From this newspaper 150 years ago

Impudent theft. Mary Brannan was charged at Darlington Police Court with stealing a pair of trousers and a vest, the property of Jno Potts.

Prosecutor, who is cabman, lives in Union-row. On Thursday, Mrs Potts was lying on the sofa in her own house, when she was astounded to see a woman suddenly enter the house, and snatch her husband’s trousers and vest from the table.

She immediately jumped to her feet, and asked Mrs Oates, her neighbour, to run after the thief. Mrs Oates had noticed the prisoner (who is a woman about 50, and bore a very dejected appearance) come out of the prosecutor’s house, and she rushed after her as soon as she was told by Mrs Potts the nature of her errand.

Near the Sun Inn she met PC Raine by whom the prisoner was apprehended immediately afterwards with the property in her possession.

The officer charged her with the theft, and she answered, it was want that made her do it. She now pleaded guilty, and was committed to gaol for two calendar months’ hard labour. – Supt.

Robson mentioned the fact that the prisoner had been deserted by her husband in August last, and that she had a child seven or eight years of age, which he had sent to the vagrant ward of the workhouse. He likewise stated that the prisoner was enceinte.

The bench were inclined to remit a part of the punishment on learning the condition of the poor wretch, but after weighing the matter over they came to the conclusion that she would be better done to in gaol than in her poverty-stricken state she could hope for out of gaol.

From this newspaper 100 years ago

The 36th annual report of Rutson Hospital, Northallerton, shows that during 1913 the patients admitted numbered 129.

This was far in excess of the admissions in any previous year, and compared with 1912 shows an increase of 37. Sixty-seven operations were performed, and of these 31 were major operations. All the cases were discharged cured. The daily average number of patients was 0.4 compared with 5.3 in 1912, showing an increase of 4.1.

Donations amounted to £112 13s 8d more, but this amount included several special donations. Patients’ payments increased from £85 13s 6d in 1912 to £161 6s 9d. The debt on the hospital general account has been largely reduced by the efforts of the Hon Mrs Hutton by the bazaar she promoted. £403 2s 6d being placed to the credit of the hospital. The balance-sheet shows that the expenditure for the year was £876 15s and with a balance due from the previous year of £305 3s 11d, made a total of £1,181 19s 2d.

After deducing the £402 2s 6d made by the bazaar, the receipts are nearly £100 short of the annual expenditure.

From this newspaper 50 years ago

Strong determination to continue the publicity campaign for tourist development in the Yorkshire Dales was expressed at an enthusiastic meeting of the Yorkshire Dales Tourist Association held at Kettlewell on Monday.

There was severe criticism of the attempts being made by some local authorities to dissipate the effort by forming a separate local authorities’ organisation, and they called upon all who have a genuine interest in tourist publicity for the Dales to support the established tourist association so that by their whole-hearted co-operation a great deal more could be accomplished.

In a comprehensive report which had been prepared on the role of the Yorkshire Dales Tourist Association in a wider county organisation, it is stated that some people are inclined to regard tourist publicity as a province governed exclusively by local authorities, and while it was admitted that local authorities should be actively interested in these matters, the meeting considered that there was ample evidence to prove that except in those cases where town councils were in a position to pay for professional staff to deal with publicity and advertising, the people directly concerned with the tourist trade were better equipped in experience and outlook for publicity organisation than groups or rural and urban councillors.