Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 10 November 1893
Stealing a Wheelbarrow at Conisborough
Richard Barker and Samuel Watson were charged with stealing a wheelbarrow at Conisborough, on the 28th ult., the property of Joseph Firbank, contractor of the new railway.
P.C. Peckitt, stationed at Conisborough, said he saw, on Saturday last, the two defendants wheeling a barrow down the road towards Denaby. He asked them where they got the wheelbarrow from, to which they replied, “We have borrowed it from the new line.” He took them to the police-station, and charged them with stealing the barrow. The value of the wheelbarrow was 10s.
Wm. Lawrence, foreman joiner at Cadeby, said he recognised the barrow as one belonging to Mr. Firbank, railway contractor. There had been several taken away.
Defendants said they had just come back from Hemsworth that day, and they had borrowed the barrow to fetch some coal.
A sister to one of the defendants said she went and asked one of the navvies if she could have the loan of the barrow, and he said, “Yes, if you bring it back,” and she said she would. The barrow would have been taken back as soon as they got home. She had been to the place several times, but she could not recognise the man who had given her permission to take the barrow.
The bench, in dismissing the case, warned the defendants about borrowing other people’s property in that manner in the future.