Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 15 January 1912
Stolen Butter.
Recovery Leads to Disclosure of Another Theft.
At the West Riding Court. Doncaster, today, Fred Mollart, pit corporal, Denaby, was charged with stealing 2lbs. of butter from the shop of William Baker, greengrocer, New Conisbro’.
On Saturday afternoon a pony driver named Robert Goddard, 14 years of age, saw prisoner take the butter from the shop window, and gave information, which led to Mollart’s apprehension.
Mollart and David Askin, collier, were charged together with stealing three fowls and a cockerel, value 20s. from a hen house in an allotment garden occupied by James Corney on Saturday night.
When Police-constable Rutter searched Mollart’s house for the butter he found the cockerel concealed. There were footprints leading from the hen place to Mollart’s home.
On visiting Askin’s house the officer found two chickens in a stew pot. On the way to the police station Askin said. “I might as well tell you. ‘Smithy’ (meaning Mollart) got one and I got the other.”
Prisoners pleaded guilty, and Mollart, who had been previously convicted, was sent to prison for 14 days on each charge. Askin was fined 40s. and costs.