Law and order - crime and punishment

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In mediaeval times, the town of Bourne was of sufficient status to be one of the centres in the Kesteven division of Lincolnshire to have its own petty sessions for the dispensation of justice. The 14th century particularly was a period of considerable lawlessness in rural England and in Kesteven between 1371 and 1375 there was an impressive catalogue of crimes including 22 murders, 62 cases of grand larceny, ten of burglary, 31 of assault, 55 breaches of the bread and ale regulations and 18 of fraud involving wages and allowances.

Some interesting cases:

1371: John de Rowe de Brunne was charged at the petty sessions in Bourne with secretly taking an ox costing twenty shillings from the lord Henry de Bewmont.

1375: Thomas Seerle of Thurlby on the Monday after the feast of St Martin in the 45th year of the reign of King Edward III . . . at Bourne, furtively took by night, a certain horse of a dark brown colour, price 6s. 8d., of John Pichell of Bourne, and led it away, whereupon he fled the district.

1644: A widow, Judith Weaving, appeared before the manorial court accused of throwing dung or manure at the door of Thomas Boardman. She was given notice to remove it within a few days.

The old stocks at Folkingham

Like all towns, Bourne had its stocks where wrongdoers would be locked in by the legs and pelted with stones, rotten fruit and bad eggs. They stood at the edge of the market place at the top of what is now Abbey Road together with a whipping post and an entry in the register of the Bourne Quarter Sessions for 22nd April 1688 records one such punishment by this means. Daniel Summerby, a slater, had been brought before the justices for rowdy and disorderly conduct in Bourne on a number of occasions, and the magistrates ordered that he ". . . being a person of an ill life and conversation and also being very malicious, desperate and unruly, so that complaint hath been made by the inhabitants his neighbours made unto us this day. It is therefore ordered that the constable of the said town of Bourne do upon his next excursion or disturbance seize and carry him to the common whipping post, there to be whipped till blood come, and so at all times hereafter, serve him as shows himself dangerous or desperate to the hazard or trouble of his neighbourhood."

It is not known when the whipping post disappeared but the stocks were dismantled around 1850. A tradesman in the town, well known for his practical jokes, was passing the churchyard one night and saw some bricks and mortar close to a small cottage which then stood nearby and he used them to block up the windows with the result that the occupants were late rising next morning, thinking that it was still dark. The Stamford Mercury subsequently reported "this dastardly outrage" and suggested that the culprit should be apprehended and put in the stocks but a few nights later, the same tradesman and a companion dismantled them and threw them in the moat section of the Bourne Eau. Thus ended the stocks in Bourne and with no one regretting their disappearance, they were not replaced.

Justices of the Peace, or magistrates, were responsible for many aspects of keeping law and order in the community, almost always in the lower ranges of society and often on the fringes of criminal activity. The dissolution of the monasteries meant that an important source of relief and assistance had disappeared and so high on the list of cases before the bench in the 16th century were those that would normally be handled today by the social services department of the county council such as pauperism, vagrancy and illegitimacy, and those who were in such a predicament often wandered from town to town in search of relief.

Entries in the parish registers during the 16th and 17th centuries indicate that many people who died in Bourne, or whose babies were baptised here, were not of local origin and were most probably drifting around the countryside. For instance, among the entries for baptism, we find the following:

Among the burials, are these entries:

Governments of the period tackled the problem of vagrancy by permitting magistrates to send beggars to the local house of correction, such as that at Folkingham, or to enforce bylaws which provided for the resettlement of wandering pauper families in the parish from which they originated and in this way, they would not be a burden on the rates of the town or village into which they had drifted. Records reveal that this power was being exercised by the magistrates in the Bourne area in the late 17th century. For instance, at the Kesteven Quarter Sessions held at Bourne in the summer of 1689, it was ordered that:

William Pheasant, Jane his wife, with two children, now being in Bourne and comeing thither since the act made in his late Majesties reigne for settlemente, they not haveing given notice as by the said late act of Parlyamente they ought to have done. It is therefore ordred that they be sent from Morton to North Lufnum in the county of Rutland, it being the place of their last legall settlemente . . .

A similar order was made for George Kyme, May his wife, and John Kyme his son to be sent back from Bourne to Ingoldmills, also for William Otter, son of Thomas Otter of Sutton St. Nicholas, alias Lutton, in Holland, to be sent to his father at Lutton.

Illegitimate children and their mothers were also likely to be a burden on the rates and bastardy was one of the commonest problems facing local authorities. If the father of the child could be traced, he would be ordered to contribute to its maintenance while the mother might well be sent to a house of correction or handed over to some other locality, as happened to Susan Barker at the Bourne Quarter Sessions in 1675:

Ordered by the court this day that Susan Barker, spinster, late a servant to Mathew Keysby of Glinton in the county of Northampton (whereas complaint is made shee hath beene gott with child) shall be speedily conveyed to her said master and there provided for, and that the Overseers of the poore and inhabitants of James Deeping shall be freed and discharged from her.

The minutes of proceedings at the quarter sessions from this period are an indication of the social conditions that existed in Bourne at that time because the records provide numerous insights into the life of the ordinary people as the justices were not solely concerned with the punishment of crime. The state, under Tudor and Stuart rule, supervised the lives of its subjects in a most definite way with regulations on a wide variety of everyday matters and the justices were the local instrument by which the government sought to compel obedience.

For example, wage fixing was one feature of state activity. The magistrates, taking advice on local conditions, were to standardise wages in their area for craftsmen and other labourers and attempts to evade their regulations were brought to court. During the Bourne Quarter Sessions of Easter 1677, a widow, Mrs Lightfoot, was charged with detaining and witholding from Rachel Ingram and James Ingram the sum of 15s. 0d. in wages. At the next court, William Bull, a miller of Bourne, was accused of "witholding and deteyning from George Drew his late servant the summe of 31s. 0d. in wages due at May Day last".

Conditions of apprenticeship were also supervised by the justices as the following extract from the minutes of the Quarter Sessions of 1684 indicate:

Ordered that James Clarke, sonn of Mr. John Clarke and now apprentice to John Longfoote of Bourne, baker, be this day discharged from his said apprenticeship by reason of his said master's misusing and abusing his said apprentice, and that ye said Jo. Longfoote doe. . . deliver up his said apprentice to his said father with all his weareing clothes and his indenture of apprentishipp, and do also pay to his said father the sume of two pounds and tenn shillings towards the putting of ye said apprentice to a new master for the better learneing of his said trade of a baker.

Weights and measures also came under the jurisdiction of the bench and in 1675, William Colby of Bourne was in court because "he kept a false measure of coal which is not according to the Common Standard in the Exchequer".

Highways were a further responsibility of the magistrates and action had to be taken against those who interfered in any way with the progress or safety of travellers thereon. In 1676, John Burton of Bourne, another baker, was charged with obstructing and blocking the common King's highway in a certain place called Marbeck, with a ditch which had been excavated, causing serious danger. A few years later, John Willy of Bourne was in trouble for diverting the old course of a stream, by which the King's highway was flooded with water. In fact, it was the duty of the justices to appoint a "supervisor of the King's highway" but this office was not always efficiently fulfilled, according to the records which show that Robert Thompton (sic) of Dyke, who was appointed supervisor for the year 1686, was charged two years later with not having performed his duties. Keeping roads and paths clear and ensuring that they were adequately drained also appear to have been a constant problem.

The manor court of Bourne Abbotts was often pronouncing on these matters and in 1682 it "ordered that Richard Howler do repair his Causey [causeway] between this and Lammas next, upon pain of . . . 6s. 8d.", also "that the Dreyne between the Street and Daniel Booth be ditched and scoured for Six Roods between this and Midsummer next upon pain of . . . 6s. 8d.".

In the following year, the same court ordered that "John Pell do remove a Heap of Wood which doth annoy the Common way by his Yard within fourteen days. . .", and in 1693 "we order that no person dig any mortar or any other rubbish in any part of the Highways upon pain of every load fourpence".

