South Yorkshire Times, November 3rd 1933
Slot Machine Raids
Mexboro’ and Conisboro’ Escapades
Escapades by three young miners resulted in their being charged at Doncaster on Saturday with attempting to steal, on October 25, from property owned by Fred Swan, Mexborough, and for stealing, on September 17th, a cigarette machine containing cigarettes to the value of £3 6s. 6d., from property owned by Lily Deeming, 4, Cross Church Street, Mexborough. The defendants were Jack Raymond Warburton (17), 25, Lorna Road, Mexborough; Fred Rhodes (18), 40, Kirby Street, Mexborough; William Drewery (17), 26, Oxford Street, Roman Terrace. They pleaded “guilty” to the first charge, but not to stealing the cigarettes.
On the charge of attempting to steal, Inspector Redfearn said at 9.40 p.m. P.C. Lofthouse saw in the shadow of a passage near the lock-up shop owned by Swan the man Rhodes, who on being brought out of the passage said he was waiting for two pals. He called the other two youths and they ran away, but into the arms of another policeman. They were taken to the police station. In their possession were found a skeleton key and another key. They said they had been trying the skeleton key on the back door, and it did not fit. Warburton said “I’ll make a clean breast of it.” Rhodes said he had been fooled, and Drewery said they had better make a clean breast of it. A piece of wire was found near the shop door which had evidently been tried in the lock.
P.C. Lofthouse gave similar evidence.
Regarding the theft of the cigarette machine, Inspector Redfearn said the defendants admitted taking the machine from the wall in Church Street. Rhodes volunteered to take the police to where they put the machine, and took them to a tip at Swinton. The police did not find the machine. Charged with the theft, Warburton and Drewery replied “That’s right.” At the tip Rhodes said there was always somebody scratching about the tip in the daytime, and the machine must have been taken away.
Lily Deeming said on Saturday, September 1st there was a cigarette machine on the wall outside her premises, and on the Sunday morning it was missing, with about 36 packets of cigarettes inside.
Defendants denied Inspector Redfearn’s statement, whereupon the inspector gave evidence on oath. He said he was at the police station when they were brought in. They then admitted taking the machine, and admitted a number of other offences. Rhodes and Warburton said they had dumped it on Swinton tip, though Drewery said he had nothing to do with it. They had tampered with machines at Rotherham, Wombwell, Warmsworth and all over the division, and caused a lot of trouble.
Warburton denied having anything to do with the machine, and said the reason for his saying so to the police was that one constable was going to give him a good hiding if he did not say something.
Inspector Redfearn said no constable had ever made that threat. On the Sunday night the three defendants went to Barnburgh and tried to get into a shop there with a skeleton key.
The Chairman (Mr. Mark Nokes) warned defendants they would be getting into serious trouble if they did not behave. They had been trying their hand all over the countryside and caused the police much trouble. Fining them £2 each, he added: “We want you to be good lads. Don’t come again.” Warburton said we are very sorry. They were ordered to pay the fine at 5s. a week.