Six Months for “Receiver”: Stolen Jumpers in Front Room: Rail Theft: Six months’ hard labour was the sentence at Leicester City Police Court today on a receiver of stolen goods. He was Ernest Pinsent (40) dealer, Archdeacon Lane Leicester. A charge of stealing a parcel of jumpers worth £9 5s, while in transit by the L. N. E. Railway Co., was withdrawn and he was charged with receiving the parcel. The case had been adjourned from last week.
P.C. Goosey gave evidence of a conviction of receiving stolen goods against Pinsent on June 17th last. Edward Ashford Billingham, carter, said he put a parcel of jumpers from Billson’s works on his dray. When he got to the depot, however, it was gone. Det-Sergt. Turner said he and Det-Inspector Clowes went to Pinsent’s house. Pinsent, questioned about a parcel of hosiery in the front room said, “A man brought them here last night”.
“Man Brought Them: When charged with stealing and receiving the jumpers, Pinsent said “A man brought them and offered them for 30s a dozen. I said if they were any good, I would pay for them on Friday ”. Pinsent in the box, said he was a market trader. He bought the stolen goods from a casual acquaintance whom he knew as “George” but did not know they were stolen.
The Clerk (Mr. W. J. Day): did you ask him where he got them? No:
Sir Jonathan North: If you knew “George” by his Christian name, it indicates that you were on familiar terms with him.
Mr. H. G. Bennett, defending, pointed out that in the prisoner’s sphere of life it was not unusual for casual friends to know each other by their Christian names. “A man doesn’t bother about a formal introduction; he introduces himself,” he added.
Mr. Bennett urged the Bench to find Pinsent innocent as there was no proof that he knew the goods were stolen. The Bench, however, decided to convict.
Under Suspicion: Det.-Supt. Boon than gave evidence. “for some time,” he said “we have had numerous railway robberies, and this man has been under suspicion for some time. At his house was found other hosiery made by the same firm which cannot, however, be identified as stolen. Pinsent stands in the local markets at Melton, Hinckley, and Coalville and can dispose of the goods.”
Sentence of six months’ imprisonment with hard labour was passed. The magistrates were Ald. Sir Jonathan North (in the chair). Mr. J. G. Pickard, Mr. A. Oram and Mr. Alec Tyler.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0272 Tiverton: Ernest “Pinsent”: 1889 – 1966