Mexborough& Swinton Times, March 15
Unusual Case
Woman Who Picked up Margarine
An unusual case was heard at Doncaster on Saturday, when Mabel Singleton (45), married, Prior Road, Conisborough, was summoned for having stolen, by finding, 36 half-pound packets of margarine, valued at 13s. 6d., belonging to some person unknown. She admitted using the margarine after she had informed the police, who had made inquiries and been unable to trace the owners, but said she did not think she was doing wrong. The magistrates dismissed the summons.
Inspector T. Waugh said that at 3.10 p.m. on January 13th, Mrs Singleton was walking in Doncaster Road, Denaby when a carton containing 48 packets of margarine fell from a lorry going towards Mexborough. She recovered the margarine except two half-pound packets, which were run over by the lorry and took the carton to Mexborough police station.
A constable found that 15 packets were slightly damaged but were fit for consumption after a little attention and the remainder were all right. The constable told her that enquiries would be made to try and find the owner, and in the meantime she had to take the carton home. Inquiries were made throughout the district but no owner had been found.
Owing to the rationing of margarine, it was decided to get in touch with the local Food Office, who gave instructions for it to be collected for re-distribution on January 30th. Ten packets were returned, and Mrs. Singleton said she had used the other 36 packets owing to the danger of the margarine being spoilt.
The Clerk (Mr. E. W. Pettifer): The Food Control Committee have no property in it, and could not collect it. They could have been charged with larceny if they did. I should not have handed it over to anybody else if I were her. I should hold it. She has done everything she could.
Mr Pettifer added that found articles became the property of the finder after a year and a day, but it was obviously impossible to keep margarine for that period.
The Chairman (Mr. Mark Nokes), in dismissing the summons, agreed with the Clerk, and said the Food Control Committee had nothing to do with the matter.