South Yorkshire Times  January 20, 1933

Pullet Stolen

Hard Labour For Wath Man

William Lidgett (22), of 22, pottery Yard, Newhill, Wath, was sentenced to prison for a month with hard labour when charged at Rotherham West Biding Police Court on Monday, with having stolen a white leghorn pullet the property of George Utley, of 13, Pottery Yard, Newhill.

George Utley said he kept fowls in a fowl-house on Newhill allotments. At noon, on January 5th, he visited the fowlhouse and checked the number of fowls. At 9 a.m. the next morning he went to the fowlhouse and found one missing. He went searching the other allotments but failed to find the missing pullet.     He reported his loss to P.c. Knapton.

Sidney Herbert Alderman, a footballer, of eight common Lane, Wath, said he knew defendant well. Between 2.30 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. on January 6th he was walking along Blackmore Lane, Rawmarsh, when he saw Lidgett come out of a lane in front of him. The lane led to Newhill. Lidgett was carrying a white pullet.

P.c. Knapton said at 3 p.m. on January 9th he received a complaint from Utley, and after making enquiries visited Lidgett at his home. Lidgett strongly denied knowing anything about the loss. Witness was not satisfied and further questioned him. He then said, “Yes, I took it. I put it over a wall near Warren House pit. I got the wind up. I thought Alderman had seen me.” Witness searched the place where Lidgett indicated lie had placed the fowl, but was unable to find it. When charged, Lidgett replied, “I am sorry I did it. I will not do it again.”

Lidgett said some of Utley’s fowls were loose and in trying to get them all back into the fowlhouse he threw a stone at them. The stone struck one of the fowls and killed it.

Inspector Holey said Lidgett had six previous convictions including those for stealing a gun, making a false declaration to obtain unemployment benefit, and larceny.

William Lidgett (22), of 22, pottery Yard, Newhill, Wath, was sentenced to prison for a month with hard labour when charged at Rotherham West Biding Police Court on Monday, with having stolen a white leghorn pullet the property of George Utley, of 13, Pottery Yard, Newhill.

George Utley said he kept fowls in a fowl-house on Newhill allotments. At noon, on January 5th, he visited the fowlhouse and checked the number of fowls. At 9 a.m. the next morning he went to the fowlhouse and found one missing. He went searching the other allotments but failed to find the missing pullet.     He reported his loss to P.c. Knapton.

Sidney Herbert Alderman, a footballer, of eight common Lane, Wath, said he knew defendant well. Between 2.30 p.m. and 2.45 p.m. on January 6th he was walking along Blackmore Lane, Rawmarsh, when he saw Lidgett come out of a lane in front of him. The lane led to Newhill. Lidgett was carrying a white pullet.

P.c. Knapton said at 3 p.m. on January 9th he received a complaint from Utley, and after making enquiries visited Lidgett at his home. Lidgett strongly denied knowing anything about the loss. Witness was not satisfied and further questioned him. He then said, “Yes, I took it. I put it over a wall near Warren House pit. I got the wind up. I thought Alderman had seen me.” Witness searched the place where Lidgett indicated lie had placed the fowl, but was unable to find it. When charged, Lidgett replied, “I am sorry I did it. I will not do it again.”

Lidgett said some of Utley’s fowls were loose and in trying to get them all back into the fowlhouse he threw a stone at them. The stone struck one of the fowls and killed it.

Inspector Holey said Lidgett had six previous convictions including those for stealing a gun, making a false declaration to obtain unemployment benefit, and larceny.