Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 02 December 1939

Thefts at Wath

Railway Property Taken

Reginald North (19), haulage band, of 34, Midland Road, Wath, along with a youth of 16 years, was summoned at Rotherham on Monday for thefts of metal and other articles from railways.

From the L.N.E.R. there had been taken a shunting pole, valued at 2s. and 230 lb. of scrap iron, valued at 16s. From the L.M.S. Railway there had been taken 451lb. of scrap iron, valued at 1s. 2d. This had not been recovered.

P.c. Oldfield said he saw the defendants on October 23rd each with a bicycle, In the frame of which was a sack which contained scrap.

Both defendants made statements, and when he said he was not satisfied, North replied, “I want to tell you the truth.” The other defendant said, “I will tell you where I got mine.” On Wednesday, October 25th, he charged them with the offence. North replied, “That’s right,” and the other replied, “That’s correct.”

Nothing was known against the younger defendant. North had been bound over in March this year for 12 months on a charge of stealing coal and was still under probation. The presiding magistrate (Mr. A. E. M. Turner) said it would be for the authorities to deal with that point, and he warned the defendant that he was heading for disaster.

A fine of 15s., with 7s. costs was imposed on the younger defendant. North was fined 25s. and 15s. costs.

“Pull yourself together,” said the Chairman, “or you will be starting on a slippery slope that will land you where you don’t know.”