Sheffield Independent – Friday 16 September 1927
Tempted By Slot Machines.
Miners Fined For Using Lead Discs.
Criticsm of cigarette machines placing temptation in the way of men was made at the Barnsley Court, yesterday, by Mr. A. Smith, defending three men’ charged with stealing cigarettes from these machines by using lead discs. Defendants were Joseph Barstow, miner of 35, Barnsley road. Wombwell. George Frederick Barstow miner, of Goodyear crescent, Wombwell, and Donald Chamberlain, miner, 13. Sherwood Street, Barnsley.
The Chief Constable (Mr G.H. Butler) said that local tobacconists had made many complaints of coins and discs being, found in automatic machines outside shops. Consequently police officers kept watch on machines in different parts of the town.
Between 10 and 11 o’clock on Saturday night Sergeant Higgins and 1 Barraclough were secreted the shops of Robert Brand Racecommon road, along with the owner. They saw Joseph Barstow place a lead disc in the machine and obtain packet of cigarettes. He was immediately arrested, and in his possession was found lead discs.
At Joseph Barstow s home the police found a quantity of lead, two files and a pair scissors, evidently used for cutting the discs. Some lead was also found in a shed behind the house of Chamberlain’s father at Wombwell
Continuing, the Chief Constable said that the charges represented 46 discs which cigarettes had been obtained. He pointed out, however, that something like 250 similar discs had been found in the town.
He asked the Bench to regard the case seriously. It was not a case of sudden temptation or a boy s trick, for the discs had been deliberately manufactured for that purpose
Mr. A. Smith said that no excuse could really be offered for such an offence as that committed by these men, but the system of the machines was certainly open criticism.
He handed to the Bench a number of testimonials on behalf of the defendants.
The Chairman said the men’s good characters had saved them from prison, but they would have pay a fine of £10