AN IMPRISONED DEBTOR AND HIS PIE.

Kumara Times, Issue 1114, 26 April 1880, Page 3

AN IMPRISONED DEBTOR AND HIS PIE.

At the Lancaster Court Potty Sessions, Selina Simpson, wife of Thomas Simpson, of Lancaster, was charged with bringing into Lancaster Castle a quantity of tobacco, contrary to the prison regulations. It appeared that the man was committed to the Castle as a debtor. Under certain conditions debtors are allowed to have their food sent to them by their friends, and Simpson's wife had availed herself of that privilege from the time of his admission. On the 18fch his dinner was brought as usual. It consisted of a potato pie, and was handed in by a boy. Owing to some suspicion which had been aroused, Warder Baynes lifted the crust off the pie in the debtor's presence, and, upon probing to the bottom of the dish with a fork, drew forth a carefully made-up package containing about 2oz. twist tobacco. Mr Parr, the governor, said he did not wish to press the case unduly against the woman, but had brought it forward as a caution to the public who were not perhaps aware that the offence was such a serious one in the eye of the law. The Chairman said the punishment was not exceeding six months' imprisonment or a fine not above £2O, or both. Although the supposition was that the woman had sent the pie there was no evidence of it, and the case would be dismissed. If the boy had been charged with the offence the Court would certainly have convicted.