ON MONDAY September 19, 1870, before Andrew Jameson, the Sheriff Clerk of Alloa, Christina McFarlane or Cram, wife of Peter Cram, a local mason, stood accused of stealing 6lbs of apples from the garden of the Cambus distillery owner Robert Moubray in Cambus.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge, but the case was postponed as no witnesses were able to attend the court that day.

On Wednesday, the 21st, the court reconvened.

The first witness called for the prosecution was Moubray's gardener David Muir. He told the court that he had been standing at the door of his house at around one o'clock when he spotted Mrs Cram walking along the road towards Moubray's garden.

Another local, Jessie Wright, spoke to him and said something that instigated his investigation at the garden.

There he spotted fresh foot pints by an apple tree. As soon as he noticed this, it was his intention to head into Alloa to report it but as it happened, he bumped into the local chief constable John White.

Jessie Wright, the daughter of the local excise officer in Cambus, stated that she knew Mrs Cram, and a fortnight earlier had seen her as she passed her mother's house with two apples in her hand, the branch of a plum tree, and her apron full of something, Mrs Cram offered her the two apples that she had in her hand, but her mother would not allow her to take them.

She told the Wrights that she had been at Blackgrange but as the girl had seen her at one o'clock, she knew that was impossible.

Another witness, William Keir, had also seen Mrs Cram's apron full of something as he stood watching her from the draff-house of Moubray's distillery. Without asking, she threw him an apple.

White then took the stand. He told Jameson he had been made aware of the incident on the Friday afternoon and found Mrs Cram in a public house in Tullibody.

When he searched for the fruit at her home, he found an apple of the same variety grown by Moubray in a drawer, with some damp earth clinging to it.

Along with the boot print that matched the one by the tree, he had enough to charge her with theft, and apprehended her.

She protested her innocence but finally admitted she had indeed taken, and eaten, some apples.

Jameson was satisfied the case had been proven and sentenced her to six days in jail.