Mexborough and Swinton Times, October 21.
The Burglary Epidemic.
Mexborough and Denaby Men Charged at Doncaster.
Story of Widespread Raids.
A Remarkable List.
There was a sequel to the recent epidemic of burglaries in the Mexborough, Denaby and Conisborough districts at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Wednesday, when Mr E.L.Bingham and Mr Jeff Crossland, were for five hours occupied in hearing half a dozen charges arising out of them.
George Edwin Alpine, boilersmith, his brother John Alpine, a miner, Denaby, and Arnold Bacon, apprentice bowler Smith, Mexborough, were charged with burglary at Denaby on 26th of May, and stealing from the house of William Edward Narraway, secretary of the Denaby and Cadeby Cricket, Tennis, and Bowls Club and Cadeby Cricket, Tennis, and Bowls club, £58 19s 6d, in money, a goldguard and a wristlet watch, and another £5.
There were further charges with a similar offence at the house of Harry Burnley, motor engineer,Manor View, Conisborough, and stealing on 11 September, a gold ring, stainless knives and forks, 40 cigars, and the works of a watch, valued altogether at five pounds.
They were also charged with stealing from the house of Walter Harpin, of Tickhill Street, Denaby, five pound in Treasury notes and some jewellery on 9th September.
Bacon, along with Arthur Allcroft, another Mexborough miner, was charged with housebreaking and stealing cash and jewellery belonging to Hilda Holroyd, on 16 September, stealing cash and jewellery from 43 Park road, Mexborough, belonging to Elena Jones on the 31st. July, and also with housebreaking at Adwick on Dearne, on 30th August, and stealing cash and jewellery belonging to John Farrell, of Highwood Road.
The Narraway Burglary
Mrs Elsie Narraway, wife of Mr William Edward Narraway, said she left home about 10.30 on the night of 26th May to attend a dance, her husband having preceded her at 8.30. They left their two children asleep in bed. Returning home between five and 5.30 she found the front door as she had left it, but letters and papers fromclthes hangingin the hall were strewn about the passage. The window of the dining room was wide open, and a suitcase she had left under the bed upstairs was on the floor. The back kitchen door was wide open, and going upstairs to see if the children were all right she found the front bedroom hasd been ransacked. The children were fast asleep, and their room, had not been interfered with, though the door, which she had left open had been closed.
All the drawers in the front bedroom had been ransacked and the club money was missing, also £5 taken from a suitcase.
William Edward Narraway, a clerk, said the money £58 19s 6d was in a draw in the front bedroom. He also missed a gold guard and wristlet watch from the mantelpiece in the living room. He valued them at £6.
Replying to Mr W.Lindsay Crawford, defending the Alpines, he admitted he had not checked the money before the robbery.
Sgt Blyth said on ninth of October he searched Bacon’s house and in the front bedroom he found the wristlet watch along with other property, while Sgt Sparrow, of Conisborough, said that at 12:50pm on the12th October he saw George Edward Alpine at his work at the Cadeby colliery, and told him he was making enquiries about the robbery of Mr Narraway’s house. He replied “I was there with Arnold Bacon and our Jack. I had about £6.” When charged, he replied, “I am guilty, I only got £6.”
At 2.30 the same day he saw John Alpine, who was in custody at the Conisborough Police Station and charged him. He replied, “I only got £8 10s and the gold guard.” Later he visited John Alpine’s house and recovered the gold guard from the top of the wardrobe in the front bedroom. Then on14th Octoberhe sawBacon in custody at Rotherham, and when he charged him. He replied “I went in twice and got over £20. George and Jack were outside. I gave Jack the gold guard. I had the wristlet watch.” Witness recovered the watch from the Mexborough police.
The Alpines pleaded not guilty and reserved their defence.
Bacon said he was “not guilty of the amount named.”
They were committed for trial at the Leeds Assizes.
Burnley’s House, Manor View, Park Road
The prisoners were then charged with burglariously entering the house, Manor View, Park Road, Conisborough, and stealing a ladies gold ring, six stainless knives and forks, 40 cigars, and the works of a watch, altogether of the value of five pounds, belonging to Mr Harry Burnley, motor engineer.
Mrs Burnley said that at 7:30 pm on 11 September. She returned from Leeds. At 10 PM she made all secure and retired to bed. Her husband returned home about to 20 in the morning and found the house had been broken into.
Harry B Burnley said when he returned home from Blackpool you found everything in the dining room, had been upset and the drawers had been open and some of the contents strewn around the floor. The kitchen door was wide open and the key was missing. The side window of the drawing-room had been forced.
Reply to Mr Crawford, he said the drawing-room window was not fastened by any catch, school or other mechanical means. The window was stuck by the paint. He discovered a mark outside the window.
PC Hague said that on Thursday, 12th October,he sawJohn Alpine at his house 70 to Braithwell Street, Denaby. He told him he was making enquiries concerning the robbery of certain articles. He replied “I know nothing about it.” Witness told him he had reason to believe he was with a man named Bacon. He then said “well, I was with him.” Prisoner was taken into custody and in reply to the charge. He said “I got seven cigars three knives into forks.”
Witness later in the day, visited prisoners house recovered seven cigars three knives and two forks. On the morning 14th October he saw Bacon in custody at Rotherham, and in reply to the charge. He said “I got my share of cigars, but I know nothing about the other things.”
Sgt Sparrow said when he charged George Edward Alpine he replied “I got some cigars; they are at home. I was there and only got eight cigars.” He received these from a drawer at the prisoners home.
The prisoners were committed for trial at the Assizes.
Walter Harpin’s Tickhill Street
They were then charged with stealing from the house of Walter Harpin, miner, Tickhill Street, Denaby, £5 in Treasury notes, a silver watch, metal chain case, and a revolver etc valued at £6 10s.
Miss Winifred Harpin said that on the ninth September, her father left home to go to Scarborough. At 8:20 PM she locked the house, but did not examine the windows, and went to Mexborough. Returning at 11:20 PM she found the kitchen window pushed wide open and the doors were as she had left them. The drawers in the kitchen were all open and the paper strewn about.
Walter Harpin said the Treasury notes were in a tin box under the washstand in the front bedroom and the watch and chain in the cupboard downstairs.
Sgt Bligh said he visited Bacon’s home and found a revolver and metal chain case in the front bedroom.
PC Hague said when John Alpine, was charged. He replied “I was near the house, I got nothing. Bacon must’ve got the lot.” George and said “I was there but I got nothing.” And Bacon said. “I had the money myself. I gave the watch and chain to Jack Alpine.”
Prisoners had nothing to say, and they were committed for trial, and the Bench allowing the Alpines bail in £50 each and two sureties of £50.
Bacon reply to the chairman said he was married. He was 20 years of age.
Superintendent Minty said it was a serious case and Bacon appeared to be the ringleader. There are other charges against the men. The thefts had been going on for 12 months.
The chairman, Mr Bingham, said he did not think he would be justified in granting bail.
Note:There were other cases in Mexborough with another man called Arthur Moorcroft and details of these are available if required