Proof crime don't pay

South Wales Echo Tuesday 27th December 1887

                  THE " HERO (p) OF RORKE'S
                                     DRIFT,"

John Williams, alias Skipp, was brought up on Saturday - before the Bridgend magistrates _ on the charge of stealing a pair of Oxford shoes, the property of Jennet Pearce, of The Three Golden Cups, of Southerndown. The prisoner, when in custody at Cardiff, on the 12th instant, on two charges of larceny, made a statement to the bench that he had been in the charge at Rorke's Drift, and also held the Victoria Cross. The recital of his valorous deeds seemed to impress the Magistrates, and they discharged him. Having appropriated the shoes at Southerndown, the prisoner went on to Porthcawl , where he effected an exchange for a pair boots, and took a train from Pyle to Port Talbot, at which place the Police took him into custody.
A number of previous convictions were produced against him, and he was committed for trial.
The information to hand showed that the prisoner made the same statement as to his military career when in custody at Tredegar, but here the real John Williams ( and the only John Williams who received the Victoria Cross for Rorke's Drift engagement) was produced in court wearing the medal on his chest.