A VARIETY of crimes and misdemeanours came up before the Malvern magistrates 100 years ago.

For allowing three pigs to stray, Thomas Rimell, of Leigh, was fined six shillings and sixpence, including costs.

Labourer William Johnson, of Cowleigh Road, was fined 7s 6d for using indecent language in West Malvern Road.

The same charge faced Rose Cowles, of Guarlford, who was said to have used "particularly offensive" words to neighbour Frederick Fryer.

Although Mrs Cowles denied the charge as "wicked lies", the case was proved and she was fined 3s with 17s costs.

Edwin Smith, described as a gipsy, was charged with damaging turf on common land belonging to the manor of Malvern, by lighting a fire. Smith, "a nuisance to the neighbourhood", was fined 5s with 9s costs.

Flower seller Albert Bishop, of Court Road, was summoned at the behest of the urban district council for breaking the glass of a street light in Belmont Road.

He was fined 5s with 18s costs but told the court he had no money. He was imprisoned for a month.

Albert Brewer of the Lygon Arms, Link Top, was charged with "driving a horse and cart in a furious manner" and for "cruelly ill-treating, abusing and torturing the horse he was driving by violently beating it with a whip".

The defendant said his horse had been scared by a motorcycle. The second charge was dropped, but the first proved, and he was fined 5s with 10s costs.

However, it was not all crime - the magistrates also granted a drinks licence for an Oddfellows fete and made an order to transfer a "pauper lunatic" from Powick Asylum to one in Southwark, London.