Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 26 November 1910

A Comrade’s Wages

Mexborough Miner gets six months

At Rotherham West Riding Court on Friday, a Mexborough, trammer, named Robert Sutherland (17) was charged with obtaining £13 14s at Wath Main Colliery, by securing possession of a workman’s check, presenting it at the office, and obtaining payment on November 14.

The case was by Doctor JB Lyth (presiding) Mr E Rose.

Mr W.M. Gichard prosecuted, and said the prisoner had gone to the window of the paybox, and presented the cheque belonging to William Williams, miner, at the Wath Main Colliery and had received the money. The defendant had no right on the colliery premises at all, as he had been dismissed.

William Williams said he went to the paybox and asked for his wages, and he was told by a clerk that they had been paid out. The defendant had no authority to fetch the wages.

PC revving gave evidence of arrest on 15 October. When charged with the theft, the prisoner replied “It was £13 8s 7d, not £13 14s. I intended clearing out to sea, but I met some friends and got drinking.” He handed 7/3 to the witness, and said that was all he had left.

The prisoner was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment with hard labour