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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier Saturday 23 Mar 1946
Page 3 Column 6
GARMENTS STOLEN FROM CLOTHES-LINES
TAUNTON YOUTH TO BE EXAMINED
Thefts of women's garments from clothes-lines in the back gardens of Taunton houses were admitted by a youth at the Borough Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
The Bench presided over by Alderman F. W. PENNY, adjourned the cases for a fortnight so that the accused may be medically examined and a report brought before them. Bail was allowed.
The accused, Herbert Linwood JONES (17½), G.W.R. Fireman, of 14, Eastbourne Gate, Taunton, pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of knickers, value £1 the property of Mrs Ethel Margaret MANUEL, 3, Foster's Cottages, Station-road, on March 16th; and stealing a woollen jumper, value £1 10s. The property of Mrs. Winifred Rose WAY, 32, Leslie-avenue, between March 11th-16th.
JONES also asked to have considered two outstanding charges of stealing garments from clothes-lines belonging to Vera YOUNG and Jean SNOOK
“LOST HIS WAY”
Supt. WHITE stated that Mrs. MANUEL saw a man in G.W.R. uniform running across waste ground near Foster's Cottages at 7.55 p.m. on March 16th. She shouted to him, but he took no notice and ran towards a footpath leading to Station-road. Mr. MANUEL, who was returning to the house with his cycle, “cut the man off” and asked him why he was running away. He said he was going to work at the railway station and had lost his way. Later Mrs. MANUEL missed the garment, which was found on the route which defendant had taken.
“A SPLIT MIND”
Det.-Cons HYETT said that when he interviewed JONES he remarked “I know what you are after. I must have a split mind.” Accused produced the missing articles to witness at his lodgings. He stated, after caution, that he had not been feeling very well lately. On the way to work he asked someone the quickest route to the station. He then saw something on the line and something “jumped in his head and told him to take it.”
In the second case Mrs. WAY said she missed the jumper from the line, and Det.-Cons. HYETT said JONES stated he took it when he left duty at 5.30 a.m.
A GOOD CHARACTER
JONES told the Bench he did not know what made him do those things. He had no intention of selling the garments.
Supt. WHITE said JONES, a native of Cornwall was the youngest of a family of five. He had excellent references from employers. He was transferred to Taunton as a G.W.R. fireman a few weeks ago. His home life had been far from happy. There was nothing previously known to JONES' detriment.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
A Probation Officer said JONES was very reserved and sensitive, and probably had been feeling very homesick. He thought accused was suffering from great emotional stress when he committed the offences, for which he felt deep guilt and shame.
JONES, in reply to the Chairman (Alderman F. W. PENNY), gave an undertaking to see a doctor, so that a medical report might be before the Court in a fortnight.