Sheffield Independent March 28, 1840

Thomas Askim was charged with stealing £50 of iron palisading,  the property of Mr Wilson of Kilnhurst.

Mr Monteith appeared for the prosecution and Mr Roebuck for the defence.

It appeared that the prisoner occupied a blacksmith shop, adjoining the wharf, under the prosecutor, who reserved a right of putting steel in the bottom of the shop, which might be landed at the wharf.

The servants of the prosecutor had also access to the shop, and usually put the basket used by them for landing coal into a chamber or loft in the shop.

It was further stated that on January 8 some iron was landed at the wharf and it was put into a cart to be removed. The cart was left loaded about an hour and ½, when the iron was taken out, and was afterwards found in the loft of the prisoner shop.

Mr Roebuck, in defence of the prisoner, contended that the iron was never out of the prosecutor’s possession since it had been stated in evidence at he reserved a right of putting property there, and his servants had the right of access to the shop.

Mr Radford Bailey was called and stated that he knew the prisoner and spoke to the respectability and integrity of his character.

The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.