Other responsibilities of the justices included supervision of the local constables and similar parish officers who were appointed to keep the peace. For example, it was ordered at the Bourne Quarter Sessions at Easter 1684 that:

Mr. William Hardwicke of Cawthorp doe serve as cheife constable for (ye) wapentake of Aveland as well for his owne parte as alsoe in ye stead of Richard Seagrave whoe is dead.

An office which was probably much less popular with its recipients was that of petty constable who served for a year and had a variety of duties in the parish, having been chosen for the job from the inhabitants of the town or village concerned. He had to keep the peace, execute warrants and make arrests, not always a pleasant or easy task for an ordinary citizen. Besides this, he had to carry out certain duties laid down by statute, to act as servant of the magistrates and also to collect rates and taxes like the hearth tax. He was expected to carry out his duties unpaid, though he was sometimes granted an allowance. Occasionally, however, it appears that he had to insist on his rights and at the Quarter Sessions of Michaelmas 1689, Thomas Wilcox, late constable of Bourne, complained that he was "out of pockitt the summe of £9. 4s. 0d. expended on the townes accompt". Accordingly, it was ordered that the present constables of Bourne should show cause to one or both of two local justices why the sum mentioned was not paid to Thomas Wilcox and if they failed, the present constables were ordered to reimburse Thomas within 30 days. It was probably the same Thomas, who, five years earlier, was in trouble for the allegation "that on 24th of August last past, at Bourne, he neglected to do his night watch", a further duty which local residents were obliged to perform. Wilcox's lapse cost him a fine of 10s. 0d.

As was to be expected, in an age when rough and boisterous behaviour was not uncommon, the inhabitants of Bourne did not always live peaceably with one another. Most of the misdemeanours recorded in the minutes of the Quarter Session were relatively minor affairs and typical of the period but one entry in the parish registers shows that murder was not unknown in the district. In August, 1631, there was buried at Bourne "Richard Pratt, a servant of one, Saile of Folkingham; slaine by a carter".

Lesser crimes can be traced from some of the cases coming before the bench:

1646: Another widow, Joanna Hodgskin, was ordered by the manor court to repair the hedge, which was "in ruins", between her land and that of Willam Moyer. She did not comply and so at a later court she had to forfeit the sum of 20 shillings.

1674: John Burbidge of Bourne was charged with taking and killing partridges with nets and other devices, on various occasions near Bourne and in several other places.

1679: Thomas Hilton, Anna his wife, Thomas Bourton and Ellen Pearson, all of Bourne, were charged with illicitly taking and carrying off a fighting cock from the goods and chattels of a certain Matthew Quiningborough. Cases of assault, rowdyism and other violence were fairly numerous:

1687: Nicholas Fowler, a butcher, lately of Bourne, was accused of attacking Ann Hilton, wife of Thomas Hilton.

1687: At the Bourne Quarter Sessions, charges were brought against Ann Uffington, a widow, John Thornton, a labourer, William Colby, a waterman, John Dawkins and Philip Spearman, farmers, all lately of Bourne, for disturbing the King's peace at Bourne by illegally and riotously attacking a certain John Boole, whom they beat, wounded, and ill-treated. Soon after this, the partners in crime appear to have fallen out amongst themselves because at the Michaelmas Sessions held at Folkingham later that year, it was claimed that Ann Uffington of Bourne, William Colby and Thomas Colby, had unjustly and forcefully broken into the cottage of John Thornton, and had driven him out of possession.

1692: Richard Brightman of Bourne was indicted for an assault upon William Ramm, Robert Heffield, and William Hilton. (At the same court, Brightman was also in trouble for openly and publicly swearing profane oaths at Morton).

From the records of the manorial court we get glimpses of the petty disputes and quarrels between residents of Bourne which were too trivial to go to a higher court but which had to be resolved nevertheless.

Public executions and transportation to the colonies still figured in court judgments well into the 19th century although many of the crimes committed would be considered minor today and reports of court cases reflect a legal system in Victorian times that often appears harsh and vindictive.

During the early part of the 20th century, the weekly courts were occupied mainly with small infringements of the law such as speeding, begging, drunkenness and petty theft, and the cases reflected the ubiquitous presence of the police who were either on the beat or patrolling on their cycles. Soaring administrative costs in the decades following the Second World War eventually made such prosecutions unviable and now only the most serious cases find their way into the courts while the laws that once controlled those small crimes that are now labelled as anti-social behaviour are completely ignored.

More interesting cases:

1743: Stolen from Christopher Blake the sixth of November out of his house in the night-time at Bourne in Lincolnshire, one pair of buckskin breeches, a silver watch and a pair of silver knee buckles, the outside of the watch spring broken and bruised on the side, and likewise at the same time out in the stable of the said Christopher Baker, a bay mare with a saddle and bridle, the bridle a half curb, the mare coming seven years old, fourteen hands and a half high, both feet behind white, goes narrow behind, no white in her face, a short bob tail, branded with C B and Bourne Town brand on one hoof. The man that stole these things was his servant, calls himself William Johnson, had on when he went away a white linen frock [coat] brown at the hands, buttons of the same, a red double-breasted waistcoat with brass buttons, long think black hair, a little pitted with the smallpox, goes crambling (hobbling) with one leg. Whoever secures the said man, or describes him to Christopher Blake of Bourne, aforesaid, shall receive ten shillings reward with reasonable charges. - notice in the Stamford Mercury, Thursday 17th November 1743.

1787: William Mason, murdered in Deeping Fen, near Bourne, by John Wilson, of Market Deeping, who was executed on 14th March. - from the Bourne Parish Registers, 25th October 1787.

1808: A woman calling herself Elizabeth Warren was on Saturday last (April 16th) apprehended at West Deeping, near Bourne, for attempting to cheat a publican of some money and is committed to Folkingham House of Correction until the Assizes, as a disorderly person. The said Elizabeth Warren, it is supposed, has obtained considerable sums of money under false pretences from different shopkeepers at towns in the neighbourhood of Stamford and Deeping and any such person may obtain further intelligence by applying to Mr Myhill Addy, Constable of West Deeping aforesaid, or by attending the Quarter Sessions which will be holden at Folkingham on Tuesday next. She is about 30 years of age, of low stature and mean appearance, has lived in respectable families as a servant and when apprehended was a lodger in a house near All Saints' Church, Stamford.

1811: At a meeting of the magistrates at Bourne a few days ago, Elizabeth Whitfield, a single woman, late of Stainfield, was committed to Folkingham Castle for one year for having a bastard chargeable to the parish. This is the third present which the above woman has made to the parish officers within the space of 4½ years. - news report from the Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury, August 1811.

1819: Mary Lightfoot, of Bourne, was indicted at Bourne Sessions on October 19th for stealing one silver spoon and a bottle of wine, the property of Mr Robert Bellingham, of Bourne aforesaid, and sentenced to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for three calendar months. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 29th October 1819.

1820: James Doyle appeared before the quarter sessions at Bourne on Tuesday last and was found guilty of uttering base silver coin at Bourne fair on the 29th of October last, and of having other base coin in his possession, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and to find sureties for his good behaviour for two years afterwards. The prisoner, in his defence, stated that he was an Irishman out of work and that he found all the base coin in a privy at Bourne. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 14th January 1820.

1820: PUBLIC APOLOGY: Whereas I, William Mason, of Bourne Fen, in the county of Lincoln, yeoman, having on the twenty-second day of June last committed a violent assault on the person of George Naylor, of Spalding, in the said county, Assistant Sheriff's Officer, while in the execution of his duty, for which offence a prosecution has been commenced against me, which the prosecutor has consented to discontinue on my consenting to testify in this public manner, my sorrow for having committed the offence aforesaid: now I do hereby engage to pay all expenses incurred in such prosecution and promise never to offend again in like manner; and further, I agree to pay the sum of £10 to be given to the High Sheriff for some charitable institution. Witness my hand, this eighteenth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and twenty. - William Mason, Witness, William M Albin, Sheriff's Officer, Spalding. - notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th July 1820.

