Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 11 January 1913
False Pretences
Cadeby Collier’s Fraud
A Lenient Penalty
A very serious charge was preferred by the Cadeby Colliery Company against Herbert Beardsley, a collier of Conisborough. The offence he was alleged to have committed was one of false pretences.
Mr Gichard prosecuted, and Mr Baddiley defended.
In opening the case Mr Gichard said the amount of money alleged to have been falsely obtained was 11/10. The defendant had been employed for some time at the Cadeby pit, but on November 11 he met with an accident to his leg, for which he was paid compensation amounting to 11/10 a week.
On December 10 he produced at the offices a medical certificate from Doctor Forster, which stated that he was unable to return to work. Compensation money was then paid to him up to that day. The certificate purported to say that he was unable to work until December 10. Mr Soar therefore gave him a note in the name of Mr Chambers to take to the clerk for his compensation to be paid
The false pretences were that the man had been working at another colliery for the six days prior to 10 December. From the other colliery company had received payment for six days work. The company had no many instances where that class of fraud and perpetuated, but it had been difficult for them to bring the matter home. Having succeeded in that instance in bringing the case, he submitted that an example ought to be made. He therefore ask that severe punishment be inflicted.
Moses Soar, a clerk employed at the Cadeby Main Colliery Company, said that on November 11 the defendant received compensation at the rate of 11/10 a week for an injury yet sustain. He was paid at this rate up to 10th of December. On this date the defendant produced a medical certificate stating that he was ready to commence work, and witness gave him a note to enable him to receive the money due.
John Watkin, cashier, deposed to pain the money and obtaining a receipt.
John William Haslam, 73, Victoria Road, new Edlington, clerk in the employ of the Yorkshire Main Colliery Company, stated that on December 2 defendant signed their books as a workman at the colliery.
Samuel Turner, Balby, a deputy at the Yorkshire Main Colliery, said the defendant worked there as a filler from December 5 to December 10 inclusive.
Benjamin Cooke (Doncaster), the commercial manager of the Yorkshire Main Colliery, said that defendant was paid £1 10s 2d as wages.
Mr Baddiley said his client worked for about seven years for the company. In the main the evidence for the prosecution was correct. What these events had done wrong he had done in ignorance that he was doing anything wrong. All his actions were straightforward and if anyone had asked him if he had been working anywhere else he would have admitted it. On those grounds he submitted there was no criminal intent, and he asked for the dismissal of the case.
The defendant said no what he had done was in ignorance. He went to work at another colliery to get food for his children, as he could not live on 11/10 a week.
The defendant was ordered to pay £3 or one month.