Mexborough and Swinton Times November 4, 1939
Empty House Gutted
Great Houghton Miners’ “Loot “
The discovery that an unoccupied house had been gutted as a result of floor boards, spars, and joists being ripped out and taken away, led to the appearance in Barnsley West Riding Court on Friday of three Great Hougton miners. Sydney Walker was charged with stealing wood to the value of 8s. 6d, John W. Hatton, wood worth 8s Thomas Hatton, wood worth 17s.
Walker and Thomas Hatton were fined 40s. and costs, and John Hatton was sent to prison for a month.
On hearing the sentence John Hatton said, ” Cannot I appeal against mine?” and he was told he could.
Announcing the Bench’s decision, Captain A. E. Allott said they took a very serious view of the offence. The men had no right to go and wreck the property.
The men pleaded ” Not Guilty.”
Holes in The Roof
Inspector Lambert said at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 29th, an estate agent visited Great Houghton. He was interested in a house in Common Lane End, and he found the interior and outbuildings wrecked. Bedroom floor boards had been ripped up and taken away, frames destroyed, and large holes had been made in the roof.
P.c. Jones made enquiries, and on visiting Walker’s home he identified some material as having been taken from the cottage.. Walker said, ” There is plenty in the street.” Material was also found in the Hatton’s possession. The men had no reason to go into the house and steal the wood.
Ernest Holmes, estate agent, with premises at Fig Tree Lane, Sheffield, said the property belonged to a Sheffeld woman. He found the house wrecked. Bedroom floorboards had been taken away along with the joists, and it was possible to see from the ground floor to the false roof. The roof was new only three years ago, when £60 was spent on the property, but a hole 6ft. by 4ft. had been made in it so that the timber could be got away. In the scullery was a copper, which was smashed, and wood had been taken away. Later he was shown a quantity of floorboards and spars by the Police, and he identified them as having been taken out of the property. The timber was probably worth £3 to £4 but the damage done to the house would be approximately £50, because it was ” absolutely gutted.”
Asked if the house was vacant because it was going to be demolished, witness answered that he was getting a new tenant for it. The medical officer for the area said the house was not on the list to be demolished.
Made a Shed of Them
In reply to the chairman, witness said the house was locked up. A door had been forced, and a new casement had been entirely wrecked.
Walker said he went into his house on July 29th, and found the floorboards and spars in the coal place. He left them for a fortnight because he thought they belonged to the previous tenant. John Hatton said P.c. Jones came to his house and found on the premises three boards for a rabbit hutch. The truth was that the house had been wrecked by the children.
Thomas Hatton said he told the constable he found the wood on a bonfire pile. Everybody in the row had some. He had built a shed of his. He did not go to the house, and there was still some wood in a bonfire pile in front of the row.