Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 08 September 1928

Swinton Woman’s Conduct.
Money Drawn For Child Who Had Been Adopted.

Sentence of one day’s imprisonment, which meant immediate release, was imposed by the Sheffield magistrates yesterday on Alfred Woofenden, postman, of 225. Carlisle Street East, Sheffield, who was charged with being £51 in arrears under an order against him for the maintenance of the child of Nora Helliwell, of Rockingham Street, Swinton.

Helliwell said she obtained an order against Woofenden in October, 1923, for the payment of 3s. a week for the maintenance of her child. In September, 1925, that order was increased to 10s. a week, and the arrears were now £51

Mr. J. W. Fenoughty, who appeared for Woofenden, asked Helliwell whether she thought it was an honourable and truthful thing for her to come to Court in 1925 and ask for the order to be increased.

Witness did not reply; but admitted that in the next month after she obtained the order she went to firm of solicitors and entered into an agreement whereby a Mrs. Webster took over the child for all time, without any financial responsibility on witness. From 1923 witness had never contributed a single penny to the child’s maintenance.

Mr. Fenoughty: When the child died in August this year, Mrs. Webster let you know that the child was dead, and you never went the funeral?—No, sir. I never knew it was ill.

Mr. Fenoughty said that had received about £125 from the man, under the order, and now the child having died, she came to Court for an extra £5l. He asked the magistrates dismiss the case.

Alderman Wardley (who was accompanied on the Bench by Mrs. H. K. Stephenson), said: “We think this woman’s conduct has been abominable. It is a pity the law is as it is. The law holds the man responsible, and although the woman got over her difficulty by handing the responsibility over to some other woman, she did not make it known, and went on receiving money. However, he is responsible, and we have agreed to commit him to one day’s imprisonment which will clear him of all his responsibility.