1820: TEN GUINEAS REWARD: Whereas on Saturday the 5th instant (between the hours of 11 in the forenoon and 3 in the afternoon), the dwelling house of Thomas Snart, carpenter, of Thurlby, near Bourne, was burglariously entered and the following articles stolen therefrom, viz. 3 pair of sheets marked A S, 3 men's shirts marked T S, several pairs of stockings, a valuable fowling piece (the heads of the lock screws in shape of a serpent), and various other articles. Whoever will give information of the offender or offenders so that he or they may be brought to justice, shall, on conviction, receive a reward of ten guineas from the said Thomas Snart. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 11th August 1820.

1821: William Thiselton, of Bourne, was convicted at the Kesteven Quarter Sessions held at Folkingham on 9th January, of a misdemeanour in his office of surveyor of the highways of that parish, by employing on his own account the men paid by the parish for repairing the highways, and was ordered to be imprisoned at Folkingham House of Correction for one calendar month, and to pay a fine of £20 to the King. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th January 1821.

1821: PARDON ASKED: Whereas I, Elizabeth Thurlby, of Morton, in the county of Lincoln, spinster and straw bonnet-maker, having during my late apprenticeship with Mrs Jemima Todd, of Bourne, written several indecent and malicious anonymous letters to Elizabeth Todd, of Bourne, aforesaid, dressmaker, and also to several other respectable characters in the same place, which have been traced to be my handwriting, and for which proceedings have been instituted against me: now I, the said Elizabeth Thurlby do hereby acknowledge that I did write and circulate the said letters and for which I publicly ask forgiveness and pardon of all the said parties, as they never directly or indirectly gave me any cause whatsoever for such malicious conduct; which they have agreed to grant, upon condition of my giving up the names of the abettors and accessories therein, and of paying the expenses already incurred. Witness my hand, this 17th April 1821, Elizabeth Thurlby. Witness, Edward Gough. - public notice from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 20th April 1821.

1824: Richard Franks, of Bourne, pleaded guilty at the Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne, to an indictment for stealing, in November last, thirty-six glass bottles, the property of Henry Bott, innholder, of Bourne, and was sentenced to two calendar months' hard labour in Folkingham castle. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd January 1824.

1824: Thomas Allam, a lad of Market Deeping, pleaded guilty at the Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne, to an indictment for stealing a gold sovereign and a one-pound note, the property of Benjamin Lenton, and was sentenced to two months' hard labour in Folkingham castle and to be publicly whipped. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd January 1824.

1824: At Bourne Town Hall on Saturday last, John Palmer, baker, of Morton, near Bourne, was convicted (by the Rev S E Hopkinson and William Waters, clerks), in the penalty of £10; and William Revill, of Haconby, and John Parker, of Swayfield, bakers, in the penalty of £5 each, for having alum in their possession to use in the making of bread, contrary to the Act of Parliament. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 24th September 1824.

NOTE: Alum was a commonly used additive by some bakers in the 19th century to whiten bread although it was poisonous and the practice was therefore outlawed.

1825: CAUTION TO DRIVERS OF CARTS: On Saturday last, William Dale and Henry Robson, servants in husbandry to Mr Edward Franks of Morton, near Bourne, were convicted at Bourne Town Hall in the mitigated penalty of 5s. each and costs, for riding in their carts on the King's highway in the parish of Morton and not being in a situation to have any control over the horses. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 23rd September 1825.

1831: Bennet Davey, aged 31, appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on Monday 7th March 1831 charged with stealing two shillings and a knife from the person of Richard Row, of Thurlby, near Bourne, on the night of Monday the 11th of October 1830. The prosecutor was a farmer's servant and was at a public house at Thurlby, it being the feast at that village; he drank some ale and "drew a pipe", which made him very sick, and while standing outside the public house the prisoner came up with two companions and tried to persuade him to go to Lound, but prosecutor refused, and he then hurled him on the ground and picked his pockets of two shillings and a knife. William Walker, sheriff's officer, of Bourne, was called to character but said he knew nothing either good or bad of the prisoner. The jury returned a verdict of guilty and sentence of death was recorded. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 11th March 1831.

1832: William Phillips and William Hinckley were found guilty at Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne on Tuesday 3rd January of stealing eight tame fowls at Bourne, the property of William Mason, on December 21st last and were sentenced, the former to be imprisoned to hard labour at Folkingham House of Correction for four calendar months, the latter for three months. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 13th January 1832.

1832: PERJURY AT BOURNE: Jane Harrison, a single woman, aged 30, was charged at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday with wilful and corrupt perjury in having sworn before the magistrates at Bourne that John Ullett, farmer, of Wilsthorpe, was the father of an illegitimate child of which she was pregnant. It appeared she was a very profligate woman, having been the mother of two illegitimate children previous to the period when the transaction occurred which gave rise to this indictment. In July 1830, she was observed to be again pregnant and Mr Ullett, the overseer of the parish, insisted on her going to affiliate the child. She resisted and at last threatened to swear the child to Mr Ullett himself, a threat which she actually put in force. Mr Ullett, it appeared, was an infirm man, 76 years old, suffering under a grievous affliction: he died during the last winter. Evidence was called to show that the prisoner had declared another person was the father of the child and also that she admitted she had taken a false oath in swearing the child to Mr Ullett. She was found guilty and the judge, in passing sentence, remarked that he had never met with a case of more abandoned profligacy. She was ordered to be imprisoned for one month at Lincoln Castle and at the expiration of that time to be transported for seven years. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 9th March 1832.

1833: William Crampton, a pauper on the parish of Bourne, appeared before Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne on Tuesday 2nd July 1833 accused of an assault on the 14th June last on Richard Shearman, yeoman, who superintends the poor at Bourne, and was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th July 1833.

1833: William Stevens, aged 24, Henry Wyles, aged 40, and Ambrose True, aged 26, all late of Market Deeping, near Bourne, on the prosecution of James Coates, of that place, appeared before Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne on Tuesday 2nd July 1833 for feloniously stealing £15 in bank notes, three sovereigns, and some silver, from his person on the 10th June last. The prisoners were ordered to be discharged in consequence of the non-appearance of the prosecutor who it was ascertained was in Bourne during the sessions but in such a state of intoxication as to be incapable of attending to give his evidence before the Grand Jury. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th July 1833.

1833: Mary, the wife of William Hotchkin, labourer, of Cawthorpe, near Bourne, pleaded guilty at Kesteven Sessions held at the Town Hall on July 2nd to an indictment for feloniously stealing, on June 15th, four pieces of printed cotton, the property of John Presgrave, draper, of Bourne, which she afterwards sold to a hawker at Bourne market. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment at the Folkingham House of Correction.
- news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 12th July 1833.

1841: Mary Porter, of Lound, near Bourne, pleaded guilty at Kesteven Sessions held at the Town Hall, Bourne, to an indictment charging her with obtaining under false pretences, in the month of August, at the shop of Mr Henry Bettinson, of Bourne, 1 lb. of sugar and 1 lb. of soap, his property, and was sentenced to two weeks' imprisonment. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 29th October 1841.

1842: Within the last few weeks, a great number of robberies have been perpetrated in Bourne and neighbourhood. On the night of the 15th ult., the stable of Mr J Warren, of Hanthorpe, was entered and a single-reined curb-bridle and a saddle were stolen. On the evening of Sunday week, while the family of Mr J Phillips, grocer, of Bourne, were at church, the house was broken open and a quantity of tobacco in papers and some copper coins were taken from the shop, and a number of English, French and American silver coins from a bedroom. On Thursday morning the 27th ult., Mr Mullett's house was broken open and a number of spoons and other articles were stolen. And on Saturday night, Cantrell's bazaar, standing in the fair, was entered and goods to the amount of £20 packed up but fortunately a neighbouring stall-keeper overheard the thieves and drove them away by questioning them, imagining they were some of Mr Cantrell's people. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 4th November 1842.

