Leeds Mercury – Monday 16 January 1939

Beer for The Band at a Thurnscoe Dance

Prosecution for Selling Without Licence

Obadiah Rogerson (19), and Fred Andrews (20), haulage hands, of Thurnscoe, pleaded guilty at Doncaster, to-day, to selling intoxicating liquor without a licence.

They were bound over for 12 months and ordered to pay 4s. costs

Joseph Rimmington (46), overman, of Thurnscoe, was fined £3, with £1 10s. costs, for aiding and abetting.

Superintendent Gordon said an occasional licence was granted by the magistrates for a dance at the Baths Hall, Thurnscoe, until midnight on Friday, December 2, on behalf of the Thurnscoe section of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The privilege was properly observed by the licensee and the bar was closed at midnight.

Police officers who visited the hall at 1.10 a.m. on Saturday saw a man receive from Andrews a pint bottle of beer, and saw him hand money to Rogerson. When Rimmington, who was in the hall, was asked what authority there was for the sale of liquor, he said. None. I gave them instructions to sell it to the band and our chaps at 8d. bottle.”

Mr. B. Mather (for the defence) said they acted in ignorance. There were number of men who could not get to the dance until after midnight as they were on the afternoon shift. The officials knew they could not sell to the general public, but thought they could do so to their own members.

It was stated that Rimmington had bought four dozen pint bottles of beer to be taken to the hall, and Superintendent Gordon asked that 29 bottles remaining should be forfeited.

The magistrates agreed.