Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 25 July 1942

Killed Pigs

West Melton Offence Herbert Turner (42), butcher, of 31, Brampton Road. West Melton, was summoned at Rotherham West Riding Court on Monday for having offended against the Provisions Order, 1940, by slaughtering two pigs without a licence, and having possessed meat without a licence on May 21st.

Turner pleaded guilty and was tined 115 on each of the two summonses. Mr. F. Scorah, solicitor, of Sheffield, prosecuted on behalf of the Ministry of Food, and Mr. Donald Dunn, solicitor, defended.

Mr. Scorah said a food inspector, Mr. Nicholson, visited Turner’s shop on May 21st and found a quantity of pork, about 50lb. weight in all, in a refrigerator. He questioned Turner, who admitted killing two pigs, saying, “I just want to stick up and make the authorities do something about pork shops.”

The Ministry of Food took a serious view of this case, as there was no chance of a mistake being made, the offence being deliberate and calculated.

Mr. Dunn said Turner had been stupid in this matter. He had been in business 20 years and was a man of high character. He was the only butcher available for 16,000 people and had had difficulty with his supplies. Before the occasion in question he was visited by a meat salesman, who travelled from Manchester with his van, and who had plenty of meat to sell. This had annoyed Turner to such an extent that be had decided to kill the two pigs he had been rearing and sell the meat to his customers. He had decided not to continue in business after this.

Paying his fine, Turner remarked, “I have to pay for being naughty.”