Lodger’s Lamp
Former Conisboro’ Miner Bound Over
William Churms (35), unemployed, formerly of 21, Leslie Avenue, Conisborough, now of 2, Baker Street, Doncaster, was summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday with obtaining by false pretences on March 3rd from the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Co. an electric lamp, valued at 1s. 9d., with intent to defraud the company. He pleaded “Guilty.”
Mr. C. R. Marshall said the company had a housing scheme at Conanby, and an arrangement whereby a tenant obtained electric lamps on application to the colliery electrician, the cost being stopped out of wages. Churms was a sub-tenant of a house rented by an employee named Emmerson.
On March 3rd he went to the colliery sub-station and asked for a lamp. He was asked if the tenant had sent him, and said yes. It transpired that Emmerson had not sent Churms. Emmerson was now indisposed but on returning to work the cost of the lamp would be taken from his wages.
The Chairman (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough): “Why will the tenant be charged for the lamp?”
Mr. Marshall: “Because Churms got it for Emmerson’s house.”
The Chairman: “But why charge the tenant when they know that he did not order it?”
Mr. Marshall: “Though I am not authorised to say it, I suppose in view of this man’s plea to-day the tenant will not be charged. Most probably the colliery company will take note of your view.”
Churms said he lived with Emmerson from January, 1933 to the middle of last month. He paid Emmerson 15s. a week out of 31s. 3d. “dole.” During the whole of the time he lived with Emmerson there was only one electric bulb, and he had to move it from one room to another. When it fused he went to the colliery for another.
The Clerk (Mr. E. W. Pettifer): “But you made an untrue statement to the electrician.”
Churms: “I thought I was in order. We have left the globe at Emmerson’s, though my wife paid for it on March 8th.”
Churms had been before the court on five previous occasions, twice for obtaining money by false pretences, and had served two sentences of six months.
Binding Churms over for two years, the Chairman said the offence was trivial, but he had a bad record.