Saturday June 3rd, 1939
FARLETON BARN SET ON FIRE BY BOYS
Bound Over at Milnthorpe
Four boys from the Holme and Crooklands area pleaded “Guilty” at a juvenile police court at Milnthorpe on Wednesday to setting fire to a quantity of hay in a Dutch Barn on Farleton Lane, the property of James Bracken Richardson, on the evening of 12 May. One was bound over for three years in the sum of £10, another for three years in the sum of £5, and the other two each for one year in £5. The Chairman (Mr. H. H. Llewellyn) told the boys they had committed a very grave offence, and if they had been adults would have been liable to a sentence of 10 years’ penal servitude.
Stanley Dixon, farmer, Moss Side, Holme, said about 8-10 p.m. on the Friday concerned he went along Farleton Lane in his car to look at some cattle. He saw four boys on bicycles in the lane. Shortly afterwards, while examining the cattle, he saw smoke rising, but thought someone was burning rubbish and paid no more attention to it. When driving back along the lane, however, he saw the barn was on fire and immediately notified the owner.
HAY A TOTAL LOSS
James Bracken Richardson, farmer, Wood Edge, Lupton, said there were six cartloads of hay in the Dutch Barn. When notified by Dixon he went to the barn with helpers but found the hay on fire to such an extent that it could not be saved. Helpers carried water to the barn in an endeavour to save the building. This was achieved, but the hay was a total loss and the insurance paid for it amounted to £13 5s.
P.C. Moore told the magistrates that after visiting the barn he came to the conclusion that the hay could not have become ignited of its own accord. He therefore made inquiries and as a result interviewed defendants at their homes, where they admitted having gone birdnesting and then entered the barn. One of them said “Let’s have a fire” and struck a match with which he ignited a small quantity of hay. The flames spread, and though the boys tried to extinguish them they failed to do so. The flames grew bigger and the boys then ran away.
FARLETON BARN SET ON FIRE BY BOYS
Bound Over at Milnthorpe
Four boys from the Holme and Crooklands area pleaded “Guilty” at a juvenile police court at Milnthorpe on Wednesday to setting fire to a quantity of hay in a Dutch Barn on Farleton Lane, the property of James Bracken Richardson, on the evening of 12 May. One was bound over for three years in the sum of £10, another for three years in the sum of £5, and the other two each for one year in £5. The Chairman (Mr. H. H. Llewellyn) told the boys they had committed a very grave offence, and if they had been adults would have been liable to a sentence of 10 years’ penal servitude.
Stanley Dixon, farmer, Moss Side, Holme, said about 8-10 p.m. on the Friday concerned he went along Farleton Lane in his car to look at some cattle. He saw four boys on bicycles in the lane. Shortly afterwards, while examining the cattle, he saw smoke rising, but thought someone was burning rubbish and paid no more attention to it. When driving back along the lane, however, he saw the barn was on fire and immediately notified the owner.
HAY A TOTAL LOSS
James Bracken Richardson, farmer, Wood Edge, Lupton, said there were six cartloads of hay in the Dutch Barn. When notified by Dixon he went to the barn with helpers but found the hay on fire to such an extent that it could not be saved. Helpers carried water to the barn in an endeavour to save the building. This was achieved, but the hay was a total loss and the insurance paid for it amounted to £13 5s.
P.C. Moore told the magistrates that after visiting the barn he came to the conclusion that the hay could not have become ignited of its own accord. He therefore made inquiries and as a result interviewed defendants at their homes, where they admitted having gone birdnesting and then entered the barn. One of them said “Let’s have a fire” and struck a match with which he ignited a small quantity of hay. The flames spread, and though the boys tried to extinguish them they failed to do so. The flames grew bigger and the boys then ran away.
