Thursday Flashback

Taken around the early 1930s this picture shows Friarage School with St Mary’s Church and Scarborough Castle in the distance. The workman can be seen sawing flooring timber for a new development of council properties on Friargate which was previously informed the police. Prisoner pledged the ring at York with Mr Wm Sharpe, Colliergate, York, for £20, first asking £30. On June 18th a Mr Thomas Watkinson, Sea View Parade, Morecombe, called with the pawn ticket to redeem the ring, and the pawnbroker informed the police, Mr Watkinson stated he had met prisoner several times at Morecambe, and he seemed to be of independent means, and enjoying himself on holiday. One day prisoner said he had got a bit short of funds, and wanted to raise a bit of money on the pawn ticket. He “told the tale” about buying the ring for someone and then not wanting it, and so on. Mr Wilkinson bought the ticket for £3. Enquiries were made throughout the country, and through Mr Wilkinson, who behaved very credibly, prisoner was arrested in Manchester. It appeared Mr Wilkinson had been looking out for the prisoner and on known as Dumple Street.

Photo reproduced courtesy of the Max Payne collection. Reprints can be ordered with proceeds going to local charities. Telephone 0330 1230203 and quote reference number YRN170728-152710050. Monday he saw him in a Manchester hotel. Prisoner said, “Don’t give a pal away,” and ran away, Mr Wilkinson chasing him and practically arresting and handing him over to the police.

Prisoner said he was very sorry he had done wrong, and he would not do so again. He had a good character before. He had been partly driven to it. He had a public house of his own, his father leaving him £900 and four houses. He got married and his wife turned out the wrong way, which seemed to send him horse racing. He caught her with men a fortnight after they were married. All his family were respectable. He knew he had done wrong.

The chief constable said the Nottingham City Police reported that prisoner had held a licence at Stapleford previously held by his parents. He had been fined 21s for diluting whisky. His wife’s parents had also kept a public house. He (the Chief ) did not wish any other case to be considered, Prisoner had been going about committing that class of offence, and was wanted at Liverpool, Sheffield and Blackpool.

The chairman said prisoner would go to gaol for six months with hard labour. They had not taken any other case into consideration.