Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 12 January 1929

Christmas Club Story.

Money Extracted From Income-Tax Collector.

It may strike the Bench as rather peculiar that this man should be able to extract money from an income-tax collector, but he was able to do it.

This statement was made by Superintendent Blacker at the Barnsley West Riding Police Court yesterday when Thomas Wilson, a surfaceworker, of 21, Mellfield Avenue, Brampton, was charged with obtaining 14s., and Is. by false pretences from Arthur J. Cadwallader, incometax collector, of Hough Lane, Wombwell; and 4s. 6d. from James Moore, a gasfitter, also of Wombwell.

The Superintendent said that on October 30th Wilson called at Mr. Cadwallader’s house, said he was an ex-Serviceman out of work and was running a Christmas Club in order to get little money to enable him to keep his family. He gave the name of “Conelly.”

Believing his story, Mr. Cadwallader decided to join the club, and paid him a total of 15s. He did not see him again. Defendant later admitted to the police that he had not been running & Christmas club, and that he intended paying back money he obtained from various people. He said he would admit all that could put against him from Wombwell, and hoped there were no charges from Darfield.

The Superintendent, continuing, said, that Wilson made the same sort of representation to Moore. He added that quite a number of other charges could be preferred against Wilson, and observed: “I could have called 100 people.”

Mr. A. Smith (defending) said that Wilson and his wife had run a Christmas club the last three years. This year they had subscribers, and they sent out 60 parcels. Mr. Smith said that Wilson did a silly thing in giving a false name, and was prepared to repay the small amount of money involved in the charges.

Giving evidence, prisoner said he was trying to run a Christmas club honestly. Only six subscribers had not received parcels.

In answer to Mr. Smith, Wilson said his total defalcations were 33s. 6d. Wilson was fined 40s. and costs, and ordered to make restitution.