Sequel to a Denaby Elopement

An Extraordinary Story

At the West Riding Court, Doncaster, yesterday, before Mr. W. J. Huntriss and other magistrates, Hannah Rushton, married, was charged with stealing furniture, etc., belonging to her husband, and James Edwards, collier, Dodworth, was charged with receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen.

Richard Rushton, collier, Denaby, stated that the female prisoner was his wife, and the male prisoner had lodged with him for some time, leaving his place some time in September.

On the 24th November he went to work about 5.30 in the morning, leaving his wife and four children in the house. He returned about half-past two in the afternoon, and found that his wife and children had disappeared. He also found that a quantity of articles, including blankets and sheets, value £4, had been removed.

He 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 to live with the male prisoner, and from the 24th November to the 26th December he never heard where she was.

On the 26th December he went to Dodworth, and found the prisoners were living together in the same house, and had the children with them. He told his wife that the furniture was his property, and she replied that some of it belonged to her.

He did not say anything to the male prisoner about the furniture, but went to Doncaster, and took out a warrant. He then returned on Tuesday to Dodworth with Police-constable Wailes, and pointed out the articles which belonged to him.

Witness told the male prisoner that he had ruined his wife and family.

Witness, in reply to the male prisoner, denied that he said he could have the furniture if he would take the wife and children. He said there had never been such a thing suggested.

Edward Harold Percy Rushton, a boy aged ten, stated that 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.

Police-constable Wailes stated that he apprehended the prisoners on Tuesday. He charged the woman first, and she 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 me the furniture if I would take the wife and children.”

Both prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge. The female prisoner again said her husband told her to go.

Prosecutor said his wife said she would come back, and he was willing to take her if she liked.

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