Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 5 March 1883

The Hiring System.

At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court on Saturday, William Kirk was charged that, being bailee of certain furniture, the property of William Ward, furniture dealer, Mexborough, he did sell the same without Ward’s permission.

The defendant had hired some goods from Ward in December last under the hiring system, and one of the clauses in the agreement was that the defendant should not remove or sell the goods. On the 6th ult. the complainant went to the defendant’s house and found the place deserted and the goods gone, and on the 26th he discovered that the defendant had sold them to Mrs. Oakton, of Denaby, for 15s.

The defendant admitted the charge and was sent to prison for one month.