Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 24 November 1917

Women’s Extensive Thefts.
Trips from Mexborough to Market at Rotherham.

At Rotherham. yesterday, five Mexborough women were charged with theft. Annie Gill, Glasshouse Street, was accused of stealing boots and a piece silk; Annie Hague, Sarah Street, a table cloth and embroidery; Emma Jow, Charles Street, shoes and stockings; Ethel Hirst, Adwick Lane, boots; and Nellie Grindle, Sarah Street, stockings.

All tbe defendants pleaded guilty.

Police-constable Hodson stated that in consequence of complaints of thefts from the market he was on duty in plain clothes on Monday after 1 noon last, and saw Gill standing near a boot stall. She picked up a pair of boots, and put them under her coat while the proprietor was showing boots to Hague a little distance away. He arrested Gill as she walked away. In her possession was a piece of silk, value 13s., which was subsequently identified as having been taken from another stall. Witness subsequently visited Mexboro’.

Hague denied she had any stolen property, but when her house was searched a table cloth was discovered. She acknowledged it had been stolen. He also found a number of pawn tickets relating to various articles—a piece of silk, embroidery, piece of lace embroidery, and a piece of crepe de chine, value £3 10s. It was admitted these had been taken from the market on various dates in October and November.

Mr. Hastings (Chairman) described the state of affairs most deplorable. All the defendants pleaded guilty. They came to Rotherham not to buy, but to steal.

The Bench were thankful they were not Rotherham women, and considered they were a disgrace to their sex, their husbands, their families, and the town in which they lived.

Hague, who was regarded the ringleader, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment; Jow was fined £5, and Hirst, Gill, and Grindle £2 each. . The Chairman, at the conclusion of the case, complimented Police-constable Hodson on his smartness.