Mexborough and Swinton Times June 15, 1928

A Thurnscoe Theft.

Early Morning Visit to Farm.

A disabled ex-soldier’s visit to a farm led to his appearance at Doncaster on Saturday.

The defendant was Edward Griffiths, miner, of Thurnscoe, who was summoned for having stolen a binder sheet, valued at £1  belonging_to Wm. Gascoigne, farmer, of High  House Farm, Thurnscoe.

Inspector Taylor said P.c. Stones was in High street, Thurnscoe, at 4-20 a.m., on June 6th, when he saw Griffiths carrying the sheet. The officer asked him where he had got it from, but not being satisfied with the defendant’s answers he made further inquiries, and found the sheet belonged to Gascoigne.

When charged the defendant said, “Yes, I admit it.”

Griffiths admitted the facts, and said he was sorry. he added that he wanted the sheet to make bags for coal picking.

The magistrates’ clerk (Mr. E. W. Pettifer) Do you know that is illegal?

The defendant said he lost his left arm in the war and received a disability pension of 24s. a week. The only work he had done since the war had been a little joinery and furniture repairing,

Replying to the Clerk he said five of them lived on the 24 s out of which he paid 9s. 2d. a week rent. He had seen the sheet two or three days before he took it.

The Clerk: So you got up at 4-20 to fetch it ?—Yes.

The Chairman (Mr. J. Dymond) What do you go coal picking for? ‘What have you made out of it?

Defendant: Nothing. He added that he burned the colour tone, as he could not afford to buy any.

The defendant was bound over for 12 months and ordered to pay £1 towards the costs.