John D was a Blantyre miner, whom in 1892, was living at Barnhill. I’ve redacted his surname for the telling of this story.
It takes place in May 1892 at Blakely’s Pub in High Blantyre, which at the time was an even older pub (before the current one) on that same site at the corner of Main Street and Broompark Road. John D had been in the bar and whilst the barman went to stand at the door, John reached over the bar and helped himself to a ‘half mutchkin’ of rum.
Taking the tumbler back to his seat, he was spotted by the barman with the recharged glass. When the publican approached and accused him, John D made a scene, caused a distrurbance and used ‘a lot of filthy language’ which saw the need to fetch authorities.
In court, later that week, the judge reminded John D this wasnt the first time he’d done this, and so, a jail sentence of 10 days was appropriate. This rare photo shows the inside of Blakelys back in 1894 just 2 years later when the new, current pub was being built.
