South Yorkshire Times, November 3rd 1933
False Scales
Goldthorpe Grocer’s Foolish Act
“The public must be protected,” said the Chairman (Mr. Mark Nokes) at Doncaster on Saturday, fining Julia Wilson, grocer, 13, High Street, Goldthorpe, £2 for a breach of the Weights and Measures Act.
Alec Nobbe, Inspector of Weights and Measures, said on October 10th he examined a pair of scales on the floor of Wilson’s shop and found them a little out of balance. A penny coin had been put in the workings, and the scales were seven grammes against the purchaser with the penny removed. He weighed a seven-pound bag of flour and found it underweight with the penny on the scale, and still underweight when the penny was removed. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson told him the penny had been put there because a boy who served in the shop gave “good weight.” He told them he would report the matter, and on leaving Mr. Wilson asked if it would be a serious offence.
Mrs. Wilson admitted putting the penny under the scale.
For Mrs. Wilson, Mr. A. Loy said she had done “a foolish thing.” She put the penny on the scales because she thought the lad might give too much. He was certain she would not repeat the offence.
The Chairman said Mrs. Wilson had been very silly. It would take her a long time to save much by putting the penny on the scales.