Mexborough and Swinton Times June 7 1885
A Novel Felony at Denaby
At the West Riding Court at Doncaster, David Hill, a boy 10 years of age, was charged with stealing a quarter of milk, value 3d, by abstracting it from a cow, the property of Mr J. Clarkson, of Conisbrough, on Sunday
According to the evidence of PC Hurst he was watching near a field at New Denaby on Sunday afternoon, where he saw 10 cows belonging to Mr Clarkson. About a 1:15 the prisoner and another boy named Butler went up to a cow, and a prisoner held the cow while Butler abstracted milk from its teats, which he drank as it came out. They then changed positions, and repeated the operation.
After watching them for about five minutes officer made for the lads, who ran away, and he chased them for half a mile and caught the prisoner.
Thomas Henry Blyth, foreman for Mr Clarkson, said that boys had been in the habit of taking milk from the cows, and he estimated that about a quart of milk was abstracted on this occasion.
The magistrates ordered the prisoners to receive four strokes with the birch rod.