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Before the County Bench at Barnstaple yesterday Otto Leopold Trechmann, landowner and farmer, of Westaway, Pilton, Barnstaple' pleaded "Guilty" to selling by retail fresh milk other than under the terms of a licence granted by the Food Control Committee, and also to supplying milk to an unregistered customer. Muriel Mary Dick, of Raleigh House, Pilton, for whom Mr. R. T. Foster (Barnstaple) appeared and pleaded " Guilty," was summoned for obtaining the milk, not being registered. Mr. F. J. Broad, Town Clerk of Barnstaple, prosecuting for the Food Control Committee, said the cases were brought as a warning to others. Mr. Gerald Rogers, Ministry Food inspector, said he interviewed Mr. Trechmann, telling him that he understood Mrs. Dick had been obtaining a pint of milk a day from him and that she had told him it had been in the form of a gift.- Mr Trechmann replied that Mrs. Dick had asked him if he could supply her with some milk. He would not say she had it free, but she had had it below wholesale price. Mr. Trechmann told the Bench Mrs. Dick had said she wanted the milk for a boy who had been ill and out of kindness he supplied it; he supposed he did wrong. Mr. W. Dunn, presiding, said the Bench realized Mr. Trechmann had done this out of kindness of his heart, and they would have preferred that the case had never been brought. They fined Mr. Trechmann 5s in each of the two cases, and fined Mrs. Dick 5s.
Thanks to the Western Morning News for this story which clearly reflects the unfortunate strictures imposed by World War II.