Mexborough and Swinton Times July 5, 1929

Pilfering From Barges.

George Otter, of Mexborough, was charged at Doncaster on Tuesday with stealing 50 -lbs. of coal, value 1s., the property of Arnold Latham, of Doncaster. Defendant admitted the offence.

Mr. C. R. Marshall, who prosecuted, said that a policeman saw defendant putting the coal into a sack. Defendant told him he had no authority to take the coal and that he was taking it for the cabin fire on his barge.

“There is a great amount of pilfering from the barges while by the canal bank, where they remain from Saturday to Monday. If the man were employed by Mr. Latham, the offence would be greater.

Defendant said, ‘Let me off this time and no one will know anything about it.”

The Bench fined defendant 40s.