May 3 (From York Press)

May 3

7:00am Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Way we were

100 years ago

At the Yorkshire Assizes at Leeds, Jonathan Spooner, aged 31, postman and hawker, was indicted for stealing a postal packet in the course of transmission, containing one half-crown, two shillings, a purse, and six penny stamps, at North Ferriby, on March 26th.

Spooner pleaded guilty and said that he had previously borne a good character. He had got some furniture on the hire purchase system, and owing to the furniture firm threatening him he was tempted to take the money.

In passing sentence the Judge said that if the prisoner had not borne a good character he would not have been in the service of the Post Office.

He was always sorry to have to pronounce sentence upon young men who had fallen into temptation under circumstances such as the prisoner had mentioned. He had no reason to disbelieve the prisoner's story.

Unfortunately punishment had to be administered, if only as an example to others, and it was considered that the sentence upon Post Office officials should be rather more severe than upon other persons, because they got their employment on that understanding.

The prisoner was sent to prison for six months with hard labour.

50 years ago

Late-Night Reveller wrote to The Evening Press: “York, in its capacity to keep pace with the modern times, has acquired several new coffee bars and restaurants.

Among these there are Chinese restaurants (of which, “I believe, there are three) and one Italian restaurant, yet I fail to understand why the Indians have not yet come to York.

“I do not suggest that we turn York into another “Soho,” but I feel that a well-cooked Indian dish would be most appreciated by the citizens of York as well as by the 'late night weekend revellers.'“

25 years ago

An East Yorkshire pig breeder was claiming a first in exporting pigs.

Three hundred purebred pigs had gone to Thailand from a farm near Driffield - and travelled in real style.

Instead of using a DC10, a huge Boeing 747 was chartered for the special export. This was thought to be the first time pigs had flown on a 747.

A leading Thai company wanted to expand its pig breeding operations and experts had visited JSR Healthbred, of Southburn, near Driffield, and ordered 300 of the superior pigs as a start.

Because the export was so large, a 747 from the Dutch airline was used. During the trip, fresh air was pumped round the plane while the pigs were kept in special pallets with automatic feeding and watering units.

They arrived safely in Bangkok and were transferred to the farm. The contract meant more than £75,000 to the farm.