Sheffield Independent – Thursday 16 February 1899
Shop-Breaking at New Denaby.
At Doncaster yesterday, John William Thomas, 9, John Henry Waterfield, 8, and Josiah Wood, 9, all of Conisbro’, were charged with stealing nine mouth- organs, six pocket knives, four combs, and one work- box, from the shop of Stephen Baines, of 34, Cliff View. New Denaby, on the 12th inst.
It appeared that on the 11th inst. prosecutor’s daughter locked up the shop at 11.30 p.m., and did not return until 8.30 a.m. on the 13th, when she found the shop in a state of disorder, two panes of glass broken, and the articles previously mentioned had disappeared.
Information was given to Police-constable Evans, and prisoners were apprehended
They pleaded guilty, and were each ordered to receive four strokes with the birch rod.