Mexborough and Swinton May 12, 1939

“Very Stupid”

Bench Admonish Wombwell Girl

Placed On Probation

A 19-years-old Wombwell girl, who was told by the chairman of Barnsley West Riding Court on Friday that she had been ” very stupid ” on her first appearance before the court, was discharged and placed on probation on charges of stealing £2 belonging to her brother and £6 belonging to her 70-years-old father, who is nearly blind.

Dance Hall Enquiries

She is Mary Nuttall, domestic servant, Elliott’s Terrace, Wombwell. The case opened a fortnight ago and was then adjourned so that further efforts could be made to trace a man to whom she said she had  given the stolen money. It was stated at the last hearing that, when questioned about the money the girl said she had given it to a man named ” Doug Palmer.” As a result of this statement, police officers accompanied her to Mexborough and made extensive enquiries at dance halls, public houses, and other places which the girl said the man to whom she had referred frequented. The man could not be traced.

It was also stated that the girl had giventhe police no assistance, but had rather hindered them.

On Friday, Nuttall was represented by Mr. A. Smith, who said she went to see him after the previous hearing. It seemed obvious that the girl was more sinned against than sinning. Up to the offences under consideration she had borne an exemplary character, and he submitted to the Bench four testimonials. Possibly, he said, she had been too good natured and too loyal to the man who was mentioned in the last hearing. On December 27th she met this man named Palmer at a dance hall in Mexborough.

They arranged to meet again and afterwards began to see other regularly.

Palmer said that he would marry the girl and at a later date he said he could not. He was without money and in order to help him the girl took the money from her father and brother and handed it to him.

Inquiries had been made by members of the girl’s family and they found no evidence that she had spent a penny of the money on herself, which confirmed her statement that she had handed it to Palmer. Palmer had cleared out, went on Mr. Smith. “The only thing to assume now is that he deceived her from the start, even by giving her a wrong name.”

Asked To Go Away

Mr. Smith said that the girl’s brother and father did not wish the magistrates to proceed with the case. He added that at the last moment, after the money had been handed over, Palmer wanted the girl to go away and live with him, but she told him she would not leave her father, who was nearly blind. The man then went off and had not been heard of since.

Mr. Smith said he appreciated the wish of the magistrates that the man should have been brought before the court, but he could not be traced. He asked that the case should be dealt with leniently in view of the circumstances.

Mr. N. Mell (Chairman), addressing Nuttall, said, “When you were before us a fortnight ago you were very stupid and would not help the Bench at all. After we have read the testimonials we have decided to discharge you under the Probation Act and order you to pay the costs. You will be under the supervision of the Probation Officer, and I hope this will be a warning to you.”