South Yorkshire Times, November 10th 1933
Rival Bread Treated With Petrol
Curious Mexboro’ Case
Baker’s Agent Sent To Prison
At Doncaster on Tuesday. Charles Edward Rose, bread salesman, 8, John Street, Mexboro’, pleaded guilty to a charge of maliciously damaging bread valued at 13s. 6d., and two other charges of damaging bread valued 31d.
Supt. Huddlestone said that Rose was employed by a Mexboro’ firm of bakers, and paid a standing wage and commission to deliver bread and canvass for orders. In March a Mrs. Schofield acquired a small business in Dolcliffe Road, Mexboro’. and defendant supplied her with bread and cakes. This went on for a while until, owing to demands from her customers, Mrs. Schofield gave orders to another firm at Doncaster and cut down her supplies from Rose. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Schofield began to receive complaints regarding the state of the Doncaster bread. chiefly that it smelled strongly of petrol. The complaints became more frequent, and there was an average return from customers of seven loaves of bread a week. At first the Doncaster firm agreed to replace the damaged loaves, but finally Mrs. Schofield was made to stand the loss. Besides this, she found her custom dwindling.
Caught Red-Handed
In September Mrs. Schofield began to suspect defendant, because she had noticed him handling loaves from the Doncaster firm and that afterwards they smelled of petrol. Early in October she kept observation on the shop from the kitchen when she knew defendant was about to call: She saw defendant enter the shop and use a small syringe on several loaves of bread belonging to the Doncaster firm. Mrs. Schofield examined the loaves after Rose had left and found petrol had been put into and on them.
In consequence she notified the police, and on Oct. 24th Det. Officer Lee concealed himself in the shop. He saw Rose enter, take up several loaves, place them on the counter and squirt petrol into them with a small syringe. He then replaced the loaves in their original position, and wiped the counter clean of petrol. The officer made himself apparent to Rose and charged him.
Rose replied, “I am sorry. I had to do something to stop others from taking my trade. I shall get the sack for this.”
Supt. Huddlestone added that in all 54 loaves of bread had been damaged by Rose, and as a result Mrs. Schofield’s trade had dropped by 245 a week.
Det.-Officer Lee described how Rose committed the offence. “He took three loaves from a shelf and put them on the counter. He then opened the paper covering. placed the syringe inside and squirted petrol.” Witness produced the small syringe. “I examined the loaves afterwards and found there was a hole in the bread and that the paper covering was wet with petrol. Supt. Huddlestone remarked that injecting petrol did not A
Strange Case.
Mr. C. R. Marshall. defending, said the charges were most extraordinary and it was difficult to make a defence because of their curious nature. Rose was 29 years old, married, and his parents had lived 30 years in Mexboro’, where they had a splendid character. He left school at 13, and was immediately employed by the Mexboro’ bakery firm. At first fie used to deliver bread by barrow, but for the last twelve years he had used a motor van and had been in sole charge of the delivery side of the business. His duties were delivering and seeking orders, for which he received a standing wage of 325. 6d., with a commission. In addition, he had to collect money.
Mrs. Schofield’s business had been a useful one to this man until she commenced ordering from the Doncaster firm. “When orders were reduced it became serious to Rose, yet it is curious that there was no unpleasantness between Rose and Mrs. Schofield over the reduced orders. But the matter did annoy Rose very much, and it seems to have preyed on his mind. He carried this syringe for use on his motor-van and motor-bicycle, and he never went into the shop with the definite idea of using it on the bread of his competitors. Having this thing in his pocket apparently gave him the insane idea when he was inside the shop. He committed this strange act on several occasions, but is rather surprised at the number of loaves stated to have been damaged. He says he only used the syringe about a dozen times.
I have pressed him to give me the reason why he has done this strange thing, but the only reason he gives is that he became aggravated, loss of orders preyed on his mind, and he did it at first on the spur of the moment.”
Good Character
Mr. Marshall said he had a number of testimonials from well-known people to prove Rose’s good character prior to this offence.
“He seems to have been obsessed by a zeal for Mexboro’-made goods. He has often stressed the fact to Mrs. Schofield that she should sell only those goods. Rose’s relations with his employer had been excellent until this matter came to light. Rose was ashamed of himself when caught with the could not tell his employer. This was done by the police, and immediately Rose was dismissed. Rose instructs me to express his sincere apologies to all who have been annoyed by his foolish acts.”
Rose’s late employer said he only dismissed Rose because he charges against him. Prior to that he had been an honourable employee, discharging his duties satisfactorily. He had collected considerable sums each week. “I have not the slightest complaint to make against him but for this.”
Witness took the opportunity of disassociating himself from Rose’s acts. “I have been very grieved over this,” he said.
In sending Rose to prison for a month the Chairman (Mr. M. L. Nokes) said the magistrates had carefully considered the case and the character of defendant. “We think this was a most despicable thing to do, and but for your previous good character you would have been dealt with more severely.”