Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Wednesday 22 October 1919

Thurnscoe Railway Thefts

John William Cooper, John or Hiles and Arthur J. Cooper, miners, Thurnscoe, were, at Doncaster, yesterday, charged with stealing a large number of fence rails and spars, the property of the Hull and Barnsley Railway Co.

On August 8th the officials of the company missed 38 rails, later 50, and on another occasion 40, and a number of spars.

On the police going to some wooden huts which had been erected in George Street they recovered a number of rails, valued at 18 guineas. All the spars had been taken from one bridge.

The men had served in the Army, and John William Cooper has an injured knee and was waiting for a bed. They admitted taking a small number of fences.

Mr. Elliott (Sheffield), on their behalf, said that during the war men were across the sea promoted for stealing timber and not being found out, and pleaded for leniency.

John William Cooper was fined 40s., and the other defendants £7 each, time being allowed for payment.