10/10/2026
THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 1889
A SERVANT GIRL'S STRONG APPETITE.
AMUSING EVIDENCE.
At Aberdeen Small Debt Court today, a servant girl named Barbara Milne, residing at Burnside, Peterculter, sued George Cu***ng, residing at East Mains, Drum, for the sum of £6, said to be due her as wages, board, and damages for alleged unjustifiable dismissal. Mrs Cu***ng, on entering the witness-box, stated, in reply to Mr Alex. Wilson, solicitor, her agent, that she had to lock everything up, because the girl took everything she could lay her hands on.
Witness was away from home in the month of June, and her aunt was left in charge of the house. When witness came home again her aunt said,”Do you know that Barbara takes things?" and witness replied that she had quite forgotten to tell her aunt to lock up everything. Her aunt said the girl had taken a bowl of soft sugar-holding about 1lb,-to the kitchen, and also 1Ib. of raisins, which she could not have used for the general household purposes. Witness spoke to the girl, who promised not to behave so in future.
She always denied having taken the articles at first, but admitted it afterwards and promised not to do the like again.
After coming home in June, the first Sunday witness was able to go to church she set stewed meat beside the fire before going away, and when she came back half of the meat was away.
(Laughter.) A pound of jelly had disappeared suddenly in the same way.
When questioned the girl began to cry, and said she would never do it again, because witness told her that she could not allow such a thing to pass again. Witness's husband also told the girl that she had got her last chance, and that if she took anything more, however small, she would be put away without any wager.
This was on a Saturday night. On the following Sunday they went to church, leaving the girl at home in charge of the youngest child, Before leaving the house witness had prepared 1 lb. of "mince" for dinner, and left it in the oven, telling the girl not to touch it. On coming home witness took the bowl out of the oven, and when she came to the table with it said, "Well, this is dreadful!’.
(Laughter.)
Her husband said, "What is it!"
and she replied, " Oh, never mind, this is Sunday."
He asked, " Are you certain that the servant took the meat?"
and witness replied, " Yes, don't you see the bowl; it is half empty."
(Laughter.)
Her husband called the girl, and she said she did not take the meat.
Witness said, "That is strange, and no one else in the house," and the girl at last admitted she had taken it. Her husband said he could put up with this no longer, and that the girl must leave the house. She was sent away on the Monday. Witness offered to give her the wages due to her up to the day of leaving, and was still ready to do so. The girl got plenty of meat -the same as everyone in service got. Cross-examined by Mr John Murray, advocate, as agent for pursuer. The girl was 13 years of age, and was about one year with witness, She came about the beginning of July, 1858, and was kept till last August.
The girl began "tasting" things as soon as she came. She first took a quantity of syrup and black currants.
(Laughter.) She told the girl it was a bad habit she had, and the girl improved for a time. The girl's parents lived three miles away. Witness never communicated with them, because she did not wish to send the girl away if she could help it. She always thought she would not have to complain of the girl.
A CANDID WITNESS.
Barbara Mine, the pursuer (who is only twelve years of age) said during the last half year her
Mistress spoke to her about taking things.
Asked - Did she speak to you about taking sugar? - Yes.
Was it the 1lb of sugar that you took? - Not a whole pound.
Did you promise not to take any more? - Yes.
Did you take any jam? - Yes. (Laughter.)
On Sunday, while your master and mistress were away at church, did you take mince?-Yes. (Laughter.)
How much mince did you take? Witness did not reply, but smiled sweetly.
The father of pursuer said he never received any complaint about her till she was sent home.
The defender Cu***ng called upon him, and said the girl had taken about "half-a-pound o' minsch"-(laughter)-that she had taken about a shilling's worth of raisins, and, he added, that "she had lang been ill for't, and she got ten thousand times waur."
(Loud laughter.)
The Sheriff, in giving judgment, said he was not surprised that the pursuer's father was disappointed that the defender did not speak to him before he turned the child away.
His Lordship thought it would have been kind and neighbourly upon defender's part if he had done that. but the question remained whether the defender was in law bound to keep the servant after the way in which she conducted herself, and he could not decide that point against the defender merely because he might have acted in a kinder manner to the father of the child. That defender was justified in dismissing the girl was as clear as could be.
The girl was bound to conform to the duties of her situation, and although she was quite a child, she knew perfectly that she had no business to take those little things that came in her way. When she persisted, the defender was entitled to put her away.
He would give decree for the sum she had worked for, but as defender was harsh in not speaking to her father and mother he would find neither party entitled to expenses.