1844: Bourne: The householders of this place are from time to time annoyed by the malpractices of the idle and disorderly who lounge about the streets at nights, damaging and writing on walls, shutters and doors: the renovation of a front is the signal for mischief. On Sunday night last, the front of Mr Charles Osborn's house, which had just been newly stuccoed, was shamefully defaced: he has offered a reward for the detection of the delinquents.: "A 1" of our effective police force is earnestly in quest of the offenders and will we trust discover them. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 20th September 1844.

1846: A daring burglary was committed on the premises of Mr Benjamin Ferraby [a veterinary surgeon] in the Austerby, Bourne, on Tuesday night the 24th ult. Mr Ferraby's assistant, who had been called out, returned home at two o'clock in the morning when to all appearances everything was perfectly safe. On his retiring to bed, a small dog, which generally sleeps in the house, was recognised by him and left in his usual crib. It must have been shortly after this that some persons affected an entrance by cutting away a portion of the back door and shooting the lock: they succeeded in carrying off a writing desk containing papers belonging to Mr Ferraby and a work box containing with other matters £10 12s. in money. The thieves left behind them a quantity of plate and other valuables in a cupboard in the kitchen, which it is presumed escaped their observation. The dog, generally very noisy, was on this occasion not heard and was found to have escaped from the house when the servant rose in the morning. What adds to this singularity and daring of the robbery is that a neighbouring family were up until four awaiting the arrival of the mail, and the shepherd of another neighbour was engaged very near to the lambing field. 20 guineas reward has been offered for the apprehension of the burglars. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 3rd March 1846.

1847: Ann Williams, aged 24, a woman with a child in her arms, pleased guilty to an indictment at the Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne charged with having stolen at Bourne on 29th October last, two shawls, the property of Thomas Presgrave. The prisoner kept a nut stall at Bourne fair on the day the articles were stolen and twice during the afternoon she went in to the prosecutor's shop under the pretext of purchasing a shawl: each time she went out without effecting a purchase, having bid less than the shopman would take. After her second visit, her object was suspected to be one of plunder: a constable was sent for and she was searched, and two shawls of the value of 16s. and 10s. were found in her possession. She was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 8th January 1847.

1847: John Hannitt, aged 14, and John Robinson, aged 13, appeared before Kesteven Sessions at the Town Hall, Bourne, and pleaded guilty to stealing a loaf of bread on 30th March, the property of William Bray, baker, of [West Street] Bourne. The prisoners were tramping about the country, as they said, in search of employment and were induced from hunger to go into Mr Bray's shop and take the bread. Each one was sentenced to one month in gaol with hard labour. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 9th April 1847.

1848: Bourne abounded with disasters on Tuesday night last (March 7th). The warehouse of Messrs Wherry in North Street was broken into and 170 lb. of tea stolen. The larder of Briggs at the Nag's Head was found minus a fine piece of beef. His neighbour, Mr Shippey, was robbed of a fine spare rib; on the same night, Mr Marriott, brazier, of Deeping, was stopped and robbed on his way from Bourne and almost immediately after, the mail cart proceeding from Bourne to Peterborough was stopped by the same party (it is supposed). In the last case, however, the presenting of a brace of pistols made the sinners scamper. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 10th March 1848.

1848: The parish of Bourne is vexed with constant petty robberies. Numerous poultry have disappeared and not a few of the outdoor potato heaps have been plundered. The cottage of Mrs Massey, who has been absent for a few weeks, has been broken open but it has not been discovered that anything has been stolen and the purpose of this trespass is at present a riddle. The tea was turned out of the caddy on the table and other disordered were committed. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st March 1848.

1848: Petty thefts still continue prevalent in Bourne and no discovery of the offenders seems to be affected. We noticed a short time ago that amongst others, Holland Cottage had, in the absence of Mrs Massey, been broken open and the object of the depredators remained a mystery. On Mrs Massey's return, she discovered that her stock of wine and spirits had disappeared. During the past week, the premises of Mr Hare, at the Golden Lion, were broken open and sundry kegs of spirits removed. A scraper too has been stolen from the door of Mr Bannister in the North Street. - news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 28th April 1848.

1848: On Tuesday last, a young thief 14 years old went into the shop of Mr William Sharp, silversmith, [of South Street] Bourne, and took a silver watch from the window. He was detected and taken by Evans, the constable, before the Rev W Waters, Rippingale. Whilst Mr Waters was writing his commitment, the young urchin played on the table with his fingers and then sat down in a chair and pretended to fall asleep. The boy said he wanted to go to the Folkingham House of Correction to eat some of Mr Maile's Christmas beef. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 15th December 1848.

1849: A daring robbery was committed in Bourne on Sunday night last in the dwelling house of Mr [John] Boyer, cooper, [in West Street]. The family had gone to chapel leaving the house locked up: during their absence, some parties who undoubtedly knew the premises well, entered by a back window, having previously scaled two walls; they stole £30 in banknotes and cash which were deposited in a box in Mr Boyer's bedroom. Nothing was disarranged beyond a chest of drawers standing in the sitting room. £20 belonging to Mr Boyer's daughter, and which was deposited elsewhere, escaped the search of the thieves.
- news item from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 16th February 1849.

1849: No less than five burglaries were committed in Bourne during last week. The Bull Inn was broken into and part of a loin of beef, half a loaf of bread and a window blind (for package) were abstracted. The house of Mr Bray, baker, was also entered and the thieves took therefrom a quantity of wine in bottles, some meat etc. From an outhouse belonging to Mr Bell, some rabbits were stolen: from Mr Steevens, some soap; and from the warehouse of Mr W R Edwards, some ale and a quantity of stationery: at the latter place several mischievous acts were perpetrated. The parties are strongly suspected and it is hoped will be detected. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 11th May 1849.

1850: Handley, one of the Bourne constables, accomplished a good feat on Saturday last (April 6th): he had observed a youth lurking about, and for some time watched him, suspecting him to be a pickpocket. Shortly afterwards, Mr Bannister, clerk to Mr Wilders, attorney, discovered that he had had his pocket picked of a handkerchief. Handley immediately pursued the suspect to a house of a certain character, when after searching the thief, he felt almost foiled, but fortunately opened a warming-pan hanging up in the room, in which the missing handkerchief had been deposited. The man was committed for trial at the sessions on Monday, was then convicted, and is now picking his way on the treadwheel at Folkingham [the House of Correction].

1850: The cottage of Mr Cawthorn, of the Star-lane, Bourne, was on Monday night last (April 8th) beset by a little band of nightly revellers, who will, we opine [reported the Stamford Mercury], will soon find the tables turned upon them. It would seem that they had charged an ink bottle with powder, and placed it between the shutters and the window. Touch-paper, it is probable, was attached, in order to give time to escape. A loud explosion ensued together with the breakage of 17 squares of glass.

1851: Mary Atkinson and Eleanor Kelly, both aged 17 and living in Bourne, appeared before the Quarter Sessions on charges of theft. The court was told that Mary Atkinson was the daughter-in-law of Christopher Peck and the two girls had preyed upon him by obtaining the keys to his house and stealing a shilling, two sovereigns and two handkerchiefs. Atkinson was sentenced to 16 days in the House of Correction at Folkingham and Kelly for 14 days.

1854: William Henry Marshall was indicted at the Kesteven Sessions held at Bourne Town Hall on 4th April 1854 for breaking into the dwelling house of William Elfleet, a farmer, of Eastgate, on February 12th and stealing bacon, ham, liquor and two sovereigns. After a long trial, the prisoner was convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment.

1855: CAPTURE OF A HOUSEBREAKER: At a little before 1 o'clock Thursday morning the 14th inst., Mr John Bray, coal merchant, of West Street, Bourne, was called up and informed that there was a man in his yard. It appears that Jane Birch, who had not gone to bed, heard some person in Mr Bray's yard and also heard another man tap on Mr Bray's boarded gates (which are next to the street), and say, "Come out". Mr Bray, having been informed of what was going on, immediately went down stairs partly dressed and collared the man as he was passing out of a passage next to his property; both were struggling together on the ground when two constables, who reside just opposite, and who had been alarmed, determined the contest against the stranger. He refused to give any name and denied having any associate. In his pockets were found 26 skeleton keys, several of which had works of a very peculiar construction at both ends, one or other of which it is thought probable few ordinary locks would withstand. On Friday, he was examined and gave the name of William Fettem, of Flempton, near Bury St Edmunds. He was remanded until tomorrow (Saturday). A heavy bludgeon was found on the premises, which was not there the night before, and other circumstances indicate that the accused must have been in Mr Bray's yard, though he was not caught there. He stands about 5 ft. 9 in. high, rather stout, long light hair, and only little whiskers. The "other man" made his escape. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 22nd June 1855.

