Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 29th, 1932
Club Waiter Fined – Drew Dole While Working
A fine of £10, to be paid at the rate of 5s a week, was imposed at Doncaster on Tuesday on James Henry Crookes, of Swinton, formerly employed as a waiter at Mexborough W. M. Club, for having made a false declaration to the officials of Mexborough Employment Exchange.
Mr. C. R. Marshall, who prosecuted, said suspicion was raised against Crookes by a letter received at the Exchange. In consequence, Crookes was interviewed by officials on February 20th when he admitted that he had drawn unemployment benefit while working at the club,
Reginald George Moorman, a supervisor at Mexborough Employment Exchange, gave evidence of the interview. In a written statement Crookes said “I did not think I ought to have reported this until the Means Test started and then someone at the club told me I should sign off when working there.”
Cecil Grant White, steward at the club from October last to April 14th, said that Crookes was almost continuously engaged at week-ends during that period.
Mr. Marshall added that in the same period Crookes had defrauded the Ministry of Labour of £1 10s 3d and estimated that Crookes who had been signing on at the Employment Exchange for several years, had received upwards of £20 by false pretences.
Crookes admitted the offence in Court and pleaded ignorance. He believed that he had a right to work after 7 p.m. on Saturdays and throughout Sundays without making a statement to the Employment Exchange.
The Chairman (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough) imposing the fine said “You knew perfectly well you had made a false statement to the Labour Exchange. You have been doing this months and wrongfully defrauding the country. Many men have been sent to prison for similar offences.”