Stealing Mild

Just look at that. One day I tell you that Mild wasn't usually sold in bottles, at least not under the name Mild, and here's proof that it sometimes was. I blame the Hull Brewery for bottling their Mild and making me look a liar.

"STOLE BEER
Hull Men's Prank Was Not Funny
"This is a very unfortunate case. It is put down as a bit of fun; but it is not funny, you know; and I should have thought you could have afforded to buy your beer. You will all pay a fine of £1, and refund the cost of the beer and the broken bottles. And for God's sake think before you do such a thing again: it is not worth risking your characters."

The chairman of the Bench at the Hull Police Court, Mr J. F. Haller, said this when three men, Cyril Short, of George's-ave., Springburn-st., Lawrence Palmer, of Steynburg-st.. and William Castleton, of Brunswick-ave., Franklin-st., were charged with stealing a case containing 18 pint bottles of mild ale. All three men pleaded guilty.

Inspector J. E. Huxley, prosecuting, said that the beer was being delivered to the Cleveland club, and the lorry driver left several cases, to be delivered, on the pavement. When he checked them, one was missing. Seen by the police the men admitted to the theft, saying that they had been drinking most of the afternoon, and took it as a joke, drank the beer, and were afraid to return the case. The total value of the property was £2 0s 6d.

The three men told the court yesterday that they were willing to repay the money for the broken bottles, and the beer, and were sorry for what seemed at the time to be a foolish prank."
Hull Daily Mail - Friday 17 September 1943, page 3.

If I read this correctly, they just left a stack of crates on the pavement by the club. I suspect if anyone did this today, it wouldn't be a single crate that walked. The whole lot would have been gone in a flash.

Breaking bottlesd was a pretty irresponsible act during the war when there was a shortage of glass. I'm surprised that wasn't mentioned in court.