1869: Henry Handley, of Bourne, for feloniously stealing from the Abbey Church, a quantity of lead valued 4s. 6d., the property of Frederick Vinter, was sentenced to one month's hard labour.

1870: John Grummitt, a baker from Aslackby, was convicted before Henry Smith Esq. and the Rev George Carter at Bourne magistrates court of breaking four panes of glass in the window of John Cropley at Laughton on January 31st and fined 10s; damages 3s., and costs 21s. 6d. He was also convicted of breaking three panes of glass in the window of John Wortley of Laughton and fined 10s., damages 1s. 6d. and costs 14s. 

1870: On Thursday night, the 3rd November, a man who represented himself as a baker took lodgings at the Light Dragoon Inn, Star Lane [now Abbey Road]. He said he was out of employment and was going to Grimsby, thence to Liverpool. He left on the following morning about 8.30 am and on the girl going upstairs afterwards, it was discovered that a watch and scarf-pin belonging to the landlord, Mr Stokes, had been stolen but information was not given to the police until Saturday morning. The number of the watch is known. The accused is described as about 28 years of age, stands 5 ft. 4 in. or 5 in., rather stout, good looking and no whiskers, respectably dressed in black coat and waistcoat and check trousers and had on a check woollen shirt. He wore a ring on his left little finger and had with him a large brown paper parcel.

1875: The nuisance of boys throwing stones with catapults has become very prevalent in the Bourne locality, much damage to glass and other property being thereby done. The delinquents must be brought to justice in order to stop this growing evil. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 16th April 1875.

1875: Robert Pick, of Witham-on-the-Hill, near Bourne, farmer, was summoned at the Bourne Petty Sessions on Thursday under the Master and Servant Act 1867 by George Stevenson, a lad in his employ, for ill-treatment in the said service. The statement of the lad was that Mr Pick had several times beaten him and on the day in question he did so very severely with a thick stick so as to bruise his back and arm very much, alleging as a reason that he had suffered the crows to go on the corn he had been minding. He had no other complaint against Mr Pick and wished to stay with him. Mr Pick admitted the assault and was fined 1s. and costs 11s. - news report from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 28th August 1875.

1878: Five youths were fined by magistrates at the Town Hall, Bourne, on Thursday 5th September for obstructing the footpath. They were Joseph Elliott and James Archer, both of Bourne, and George Parker, Daniel Parker and Robert Rodgers, all of Thurlby. It appears that defendants stood in the Market Place and prevented people from passing along the causeway to church and chapel. Elliott was fined 9s. 6d. and the others 7s. 6d. each, and costs 10s. or fourteen days' imprisonment. The Grantham Journal reported the following Saturday: "It will be seen from the report of the magisterial proceedings that five persons, two from Bourne and three from Thurlby, were fined on Thursday last for obstructing the footpath. This is a step in the right direction because the practice has become such a regular nuisance, and especially on Sunday evenings, that no respectable person can pass along the footways without having to turn off in consequence of these obstructions. It is hoped that the above cases may be a warning and that for the future the pathways will not be used for people to congregate together."

1879: Frederick Rouse was apprehended by Superintendent Willerton Brown on a charge of stealing various articles from the North Street shop and premises of Mr F J Green, grocer and wine and spirit merchant, in whose employ he was up to Saturday night last when he left. In consequence of some irregularities in Rouse's conduct, Mr Green's suspicions were aroused and the prisoner's house was searched on Sunday when a quantity of lard and soap, several bottles of gin and wine and some empty bottles, were found, all of which were identified by Mr Green as his property. A flitch of bacon was also found in an outhouse in Mr Green's yard and had apparently been placed there for the purpose of being removed on a favourable opportunity. The prisoner was subsequently taken into custody and on Monday, taken before Major William Parker who remanded him to the petty sessions to be held at Bourne on the 21st inst. when he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 22nd August 1879.

1882: On Tuesday, Elizabeth Johnson and Elizabeth Faulkner, both of Bourne, were apprehended on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences. It seems that last month, these women got a shoemaker in Eastgate, named Frederick William Flatters, to draw up a petition for them, the said petition declaring that Faulkner's husband had lost a pig worth about £3 [about £160 at today's values] and requested individuals to contribute towards making up his loss. The whole thing, however, was a fabrication, neither Faulkner nor Johnson having possessed a pig during the last twelve months. Several persons were induced to give them something and the names of some influential residents were entered on the list without their having contributed anything. This came to the knowledge of Superintendent Willerton Brown and after making inquiries, he obtained warrants for the apprehension of the women and they were arrested on Tuesday the 24th. The case was before magistrates yesterday, Lieutenant Colonel William Parker presiding. Flatters admitted to writing out the petition and the Rev H H F Canham said that he had given the women a shilling towards the assumed loss. Mr Thomas Harrison and Mr R M Mills said the prisoners called on them and they believing it was an imposture, refused to give anything. The bench sentenced the prisoners to six weeks in prison, both with hard labour. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 27th January 1882.

1883: Thomas Bellamy, aged 35, labourer, pleaded guilty at the Kesteven Quarter Sessions held at the Town Hall on January 2nd to stealing a cow valued £25, the property of James Watson Burdwood, of Bourne, in the month of December last. He took the animal from a field, drove it to Spalding, and sold it to Mr N Bates, farmer, of that place. As soon as the cow was missed the police were acquainted with the loss and they ascertained that it had been sold by the accused. They thereupon apprehended him and charged him with the offence, when he declared that he only drove the cow to Spalding for a man he met on the road who gave him 3s. for his trouble; and he knew nothing more of the animal. Afterwards, however, he admitted stealing it. Mr Draper (of Bourne) addressed the court in mitigation of sentence and asked to be allowed to call witnesses to character; but he was told that he need not do that as the court would take it for granted that the prisoner's character had been all right up to the time of the commission of the crime of which he had pleaded guilty, nothing contrary being known. Prisoner was then sentenced to nine months' hard labour. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th January 1883.

1884: A recent stack fire at Mr William Grummitt's farm at Bourne has led to a charge of arson against Mark Clay, aged 13, which was heard before the petty sessions on September 23rd. Police Sergeant Edgley said that when interviewed, the boy denied all knowledge of the fire but his eyelashes and face were burned and so he took him to the police station for further questioning. Here the boy said: "I did set the stacks on fire. I made a little fire to warm my hands." The farmer's son, Arthur Grummitt, told the court that while the stacks were burning he saw the prisoner coming from behind a shed with a bucket of water and there was no one else on the premises. "I got out one of the horses and rode off to fetch the fire brigade from Bourne", he said. "But when I got back, all of the stacks had been burned to the ground." The blaze destroyed 19 acres of wheat straw, 24 acres of hay, 14 acres of oat straw, 14 acres of barley straw, a stable, a waggon shed and some implements. The stacks and buildings were not insured. The chairman of the bench, Lieut-Colonel William Parker, said it was a serious matter with a large destruction of property caused by the prisoner playing with matches. "It is difficult to know what to do with a boy of this age", he said. "If he had been a little older he would have been sent to the assizes. But we have decided to discharge him and we hope this will be a warning to him and that his father will correct him very severely so as to make an impression upon him." - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 31st October 1884.

