By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Observer published on 27th August 1853 carried two accounts of the theft of food that came up before the courts. There was a distinct lack of ‘pre-sentencing reports’ that are so important today – but the magistrates appeared to have a good deal of common sense!
Henry Lewis, an elderly man, was charged with stealing apples. P.C. Cave said, in consequence of information he received, he went into Cosham street on Saturday night, about half-past twelve, where he saw the prisoner, and on feeling his pockets found they contained the apples produced. He charged him with stealing them, when he said he had purchased them off a country person about five o’clock, but did not know whom. The mayor said the magistrates had very little doubt but that the prisoner had stolen the apples, as it was very improbable, if he had purchased them as he said, that he would have carried them (being nearly a gallon) about in his pockets for seven hours and a half; that P.C. Ward acted quite right in bringing him here, but as evidence was wanting for conviction he (the prisoner) would be discharged.
Frederick Spanner, William Lewis, and William Lewis, were charged with breaking into a public house in Deadman’s Lane, on Saturday night, and helping themselves to bread and cheese and beer, and then walking off. Mr. Coxhead, the proprietor, said, he did not wish to press the charge as the prisoners were very good customers of his (although he did not know when they had been to his house last), he felt sure they only done it for a drunken spree, and not to defraud him. The chairman said that after the statement made by Mr. Coxhead, the magistrates should discharge them, and as Mr. Coxhead seemed to have very queer notions as to who were good customers and who were not, he doubted not but others would walk into his house in the same way.