Tall tales end in hefty fine

In 1915, The Great War affected communities the length and breadth of the country.

And one sad tale centred on three little girls who were convicted of stealing.

At Paisley’s Juvenile Court, the girls – aged 10, 11 and 12 – appeared before Bailie Rolland and were charged with stealing a quantity of flowers from a garden in Castlehead.

They pleaded guilty and said they had met a small boy who had told them the occupants of the house were away for three months and that he had been left in charge to watch the place.

He promised that, if they went into the garden, there wouldn’t be a problem.

Bailie Rolland, however, said it cost people money and attention to plant and watch flowers and that it was very wrong of the girls to steal them.

He imposed a fine of 2s 6d on each of them, with the alternative of two days in the house of detention.