1886: During a dispute while loading manure in a farmyard at Wilsthorpe, near Bourne, on December 23rd, John Harvey Pell, aged 21, a waggoner, struck fellow worker John Wyles over the head with a pitchfork and he was rushed to Peterborough Infirmary where he died on January 12th. Pell was subsequently charged with murder and committed for trial at Lincolnshire Assizes but when the case came up on Saturday 29th January 1887, the judge, Mr Justice Field, directed that he be tried for manslaughter. "I do not think that Pell intended to do more than inflict a severe blow but death was the result, an unlawful act that amounted to manslaughter", he said. "It appeared that during the day on which the occurrence took place, deceased provoked the prisoner very much by his language and acts, as it would seem he had done on former occasions." The judge said that he was satisfied that the prisoner had no intention in the smallest degree of inflicting injuries likely to cause death. He had an exceedingly good character but an act which had ended in death could not be passed over. Hr was sentenced to three months' hard labour. - news reports from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 17th January - 4th February 1887.

1888: THE ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER OF A BOURNE MAN: James Anderson, aged 24, described as a porter, of 54 Regent's Row, Dalston, London, surrendered to his bail on Tuesday last at the Dalston police court before Mr Smith, the stipendiary magistrate, on a charge of causing the death of Walter Moisey, of Bourne, whilst engaged in a fight at eleven o'clock on May 21st. Inspector Cockerill now reported that a coroner's jury had returned a verdict  of death from syncope [fainting fit]. The accused said he did not strike the deceased. Mr Smith discharged the prisoner, saying he did not believe any violence had been used. - news report from the Grantham Journal, Saturday 9th June 1888.

1888: DRINK AND CRIME: The Rev George Carter [Rector of Folkingham], chairman of the town's magistrates, told a sitting of the bench on Thursday 27th September that 11 out of the 16 police cases that had been heard were directly due to drink and that if it were not for that, the justices of Bourne would have very little or nothing to do. We may add that during the past three years, drunkenness has decreased by about 50 per cent, as the following figures show: convictions for drunkenness in 1885 - 223, 1886 - 159, 1887 - 127. We have reason to believe, notwithstanding last week's heavy list, that a still more marked improvement will be observable in this year's returns. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 5th October 1888.

1889: At Bourne Town hall yesterday, before Lieut-Col Parker, the Rev G Carter, W E Welby and Gilbert Peacock Esq., Mr John Gibson was charged with using threats towards the Vicar [the Rev Hugh McNeil Mansfield] on July 8th. An application was made for peace sureties. Mr Atter appeared for the complainant. Defendant whipped at the Vicar's pony but did not hit it, and also challenged the rev gentleman to fight. Complainant acknowledged using threats and alleged provocation through the Vicar persuading the late Mr Brown to alter a will which left Mr Gibson £730 [almost £50,000 at today's values]. The Vicar denied the truth of the statement. The codicil referred to had been destroyed but not by his advice. Mr Gibson had declined to make an apology, hence the proceedings. The court ordered Gibson to be bound over in a bond of £50 and a surety for £50 to keep the peace for six months. The recognisances were entered into. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 19th July 1889.

1890: TRAGEDY IN LINCOLNSHIRE: A shocking affair is reported from Thurlby, near Bourne, where a labourer, Charles Halliday, who had been absent for some days at harvest work, returned home on Monday night when he found that his wife had hanged herself after murdering her two children by cutting their throats. The children were respectively aged eight years and six months. It is believed that the crimes were committed in the course of Sunday night. - news report from the Western Times, Wednesday 13th August 1890.

1893: A WEALTHY TRAMP – Sojourn in Lincoln Gaol at his own expense: Alfred Condeenay, who described himself as “a musician on the pan pipes” and giving his address in Scotland, was charged with begging at Morton, near Bourne. Police saw him calling at several houses asking for money and on being arrested, the prisoner confessed that he had been “cadging”. “You’re right”, he told Constable Wilkinson. "You’ve copped me fair. But what will you take to let me free” and then offered the constable half a sovereign if he would release him. When searched at the police station, a large amount of money was found secreted in various parts of his tattered clothes, ten guineas in gold and silver was securely sewed in the lining of his waistcoat and £1 3s. 4½d. concealed in the lining of his trousers. He was committed for to prison for 14 days and ordered to pay for his conveyance to Lincoln and for his maintenance. – news item from the Lincolnshire Echo, Friday 21st April 1893.

1900: Joseph Bland, aged 25, a showman living in a van in the Black Bull Inn paddock at Bourne, was arrested and accused of attempting to drown his 12-months-old baby daughter, Rose Isabella. Bland and his wife, who had been married for two years, had come to Bourne for the annual November fair. He was committed for trial at Lincolnshire Assizes on a charge of attempted murder but the charge was reduced by the Grand Jury to causing unreasonable suffering to the child and his case was subsequently heard when the Assizes were convened at Bourne on October 28th. Mr Lawrence, prosecuting, said that Bland and his wife had quarrelled and she had gone to stay in her father's van in the same yard. In order to irritate his wife, the prisoner used the child cruelly, eventually putting her head downwards into a dolly tub three parts full of water, at the same time making use of violent language. When arrested, the prisoner said that he only wanted to frighten his wife. He was found guilty of common assault and sentenced to three days imprisonment from the commencement of the Assizes, the result being that he was at once discharged.

1901: Joseph Hadden, a wayfarer, was charged with stealing 10½d (less than 5p) belonging to Arthur Leaton. The complainant was a straw presser who worked at Market Deeping where, on this occasion, the defendant was also working. The prisoner borrowed a shilling from the complainant to buy a drink and promised to give him the change of 10½d back. He did not return it. Police Constable Greasley followed the prisoner on his cycle and apprehended him whereupon he pleaded not guilty, saying he was going to return the money that night. He was convicted and sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour.

1901: Ada Clark, aged 20, appeared in court accused of setting fire to two stacks of clover, the property of farmer Richard Bettinson of Thurlby. She pleaded guilty and Police Sergeant Henfry stated that the defendant had admitted a similar offence before the magistrates on a previous occasion. This time, a doctor was unable to certify whether she was insane and they committed her for trial. The judge said that the best thing was to send her to prison and sentenced her to 12 months' hard labour. 

1902: James Wyles of Lound appeared before magistrates at Bourne on Tuesday 14th January charged with being drunk in charge of two horses drawing a wagon through the town the previous day. The chairman, Mr R A Gardner, said it was a dangerous offence and defendant had also been fined for similar offences recently. He would therefore, be fined 10s. and 2s. costs or 14 days' hard labour in default.

1904: Thomas Wilson, a tramp, appeared before magistrates at the Town Hall, Bourne, on Wednesday 13th January charged with begging at Toft the previous day and also with doing wilful damage to the police station in North Street. The court was told that the prisoner created a disturbance in the cell during the night, tore up his clothes, smashed the windows and altogether doing damage to the extent of £4 to £5. On the charge of begging, Wilson was committed to jail for one month with hard labour and for causing wilful damage, he was jailed to two months with hard labour, the two sentences to run consecutively.

1905: A tramp named William Bradley appeared before a special sitting of the magistrates at the Town Hall on Thursday 19th October charged with stealing an overcoat, the property of Mrs M J Minta, owner of an outfitters' shop in West Street, Bourne. The prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months in jail with hard labour.

1906: John Lawson, a tramp who gave his address as Paddington, London, appeared before the magistrates at Bourne on Thursday 6th December charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of Messrs John Chambers Ltd of North Street, the previous Monday. Police Constable Bradshaw said that the prisoner came to the police station and showed him a pair of boots which he said he had stolen from a shop in North Street. Lawson pleaded guilty and told the court that he had felt so ill with cold or influenza that he was obliged to do something to get medical attention, having been refused it at several workhouses. Superintendent Herbert Bailey said that he had called in a doctor who found that the prisoner was suffering from the cold but he was now much better. The bench sent him to Lincoln prison for three weeks.

1907: Thomas Wallis, a tramp, was brought up before Bourne magistrates on Thursday 21st February charged with stealing a pork pie from a shop in South Street the previous Wednesday. The shop owner, Mr G W Collinson, told the bench that the prisoner had entered his shop and asked for a bun and paid for it but after he had left, he missed a pork pie that had been placed in the window shortly before. Wallis was arrested at the workhouse that evening and a portion of pie was found on him. He was sent to prison with hard labour for 21 days.

