This Day’s Police: Charges of Stealing Cigars: Wm. Orton (15), Thomas Orton (18), and Andrew Pinsent (19) were charged with stealing yesterday a bundle of cigars, value 2s1d, the property of Thomas Payne, tobacconist, Little Brunswick Street: Mr. T. Wright appeared for the prisoners. Prosecutors stated that about 9.45 the three prisoners came to his house Wm to have their hair cut, and Thomas Orton to be shaved. When they were gone, he missed a bundle of cigars from the shop which he had seen safe half an hour previous to when they came in. He gave information to the police. PC Atkinson arrested the two Ortons at their home last night on the charge of stealing the cigars. He took them to the Woodboy-street police station and accused them of being in the company of another and committing the theft. Thomas Orton said he was not guilty, and Wm. admitted the offence. He afterwards apprehended Pinsent, who made a statement incriminating Wm Orton. Subsequently at the police-station Wm Orton said he had thrown the cigars into the river. Wm Orton pleaded guilty, the other two not guilty. Mr. Wright said with regard to Wm. Orton, he committed an act of folly which he could not divine a reason. The lad admitted that he did take the cigars, and afterwards threw them into the river, but why he (the lad) did such a thing, or what gratification there was in it, he could not conceive. He hoped the Bench would take into consideration the fact that he had not been before Bench previously, and also his youth, and not visit the offence with any severe punishment. As to the other two he trusted the Bench would dismiss the cases against them as they really took no part in the theft. They had all hitherto borne good character, and their Parents occupied respectable positions. Pinsent’ father being the employer of the other two. Thomas Orton and Pinsent were discharged, Wm. Orton was fined 40s or 21 days’ hard labour, the Bench hoping these proceedings would be a caution to him in the future.
[see also Leicester Daily Mercury: Saturday 27th May 1882]
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
GROxxxx Tiverton (?)