South Yorkshire Times, December 23, 1932
“Bad Company ”
Ominous Discoveries by Police
Prison for Swinton Youths
A shaped wooden “cosher” loaded with lead, a jemmy and a lady’s purse were produced by the police at Rotherham on Monday when Andrew H. Hector (22), a coloured man, 11, Beechville Street, Piccadilly, Swinton, and Albert Nixon (18), 26, Walker Street, Bridge Street, Swinton, were charged with having stolen a fawn motor rug, the property of George Button, engineer, 11, Broomville Street, Swinton, at Swinton, on November 29th.
George Button said that on November 29th he left his motor-car in front of his house. In the car was a fawn motor rug. After he had left the car for five minutes the rug was stolen. He gave information to the police the same evening, and on December, 11th was shown the rug. It was worth 13s.
P.c. Allonby said that with Sergt. Downhill be interviewed Nixon at Piccadilly. Nixon said, “I took it, we went along the canal bank. Hector has it in a loft at his house.” At night they went to Hector’s house and Sergt. Downhill recovered the rug from the loft. Later, they saw Hector, who said, “Yes I took it. What else can I say when you have got the rug?” They were both taken to the police station and when charged at 11.15 p.m. Hector said “As I have already said, I took it.” Nixon said. “I was with him.”
Sergt. Downhill said he accompanied P.c. Allonby to Hector’s house and found the rug in the loft. In a box he alas found a purse a cosher, and a jemmy. The jemmy had been purchased only a week before.
Hector said, “That cosher, l have had it ever since I was 14. I had it given to me when I was working in a barber’s shop. I have never used it. The jemmy I bought for threepence, with no criminal intention. I bought it to get some nails out. It is my first offence.”
Nixon said he was fed up with that sort of life and would like to turn over a new leaf. If given a chance he would like to start afresh, before it was too late.
Inspector Williams said he had received correspondence from Sheffield City Police respecting the theft of a purse and handbag which prisoner’s had admitted, and wished them to be taken into consideration. The theft was by means of bag-snatching from a woman, and the lag and purse contained £8 6s. 8d.
Hector objected, and said the amount they got from the purse was only 47s.
Sergt. Downhill explained that the handbag was found on some waste land and contained £4 15s. This amount had been overlooked by prisoners. Witness was present when prisoners admitted this offence.
Hector’s sister told the magistrates that her brother was a boy who was easily led astray. She would promise to look after him if they gave him another chance.
Inspector Williams said there was nothing against Hector. Nixon, on March 86th, 1919, was bound over for two years for shopbreaking and stealing biscuits, and at Doncaster on October 7th he was fined £2 for stealing fowls. The inspector asked for the “cosher” and jemmy to be confiscated.
Nixon was sentenced to two months and Hector to a month.
Mr. E. Rose (presiding) said Nixon had a bad record. Nixon: It’s the company I have been getting into, your honour.
Mr. Rose: I should seek better company, then.
Nixon: I intend to, your honour.