DEAL IN CIGARETTES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 87, 9 October 1937, Page 14

DEAL IN CIGARETTES

Three girls, between the ages of 8 and 15 years, anxious to sample a cigarette, had no ready money. After making several unsuccessful endeavours, the youngest, aged 8, obtained a packet of "smokes" and a box of matches from Hilda Edith McConkey, the keeper of a small shop, in the name of another customer, and the three girls went for a walk and smoked the packetful. In the Magistrate's Court today, before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., Hilda McConkey was charged with supplying cigarettes to a person under the age of 15. She pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector C. E. Roach, who prosecuted, said that one of the girls tried to get the cigarettes from Mrs. McConkey '>i the name of a customer, but Mrs. McConkey refused, saying that that customer had a large enough account already. Subsequently, another of the girls obtained the packet of cigarettes and a box of matches in the name of another customer, who also had a standing account. A refund was made next day.

Mrs. McConkey said that the girls frequently ran messages for the customers. The girl to whom the cigarettes were given frequently got cigarettes from the shop for another lady. A fine of 10s with costs 16s was imposed.