South Yorkshire Times, Saturday, May 20, 1944

Took Curtains and Pillow-Slips

Kilnhurst Woman Fined

Elizabeth Sugden (45), married, of Glasshouse Lane, Kilnhurst, who was charged at Rotherham West Wiling Court on Monday with the theft of curtains, value £12 15s., the property of the Bethel Methodist Church, Kilnhurst, and pillow slips, value £1, the property of Mrs. Black, Kilnhurst, was told by the Chairman (Mr. H. Tinker) that they were deliberate thefts, and that if she came before the Court again on similar charges she would have to go to prison.

She was fined £4, and ordered to pay £3 6s. costs in respect of the curtains and £1 6s. costs for the theft of pillowslips.

Inspector Lawrence said the committee of the Women’s Bright Hour at the Bethel Church purchased a bale of material, which was made up into curtains, and when they were required it was found twelve of them were missing. Ten of them were subsequently found in a pawnshop at Mexborough, where they had been taken by the woman’s 15-year-old daughter.

Sugden was employed as caretaker at the church at the time of the theft. In connection with the theft of two Pillow-slips, she was employed as domestic by Mrs. Black when one of the Pillow-slips was missing from the house