1912: Dealer Alfred Thompson of Fletton pleaded 'not guilty' today for receiving forty-one bags and six sacks, the property of Farrow & Co., well knowing them to have been stolen. George Clark of New Fletton, previously convicted of the theft of the bags, said the prisoner had asked him if he could get some and he took several lots, for which the prisoner had paid him at the rate of 1s 3d per dozen. John Graham, works manager for Farrow & Co., identified the sacks and said 1s 3d was no price at all for the sacks. Harold Carter, manager to Cliff & Co., marine store dealers in Peterborough, gave details of the purchase of several lots of bags from the prisoner at 5s a dozen. He claimed that the prisoner told him that he had got them from a friend in the coconut trade in London. Lydia Clark, wife of George Clark, said she heard the prisoner ask her husband if he had captured anything. PC Varley gave evidence of arrest, with the prisoner, on oath, saying he knew nothing about the sacks. He had never bought any from Clark and he had never sold any to Carter. Thompson was found guilty and sentenced to three months' hard labour. (Stamford Mercury)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.