South Yorkshire Times March 29
Nuts for Rugs
Aged Denaby Hawker Advised To Quit
A Denaby rag dealer, Sam Stones, aged 78, appeared at Doncaster on Tuesday, charged with having exchanged peanuts for rags.
Stones admitted the offence and without calling the police evidence the chairman (Mr. M. Nokes) said to Stones, “It is time you stopped going out offering nuts for rags. You want some ease at your time of life, can you not stop this?”
Defendant: “I shall not go out again with anything else except a bit of scouring stones.”
The chairman: “Must you do that?
“There are five of us at home and it is almost impossible for me to carry on.”
Defendant handed in a number of bills, which, he said he had to pay.
The chairman: If you will not bother with these mucky old rags, we will dismiss the case.
Defendant: All right. Thank you very much.