1908: Joseph Ogden, of no fixed abode, appeared before the magistrates at Bourne charged with being on the premises of Charles Edenborough at Little Bytham on July 13th for an unlawful purpose. Mr Edenborough told the bench that he and his wife had left home at about 8 o'clock on the night in question leaving two lodgers in the house. Soon after 10 o'clock they returned home and were surprised to find a light in the house and the door open. Inside, they found the prisoner who was then looking inside the pantry. Being asked what he was doing there, the prisoner replied that he went in to beg a match and also wanted to see the landlord. He left the premises when requested and the information was subsequently given to the police. The magistrates convicted the prisoner as a rogue and a vagabond and sentenced him to a month's hard labour.

1910: James Harris of Peterborough was summoned before Bourne magistrates for not having control over a horse and cart at Baston on June 18th. Defendant did not appear and P C Carter said that he gave a wrong name. Harris was fined 5s. with 3s. 6d costs.

1911: TRICK THAT FAILED. Joseph Bloodworth, of Bourne, appeared before the magistrates on Thursday 20th July charged with stealing one shilling [5p in today's money] from the Masons' Arms public house in South Street. The prisoner had been served with a drink and afterwards went to the till and took out two sixpences which he handed to the landlord's daughter who caught him crawling on his hands and knees from the till. Bloodworth attributed his offence to drink and as there were previous convictions against him, he was sent to prison for a month with hard labour.

1912: An exciting scene was witnessed on Monday evening in North Street when a stranger accosted Mrs L Pike with "money or your life". Mrs Pike fled to the opposite side of the road, followed by the man, and sought refuge in the Royal Oak, whilst her screams brought P C Harvey and Mr F Hodson to her assistance. The man, having missed the lady, returned to the road and picked up what turned out to be an open knife. He was promptly taken into custody and on the following morning was brought up before Mr W Castledine and remanded till Thursday. The man gave the name of Walter Dunbar and said he came from Toronto. Earlier in the afternoon, he took a dog to the police station. He was seen loitering about the town for several hours. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, December 1912.

1914: RAILWAY WINDOW LEATHER STRAP FOR BOOT MENDING. At Bourne police court on Thursday 2nd April, John William Beck, of no fixed abode, was charged with begging at Bourne on March 27th and also with stealing a leather window strap, the property of the Great Northern Railway Company. It appeared that the defendant travelled from Sleaford to Bourne and that when the train reached Essendine, the brakeman of the train found that the window strap was missing and reported it. Meanwhile, the prisoner had been arrested at Bourne on a charge of begging and on being searched, the strap was found in his possession. He told the police officer that he got it from the railway carriage after he left Sleaford and that he intended to repair his boots with it. Superintendent Herbert Bailey informed the court that the man had only been discharged the same morning from Lincoln prison. He had nothing to say and was committed to jail for 14 days for begging and two months for theft, both sentences to run concurrently.

1914: A BAD CASE. Sarah Halford of Bourne was charged at the police court on Thursday 2nd April with being drunk in charge of a child at Bourne on March 21st. Defendant was not present. Police Constable Wheatman said he found defendant in a drunken condition in Abbey Road. She was staggering about and had a child about four or five years of age with her. The child was crying while defendant was using very bad language. Witness would have taken defendant into custody had she not had the child with her. He had previously warned defendant about leaving the child outside public houses. The bench considered that it was a bad case and committed the woman for a fortnight's imprisonment without the option of a fine.

1914: MILK SELLER PROSECUTED. William Reeve, a dairyman of West Street, was summoned before magistrates on September 10th for selling milk which contained 12% extraneous water. He pleaded not guilty. Police Constable Kettles said that milk purchased on July 17th contained only 88% milk of the poorest quality and two sealed bottles were produced in evidence. Reeve told the court that when the weather was hot, it was his practice to put cold water in the milk churn overnight and that on the morning when the samples were taken, he was not about and one of his workers put the milk in the churn without first emptying the water. The magistrates decided that the charge was a serious one, especially as milk was an essential food for children, but although the defendant was liable to a fine of £20, they would deal leniently with him and he was fined £3 with 2s. costs.

1915: CARDBOARD SIXPENCES. At a children's court at Bourne, Fred Vickers of Dowsby. aged 12, was charged by Mrs Huskison of Billingborough, with obtaining one top, two chocolate wafers and 10½d. by false pretences. Mrs Huskison said for a top, defendant gave her what she took for a sixpence and she gave him 5½d. change. Soon after he came again, and gave her another coin and asked for two chocolate wafers. She then gave him 5d. in change. When she next went to the till for some change she noticed that the two coins were only cardboard. Superintendent Bailey said that the carelessness of some tradesmen was shown by the fact that in one case the coin was passed round by three different people. The Bench bound the grandfather over in the sum of £5 for six months, and hoped the case would be a lesson to the boy.

1915: George and Charlotte Parker were summoned at the petty sessions in Bourne on May 13th for neglecting their four children in Bourne South Fen during the previous three months. Dr John Gilpin stated that on May 3rd he visited the defendants' house and found the woman and the children in a filthy condition and their clothing in rags. One child, about five years of age, was suffering from capillary bronchitis and should have been adequately clothed. Inspector Lock of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children told the court that the defendant asked him how he could get good clothing for his family and keep them on 15 shillings a week (75p in today's decimal currency). The male defendant told the bench that his wages were 15 shillings a week and out of that he paid eight shillings for bread, his master stopped one shilling for coal and the balance was not sufficient to provide for his family. The bench adjourned the case for a fortnight and directed defendant to have his house properly cleaned in the meantime.

1916: A stylishly dressed young woman, Gladys Basford, was brought up in custody before the petty sessions at Bourne Town Hall on the Thursday 9th November charged with stealing £10 in gold money and a £1 treasury note on October 20th. The principal witness in the case was the defendant's mother who stated that her daughter was living apart from her husband and had been staying with witness and her husband. After defendant left home stating that she was going to her grandmother's, the money was missed. Superintendent Herbert Bailey gave evidence of receiving defendant into custody from the Metropolitan Police [in London] and, on reading the warrant over to her, she admitted taking the gold but denied any knowledge of the Treasury note. Defendant now pleaded guilty. Her father was called and said he was willing to take her home and look after her. The bench (Mr W R Garner, chairman, sitting with Mr J T Holmes and Dr Edward Cragg), desired to give her another chance and imposed a fine of £2 which was immediately paid by the mother.

1918: A domestic servant, Florence Duggan, appeared before Bourne magistrates on October 17th charged with stealing a cash box and £78 in cash from Messrs Story and Sons, cabinet makers, of North Street. Police told the court that the accused had been living in the workhouse and although she had a mother and sisters, they would not take any notice of her. The prisoner was sentenced to three months in jail for each offence, a total of six months.

1919: John and Charlotte Smith appeared before Bourne magistrates accused of stealing four eggs at Baston on July 21st. Annie Mary Tory said she had missed some eggs from a nest in the hedge and told Police Constable Carter who marked some and put them in the nest and then concealed himself where he had full view of the nest. The prisoners came by and the woman took the eggs to the man standing on the road. Both had records. The woman was sentenced to six weeks' hard labour and the man to one month.

1921: At the Bourne Police Court on March 10th, John Starkey of Bourne Fen was charged with working a horse in an unfit state on March 2nd. Defendant admitted it was "a bit lame" but said he had it examined by Mr Holmes who told him it would be all right on the land. He was fined 10s.

