South Yorkshire Times May 1, 1948

Peeping Tom
Women Sees Face at Window
Nearly Caught On Monday
30 Men Raise Hue And Cry

Women and children of Kilnhurst are being frightened by what residents call a “mystery man.” He has been discovered on several occasions during the past few days peering in at lighted bedroom windows at night-time.

Jumped a Wall

On Monday night he was nearly caught_ He was seen peering in at the window of Mrs Alice Geary a widow, of SS, Thomas Street. The  neighbours were roused and he ran away bearing a ladder on his shoulder. About 30 men chased him all over the village, but throwing the ladder sway he jumped a wall and escaped in the direction of the canal lock.

Mrs Geary is naturally very frightened by the incident. but she is more frightened for her three children than for herself. They are now frightened to venture outside after dark. She told a South Yorkshire Times reporter on Wednesday. She thinks that the culprit must be a local man. No stranger could have had such an intimate knowledge of Kilnhurst streets to evade a crowd of angry men. What she cannot understand is the fact that her pet dog, which is usually an excellent house dog, never even barked on Monday night. He was fastened in a shed In the yard.

Mrs A. Bentham, of 24, Thomas Street said that she first saw the man two weeks ago, but when she spoke about it afterwards no one would believe her. On that Particular night, she said he came down the street and listened first at the window and then at the front door keyhole at the house of Mrs Kelt. Then be moved on to Mrs J. Mann house at 1, Thomas Street. where he jumped on to the downstairs wIndow sill. He was disturbed however, and bid in an entry.

It was a bright moonlight night and Mrs Bentham had no difficulty in making out the man’s appearance.