South Yorkshire Times — Friday, 22 June 1934
Stolen Metal
Conisboro’ Young Men Caught
Charged with stealing 200 lbs. of lead and 136 lbs. of copper value £1 from Maltby Main Colliery, four single unemployed men, Reginald James Harris, miner, Denaby, Alexander Ford mechanic, Conisborough, Robert Pears, miner, Denaby, and Thomas Banks, miner, Conisborough, appeared at Doncaster on Wednesday.
It was stated that on June 19th, a police officer making enquiries at Conisborough Crags where defendants were living in a tent, found the missing metal in sacks in a hedge bottom. Later the men admitted having stolen it.
Ford said to the magistrates: “I can’t live on 7s. 6d. a week. I am not sponging on these chaps. If it comes to stealing I will steal. I have never done it before.”
Morris had been previously convicted and Ford had committed motoring offences.
Pears and Banks were each bound over. Harris was fined £3 and allowed two months in which to pay. Ford was committed to prison for three months.