A FEARFUL CRIME.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2342, 18 September 1880, Page 2

A FEARFUL CRIME.

A crime of peculiar atrocity has been committed at Bolton (says the St. James’ “Budget”), and the perpetrator has escaped punishment owing to a technical error. At the Police Court of that borough a milkman was charged before the Mayor on Monday with having incredible as it may appear, actually sold milk after 9 o’clock on Sunday morning, June 20th, the sale “ not being a work of necessity or charit}'.” The defendant did not deny his guilt, but it was urged on his behalf that when the Lord’s Day Act was passed people were in the habit of getting up at I o’clock in the morning. In these degenerate days people did not rise so early, and it was impossible for milkmen to finish their rounds before 9 o’clock. The Mayor said that people going to church had complained of milkcarts being in the streets, and that was the reason why the prosecution had been instituted. However, as the defendant had been wrongly described as a farmer whereas he was a milkman, the summons would be dismissed. The defendant may consider himself fortunate, but he may rest assured that if he continues to sell milk after 9 o’clock on Sundays justice will at last overtake him.