1921: "THE EARLY POACHER CATCHES -----." Frederick Brown and Charles A Brown were summoned for a game trespass in Bourne Fen on June 17th. Mr E Cooke was the complainant and Mr H Kelham appeared for the defendants who denied the offence.  Mr Cooke stated that between 3 a m and 4 a m he got up to attend to a water cart that he had left filling the previous night, when he heard a gun shot in a field at the back of the house. He saw two men in his field and saw that they put up a hare. He got dressed and rode a bicycle to Kent's Drove where he waited for the men coming down the line. When he spoke to them they ran off in opposite directions. He caught Frederick Brown who said that he had not been on witness's land but subsequently made a partial admission. In reply to the acting clerk (Mr Jas. Dalton of Stamford), witness had some hesitation in identifying Charles Brown whose participation in the offence was denied by several witnesses. With regard to the other defendant, Mr Kelham pointed out that it was for the Bench to decide between his evidence and that of Mr Cooke. The Bench dismissed the case against Chas. A Brown and fined Frederick Brown £1.

1921: THEFT FROM AN ALLOTMENT. The local justices, at their sitting at Bourne on 3rd June, imposed on Rose Sneath, for stealing a stick of rhubarb on May 14th, a fine of 5s. and costs - 17s. in all [£25 in today's money]. The case was taken at the instigation of the Bourne Allotment Holders' Association. Police Superintendent Duffin said he did not wish to press the case but he had been asked by the Association to state that there had been so many complaints lately of pilfering, and it was hoped that the prosecution would have a deterrent effect.

1922: EX-SURVEYOR IN THE DOCK - RETURNED FROM CANADA TO GIVE HIMSELF UP. After a hearing lasting over 3½ hours, Andrew R Agnew was at Bourne police court on Wednesday 15th March sent to prison for six months without hard labour on charges of embezzlement. The court was told that he was employed by Bourne Urban District Council as Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances and the five charges against him alleged that he embezzled and stole quantities of granite, tarmacadam and other road materials valued at £850, between 1st November 1913 and 30th March 1920, the whole of the materials being the property of the council. The cases came to light as the result of information from the council's accountant Mr Harry Ringrose in 1920 who was appointed to make investigations and it was decided to issue a warrant for the defendant's arrest but he fled to Canada and so it was not executed until he returned recently and gave himself up. The court was told that Agnew had sold the material on to various people on behalf of the council at full market prices but had taken the proceeds for his own use.

1923: Deploring his depravity, Bourne magistrates, at a special Children's Court on July 26th, ordered a boy charged with indecent assault on a girl under 7 years of age, to be punished with four strokes of the birch rod and bound the father over in the sum of £5 for his boy to be of good behaviour for six months.

1923: When Frank Newcombe of Rippingale was charged at Bourne on December 6th with not sending his child regularly to school, he said he was earning only 25s. per week (£1.25 in decimal currency) and the bread bill was 12s. per week (60p). he had seven children. Mr Benge, the school attendance officer, said that it was a very hard case. The mother kept the girl away to look after the little ones while she went potato picking. The Bench took a compassionate view of the matter and dismissed the case. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 7th December 1923.

1923: THE GOOD OLD DAYS? Stated to have been sentenced to seven days imprisonment when 11 years old, John Baker, charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of Messrs S Hilton and Sons, boot dealers of North Street, was sent to hard labour for three months at the Bourne police court on Thursday 10th May. There was a list of 28 previous convictions against the prisoner. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 18th May 1923.

1923: PRISON FOR YOUTH. A special sitting of the magistrates was held at Bourne Town Hall on Tuesday 18th December when Albert Kettle, a youth who had been residing in the district, was charged with acting in an indecent and insulting manner towards a young married woman and several girls attending Bourne Secondary School. Superintendent Duffin said that since the prisoner had been arrested, six other complaints had been made to the police, chiefly by parents of girls attending the secondary school. The charge was admitted and the chairman told the prisoner that he had acted in a very disgraceful manner. The court considered that they would be lacking in their duty if they did not inflict an adequate punishment and Kettle was committed to prison for 14 days with hard labour, without the option of a fine, on each of three charges, a total of six weeks in all. The chairman also thanked the informant for the public service she had rendered. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 21st December 1923.

1926: ROBBED CHURCH - BENCH SORRY THEY COULD NOT ORDER "CAT". William Edward Matthews, of Yarmouth, was charged on remand at a special sitting of the Bourne Police Court on Thursday 9th September with breaking open an offertory box in Bourne Abbey Church the previous Sunday, and stealing therefrom 11s. (£22 by today's values). Superintendent Duffin informed the Court that a further 13s. 9d. had been recovered as a result of the prisoner indicating where the money had been placed. Prisoner was found at the casual ward of the Workhouse, and a jack knife was found in his possession, the spike of which fitted the marks on the box. Prisoner elected to be dealt with summarily and had nothing to say. Many previous convictions were mentioned by Superintendent Duffin, several of which were for breaking into churches and stealing from alms-boxes. In sentencing prisoner to three months' hard labour, the Chairman (Alderman T W Atkinson) said that the punishment was too good for such a man. It was a dastardly thing to break into churches and rob the sick and needy. Had it been possible, they would have ordered corporal punishment. Canon John Grinter, Vicar of Bourne, warmly commended the police for their up-to-date work. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 17th September 1926.

1927: STOLE DOG FOR A LARK. At the Bourne police court on Monday 4th September, Frank Jones of no fixed abode, was charged with stealing a Pomeranian dog, the property of Mrs Stooke of the Plough Inn at Carlby. It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner had apparently enticed the dog away from the house. He was overtaken and the dog immediately returned to its owner. The prisoner in explanation said that he had only taken the dog "for a lark" and had no intention of stealing the animal. He was committed to prison for seven days' hard labour.- news report from the Stamford Mercury, 9th September 1927.

1927: DRUNK ON METHYLATED SPIRITS. Alfred Lawrence Platt of London was charged at the police court in Bourne on Monday 12th September with drunkeness on the highway the previous afternoon. Police Constable Sibbald found defendant in North Street, helplessly drunk from the effects of methylated spirits. He was fined five shillings (£10 by today's values) or seven days' hard labour if he did not pay. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 16th September 1927.

1927: ADVISED TO SHAKE HANDS. At the police court in Bourne on Thursday, 22nd December, Richard Jackson, of Bourne, was summoned by Walter Palmer, of Bourne, for assault on December 9th, and there was a cross summons by Jackson. Mr Kelham appeared for Palmer and stated that the assault was committed after Jackson had been deprived of a whist drive prize in which some evidence of a wrong score had been given by Palmer. The alleged assault took place near to Palmer's home and consisted of a blow on the left eye, and Palmer's teeth being broken in three places. It was alleged that Jackson had threatened the M C at the whist drive. The magistrates ordered the parties to pay their own court costs and advised them to shake hands before they left the court and be friends. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 30th September 1927.

1929: THE SINGING FOOL. Frederick Walker, of no fixed abode, was parading the streets of Bourne on Friday night, alternately singing and addressing an imaginary crowd. About 10 pm he came into contact with Police Constable Sawyer, who spoke to Ward concerning his conduct, when the latter became abusive, used obscene language and threatened to strike the constable with a stick. Ward was taken into custody and on Saturday morning was charged before Mr G Brown and Mr T Rickard with being drunk and disorderly. Evidence of his drunken condition was given by Police Constable Sawyer and Inspector Markham, which also included the fact that one shilling was all he had in his possession. Defendant told the magistrates that he had been doing odd jobs in the district. On giving an undertaking that he would leave town, the magistrates discharged him. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, 13th September 1929.

1959: THE FIRST LITTER LOUT. First offender to be brought before Bourne magistrates under the 1958 Litter Act, Junior Cattermole, 28, of Station Road, Morton, was fined 10s. (50p in today’s money) at Bourne court yesterday for throwing down a fish and chip paper in North Street, Bourne, on August 29th. Mr Douglas Reeson, prosecuting on behalf of Bourne Urban District Council, said there were litter bins in conspicuous places. It was hoped this would make the public more litter conscious and the council intended to summon all offenders. Police constable L Burrell, who saw the man throw the paper down, said there was one bin within four yards of Cattermole and another ten yards away. In a letter, defendant’s mother wrote saying he had been ill for some years and was not fully acquainted with the Litter Act. - news report from the Stamford Mercury, Friday 2nd October 1959.

See also

Crime in the early 19th century     More crime tales from past times

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