Mexborough and Swinton Times November 11, 1905
Conisborough Larceny Charge
Old Woman Committed to the Assizes
Ellen Jones, a widow, of Sheffield, was brought up in custody charged with having stolen £7 15s in money, and enamelled Jubilee shilling, a George IV farthing, and a leather purse, from the person of George Curtis, a glassblower, at Conisborough, on 20 October. The case was before the court the previous week. The facts were that the prosecutor who is a widower
Curtis, went to the Fox Inn on Saturday afternoon where he saw the prisoner did not speak to. He left the public house about 5 PM shortly afterwards followed by the prisoner who overtook him on his way home. She asked him if he would give her a penny, in order to purchase a gill of beer, having in her hand of penny which she showed him. He replied that he would not and at once proceeded on his journey home.
At the top of Church Street she overtook him, and put her hand on his left shoulder, and repeated her request for a penny. He gave one out of the pocket where the purse was. She was then the worst for beer, and was standing in front of him. After giving her the penny, as he was walking homewards, he discovered that he had lost his purse.
About 7.30 the same evening he saw the prisoner at the Police Station and charged her with picking his pocket.
Prisoner: “it was not me. It must have been another woman.”
Sgt Horton said he arrested the woman at Conisborough Railway Station, and she was just going by train to Doncaster. When each outer with the offence she said: “I don’t know the man. I think you must be a b– – – mug.” At the police station £7 3s 21/2d was found in possession
Leeds Mercury Saturday, 9 December 1905
An “Old Hand”
A curious incident of misplaced charity was forthcoming in the case of Ellen Jones (68), laundress, was charged with stealing from George Curtis the sum of £7 15s and other coins at Conisborough on 28th of October last.
The prisoner solicitor arms of prosecutor and in the very act of receiving it picked prosecutor’s pocket. The jury found prisoner guilty.
His Lordship said prisoner was an old hand, she had received 7 years imprisonment in 1878 and another term of three years in 1903. The latter term had not been served, prisoner being allowed out on licence. She would have to complete her discharged term, and then serve a further term of five years imprisonment.