Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 July 1900
Alleged Theft of Fish At Mexborough.
A stoker, of no fixed abode, named Edward Harrison was in custody on a charge of dealing a quantity of fish at Mexborough.
William Brown. 33, Havelock street, Hessle Road, Hull, a packer in the employ of Mr Thomas Phillips, said that on the 3rd July, he weighed and packed up a crate of fish for Mr. Alf. Goodwin, of Mexborough.
The crate contain 7½ stone halibut. 3 ¾ stones of cod, 1 ½ stones of ling, 1 stone fresh haddocks. 1 stone of finnan haddocks and 5 lbs. of plaice, which was duly sent away.
Walter Johnson porter at. Mexborough Station said that on July 3rd, he was on the platform on the arrival of the 8-26 p.m. train from Doncaster. A kit of fish arrived by the e train for Mr. Goodwin which was placed on the platform ready for the following morning. The kit of fish was all right at 9 o’clock when he saw it.
Alf. Goodwin, fish merchant, of High street, said he was expecting a kit of fish from Mr. Phillips, of Hull. Witness sent down for the fish about 8-30 a.m. the following day. and when the kit arrived at his shop he noticed it bad been tampered with, and on examining the contents he found 8 lbs. of fresh haddocks. 1 lbs. of finnan haddocks, and the whole of the plaice were missing. He went at once to the station with reported the loss.
The same day witness went with police Constable Hurst to the house of Police-constable Slater at Swinton, where he received some fish in a bag and in a clothes basket. He went down the elation with Police-constable Hurst and weighed the fish and found exactly the same quantity he had lost. The fall was worth about 4/-.
Wm. Shaw, of 17. Wharfs side, Swinton, labourer, said that on the 14th of July, about 7-30 in the morning, he was going through Bowbroom Wood on his way to work, when he saw the prisoner coming from the direction of Swinton. Prisoner was carrying a bag over his shoulder. The bag appeared to be heavy, the prisoner was in front of him, and witness followed is into the wood where he lost sight of him, and when he next saw the prisoner he had not got the sack with him.
He spoke to the prisoner, and shortly afterwards Thomas Dobson came up and witness had some conversation with him, and they both went in search of the bag which they found in a basket. They opened the bag and saw some fish. Witness then watched the sack whilst Dobson went for the police. When Dobson had gone away, the prisoner looked over a wall about ten yards away. Witness asked him what he wanted, and the prisoner made no reply. Witness afterward took the fish to police constable Slater’s house at Swinton.
Thomas Dobson, boatman, of 24. Bridge Street, Swinton said, he saw the prisoner on the morning name, and said “Good morning, but prisoner did not reply. He afterwards met Shaw, and from what he said to him they both searched the wood, where the stolen goods were found.
Police constable Hurst said that on the 14th inst. be received the bag of fish and the basket from police constable Slater. The fish was then taken to the station and weighed. On the 16th inst. the prisoner was over to him from the Rotherham police. He charged him with stealing the fish and prisoner replied “Who says that! I know nothing about it.”
Prisoner was committed to the next assizes.