Sheep Rustling...at Crosshouse ?

[Del 80]

My Mrs. reckons that her father, Joseph Hugh Clarke (1918-1975) went to jail, in the early fifties for sheep rustling.......as far as she can remember they lived at an outlaying farm near to Crosshouse at the time, trying to find any information about this........

[Forfarian]

If he went to jail there will be records of the court case. You would need to find out which court - probably Ayr Sheriff Court? - and where those court records are held. Start with the catalogues at https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/catalogues-and-indexes

You might be able to short-cut the search by finding a newspaper report. Rustling was probably sufficiently unusual in the 1950s to attract the attention of the Press. The British Newspaper Archive is the obvious place to start. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

[ColC]

I note on FindMyPast the is an article in the Kilmarnock Standard dated 5 August 1949 relating to a breach of the peace by a Hugh Joseph Clarke of 68 Kirkhill Drive, he appeared at Ardrossan Burgh Court. Not sure if this is the man?

You would need to pay to view. No mention of Rustling in the area as far as I can see, you can search FindMyPast for free once signed up.

If you google the address there are photographs of Kirkhall Drive, Ardrossan in 1980
The houses in Kirkhall Drive are shown prior to demolition to make way for a housing etc.

Colin

[Del 80]

Thanks for the replies.....Colin, Hugh Joseph Clarke was Joseph Hugh Clarke's father.....I took advantage of Find My Past being free to view during remembrance weekend, and saw the article you refer to, but as you say nothing about Clarke the younger and sheep stealing.....

[hanes teulu]

The 1949 case was about bad blood between two families. The Pitch and Toss case was reported in the same newspaper 14 Nov 1947.

Does Francis Clarke link to Hugh Joseph Clarke?

Snippets -
Note- just alerted to latest post but will send in case you hadn't spotted the Pitch and Toss case.

[Del 80]

That's very interesting, thank you.....I hadn't seen the Pitch and Toss one, and have no knowledge of  a Francis Clarke, but him having the same address as Hugh Joseph Clarke leads me to believe that he could well be a relation.....further enquires I think.......

[hanes teulu]

Snippet from an article in the same paper 26 Sep 1952

[hanes teulu]

The same paper, 22 Aug 1941, reported 47 people appearing in Court charged with breaking the blackout regulations. The standard fine was £2 and included an "H J Clarke, 68 Kirkhill Drive".

[Del 80]

Thanks for that.....I've seen the one about Agnes Conaghan before, but not the blackout one.......