he had told his wife that he would allow her to take a house in Staffordshire, at her own home, and take the furniture with her, and further, he would allow her £1 a week until he joined her, but he did not agree that she was to go and live with the male prisoner. He denied saying to Edwards that he would leave the furniture if he would take the wife and children. The evidence had been such as suggested.

Edward Harold Percy Rushton, a boy aged 10, said he remembered the male prisoner coming to the house with a waggonette, and they all went away in the waggonette, taking the furniture with them. They went to Silkstone, and lived there for three weeks. They next went to Dodworth, and the male prisoner took the furniture, and they all lived together.

P.C. Wailes, who apprehended the prisoners, said that, when charged, the woman replied: “He told me to go and take the children and all there was in the house, or he would chop them up, and so I went away.” Edwards said, “He gave us the furniture if I would take the wife and children.”

Both prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecutor said he was willing to take his wife back if she liked to go.

The male prisoner was committed to prison for one month, and the wife for 14 days.