Mexborough and Swinton Times December 7, 1912

Thurnscoe Woman Bound Over

A married woman named Ethel Harvey, was charged with stealing on 11 November fourth cotton handkerchiefs valued at 2/2 belonging to Mr Charles Faitening, a pawnbroker.

The prosecutor, proves premises are at 6 Butcher St, said that about 9 o’clock on the morning of the length of November he home for mufflers on a nail outside the shop. They were tied together by string. He missed them late in the evening. November 28 he gave information to the police and later the same day the mufflers produced was shown to him and he identified them as his property.

PC Wain said at 1 a.m. on Thursday from information received, he went to the prisoner’s house, 4 Orchard Street, when he saw the prisoner informed that he was making enquiries respecting the missing handkerchiefs.

She then said: “I will tell you all about it. At 730 on Monday, November 11, and coming down Butcher Street when I saw the four and laid in the gutter near the shot. They were tied together with string at one corner. I picked them up and took them home and told my husband about them, but no one else, and then took them upstairs.” When charged with stealing them she replied: “I did not steal them; I picked them up in the gutter near the shop.”

The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, elected to give evidence, and said she was returning from a neighbouring and she saw the emphasis in the gutter, and she picked them up. She took them and showed them to the husband and was waiting to see if there was an outcry for them. She never heard anything until the police came on Thursday.

The Chairman said the best thing was to take them into the shop and asked if they belonged to them.

She was bound over under the First Offenders Act.