§ Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information about two women, Beatrice Mary Madge, of Stantford, Crediton, Devon, and Nellie Stoneman, of Ebington Road, Exeter, who fed shell cases wrong way round into the machinery; how long they had been doing that kind of damage; and what he intends doing about the matter?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIt appears that Beatrice Mary Madge on several occasions in October last put a rough shell into a finishing grinder in order to have a rest while the machine was being repaired and that Nellie Stoneman fed the shells into another machine the wrong way round for the same purpose. Both women were indicted at Exeter Assizes on November 6th, 1942, charged with offences against Defence Regulation 2B. They were found guilty on all counts, the jury adding a rider that neither woman realised the gravity of the offences at the time. Madge was sentenced to twelve months' and Stoneman to nine months' imprisonment.