Mexborough and Swinton Times September 4, 1936

Garage Theft
Took Conisborough Man’s Tools.

George Burgin (23), motor lorry driver, Corby Street, Sheffield, was bound over for 12 months at Doncaster on Monday, when charged with stealing from a Conisborough garage a motorcycle tube and spanners, valued at 11s., the property of John W. Burkinshaw. He was also ordered to pay £1 towards costs.

The Chairman (Mr W. Anderson) told Burgin that he did a “dirty trick,”

Supt. Gordon said Burgin called up Burkinshaw’s garage in Sheffield Road, Conisborough on Saturday evening, and asked to be supplied with an inner tube for the motorcycle which he was riding. As a proprietor was busy he asked Burgin to fix it himself and loaned him tools. When the task was nearly completed, Burgin extinguished the rear light. Shortly afterwards he started his engine and rode away, ignoring a shout from Burkinshaw that he had not paid for the tube.

The superintendent added that Burkinshaw acted promptly and telephoned the police headquarters at Doncaster, giving a description of the man on the motorcycle. PC Brownless went out in the patrol car, and at Warmsworth he noticed a man on the road. He stopped and told him he answered the description of a man who had taken the tube. The man, Burgin, said that he acted on the spur of the moment. The spanners were found on the motorcycle.

PC Brownless said Burgin had almost stopped at the roadside when he came up in the police car. Burgin admitted that he had called at the garage.

Burgin denied to the magistrates that he purposely put out his rear light in the garage. He said he had 7s 6d. On him when he called at the garage.

At the conclusion of the case the magistrates called before them PC Brownless, and the Chairman (Mr W. Anderson) of the magistrates wishing to congratulate him on the way he arrested Burgin. It was hoped that the magistrate’s recommendation would be forwarded to the proper quarter.