On This Day in Wembury – 15 May 1939
At Plympton court, Reginald Frederick Williams, aged 19, of Plymouth, was fined for stealing a fowl from New Barton Farm, Wembury, belonging to Mr A. Nelder.
Williams admitted that he saw the bird “staggering in the yard,” struck it on the head, and killed it. At first, he said he intended to give the fowl to its owner, but then decided to keep it for himself. He was caught in the act of carrying the bird away by a policeman.
The court heard that Williams already had several previous convictions. He was fined £1 plus 2s 3d costs for the theft.
The case is a small but telling glimpse into rural life on the eve of the Second World War, when petty offences like poultry theft still came before the local bench.
Source: Western Morning News, 16 May 1939.
Entries are summaries and interpretations of historical newspaper reports.