James Brown and Joseph Wheatley Blench

James Brown and Joseph Wheatley Blench were served a summons on Wednesday 30th June 1880 to appear at Berwick Petty Sessions Court on Thursday 8th July 1880 for selling adulterated butter.

Both born in 1855, Joseph lived at 41 Ravensdowne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and James at 109 Main Street, Tweedmouth. They were both married with children, and they traded under the name of ‘Brown and Blench’  as wholesale and retail provision merchants of Bridge End in Berwick. This partnership had not been in existence long as this advert from November 1878 announced the opening of their shop there in premises formerly run by Miss Scott.

On the 15th June 1880, Brown and Blench sold a pound of butter to Mr John Garden, who was the Superintendent of Police. He had also recently been instated as an Inspector under the Food and Drugs Act.

He informed them that this butter was to be sent to the Public Analyst in Newcastle for analysis. The results received indicated that the sample was made up of 85% lard and the remaining 15% of other fats which are not to be used for making butter. Brown and Blench both claimed that the butter had been sold exactly as they had bought it and that the sample came from the two tubs of American or Canadian butter purchased by them from Messrs John Letham & Co., of Leith. Their solicitor, Mr Weatherhead asserted that they too had been swindled! Ultimately, however, the two men were fined £2, with £2 7s expenses, and the money was paid.

Feelings must have run high about the case and both sides felt aggrieved. A notice appeared in the Berwick Journal on 16 July 1880 from John Letham & Company stating their side of the story.

Illustrated Berwick Journal, 23 July 1880