Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian – Saturday 08 October 1949

Miners Stole Apples

Hubbert’s Bridge Incident

Three Wombwell miners pleaded not guilty at Wednesday’s North Holland Court. Boston, to a joint charge of stealing 3st. 3lb. of apples growing on a tree at Hubbert’s Bridge.

Finding the charge proved, the Chairman (Mr. H. H. Bowser), commented: “We are determined to stop this petty pilfering.” They wore Arthur Uttley, Wilfred Holdsworth and Alfred Caunt. and were members of a fishing party brought by motor coach to Hubbert’s Bridge on September 4th.

Jesse Waite, licensee of the Wheatsheaf Inn. Hubbert’s Bridge, said Caunt asked him if he had any apples to sell. Witness said he hadn’t, and wanted what he had for his own family. Later he went out and saw Caunt pulling apples off his tree and throwing them into the coach, where Uttley and Holdsworth were standing receiving them. He spoke to Caunt, who asked him not to make trouble.

Uttley: Did you see I had a broken thumb and my arm in a sling?—No.

Did you see me in your garden?— No.

Carried On Picking.

Harry Covill, whose bedroom window overlooks the apple trees, said he saw Caunt and Holdsworth pulling apples off a tree and Uttley inside the coach putting them on the rack. He went down and asked if they had permission to take the apples, and they said they had, and carried on picking them. P c. Beith said Uttley told him he took a few apples from the ground on the public side of the fence, and both Caunt and Holdsworth said they also saw them on the roadway and took them from there.

Uttley told the Court he had broken his thumb in the pit the previous week and. as he therefore could not fish, had gone for a look round Boston. When he returned he was told that members of the party had taken some apples. He himself had not stolen any, but earlier in the morning had picked four or five off the road.

Neither Caunt nor Holdsworth had anything to add to their statements to the constable.

Each defendant was fined £2, with £1 costs.