Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 9.
Stealing corn at Conisborough.
William Lee, labourer, Conisborough, was charged, on remand, with stealing six stones of wheat, the property of Mr T.H.Simpson, farmer, of Conisborough on Sunday the 28th ult.
Mr Baddeley appear for the prosecution and Mr Hall defended.
The prosecutor stated that on the Sunday morning named he went into one of his farm premises in Wellgate. On looking around the premises, he found a sack containing wheat behind the door of the cowshed. He reported the matter to Sgt Morley, and heard on the following morning that the prisoner had been apprehended. The prisoner had no authority from him to give the horses wheat.
In reply to Mr Hall, he said it was very dangerous to give wheat to horses.
Defendant had been in his employ between three or four years, and he gave him a good character.
PC Munro deposed that about a 7:45 on Sunday morning he saw the prisoner going to the cowshed, and come out with a sack of wheat on his back. Witness asked him what he had got. He said it was only a bit of corn; he had got it for his horses, and he hoped witness would say nothing about it. He had been locked up one night.
Mr Hall, for the defence, said prisoner had been in the habit of giving the corn to the horses, which no doubt, was a wrong thing to do, and asked prisoner had been in prison one night, he hoped the magistrates will temper mercy with justice and be lenient with him.
In reply to the Chairman, Mr Simpson said he should certainly not keep prisoner in his service.
The Chairman said it was a serious offence. There were many cases of horses being killed through ignorance, and as he had given the corn to the Yorks under the impression that it would improve it, he would be fined 10s and 27s costs.