MEAN THEFT AT TOTNES: Sentenced to two months hard labour at Totnes, on Tuesday, for stealing articles of wearing apparel, valued at 15s, William Thomas Sculthorpe, was declared by the Bench to have behaved in a shabby manner after the kindness shown him by the owners. The stolen articles which were in readiness to go to the laundry were placed in a barn by Mr. W. H. Pinsent, Riverside Bungalow, to be taken away later. Accused had been given permission to sleep in the barn, as he was unable to get rooms in order that he might keep his job. Sculthorpe said he took the things on the spur of the moment and sold most of them to a woman at Taunton for 4s. There were two previous convictions against the accused, and the mayor asked if any enquiries had been made about the woman who bought the goods at such an absurd price from a man on the road. P.S. Marshall replied that the woman bought the property and informed the police. The police at Taunton were satisfied that the purchaser bore an excellent character.
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Referenced
GRO0897 Devonport: William Henry Pinsent: 1874 – 1949