Misplaced Benevolence to the Poor

 “Milk !  Eau !”
Frederick Jackson, of Warwick-street, a milkman, whose cry (as above) is very well known in certain streets of the town, was charged at the Ryde Borough Police Court, on Monday, with selling milk which was not of the nature and substance demanded.

It appeared that on April 11th 1890, Supt. Hinks, hearing defendant’s cry, went to him and purchased three half-pints of milk, one of which he sent to the public analyst.  The milk was sold as skim milk, and its price was 1½d. per quart.  The report of Mr. Otto Hehner, the analyst, was to the effect that the substance received was not skim milk at all, but a mixture of water and ordinary milk in about equal proportions.  It had far less nutritive value than proper skim milk.

Defendant, although he pleaded guilty, urged that the milk was only sold as “pudding milk,” and that the person who brought a quart of it had more than a pint of good milk for 1½d.  Besides, the milk was only sold to very poor people who could not afford to buy the best milk, and give 4d. per quart for it.  He said this with perfect gravity, as if he thought he was doing a really benevolent and praiseworthy action.

The Bench, however, could not be persuaded to view it in that light, but inflicted a fine of £2 and costs.

Source: IW Observer 10 May 1890
Image: Milk throughout History
Article: Ann Barrett