(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY) 
Stolen Bank money found on beach
A BURIED cache containing over $3,000 in notes was dug up on Crane beach , West Coast Demerara,  recently.
The money has been identified as part of $7,697 stolen from the Hastings Branch of the Royal Bank of Canada last year.
The money was found by 33-year-old Frank Wilson, a fisherman of Crane St. Phillip who dug up the notes while digging for crabs. He later handed them over to the Police.
Mr. Derek Davis, acting manager of the Royal Bank of Canada, who saw the notes said: “The notes which were found by the fisherman were those which were stolen from the Bank in September of last year.
(Guiana Graphic: October 1, 1961)
Garden killer
GARDENER, Alfred Edwards was fined $1,324 for poisoning to death 698 prize chrysanthemums.
(Guiana Graphic: October 2, 1961)
Man gets $200
– then is killed
A MAN who was given $200 in compensation by his former employer was killed the same night.
After receiving the money, for injuries to a leg, he decided to have some drinks before going home.
So he went into a parlour where he had ‘a few’. He came out of the parlour and sat on the railway track at the Leonora West Coast Demerara crossing.
That was on Saturday night.
Early next morning, his mangled body was found.
The West Demerara Police said that Manoel Vieira, a 48-year-old wood grant worker, was killed by a train.
Superintendent  ‘Dick’ La Borde, Officer-in-Charge of West Demerara, has issued an appeal to people not to sit on railway tracks and road bridges.
He said that the practice was very prevalent in West Demerara, and appealed to people to stop, in the interest of their own safety.
(Guiana Graphic: October 12, 1961)
Buffalo slacks
Men: Step out in style at the forthcoming BG Festival in Buffalo Nu-fit slacks and rugged Western Jeans. With every Buffalo you buy, you get a free coupon to enter the $1,000 competition.
Buffalo is sold throughout BG @ $6.95 & $7.95.
Manufacturer/Distributor on Lombard St. Gobin’s. Dial 4344.
(Guiana Graphic October 8, 1961)
Man deserts wife for niece
A WIFE who was deserted for the youthful charms of her 17-year-old niece has been granted a decree nisi by Chief Justice Mr. J.A. Luckhoo in the divorce court.
Mrs. Ruth Meusa, caretaker at the Labour Department in Georgetown, and her husband, Joseph Meusa were married in November 1958.
They lived happily together until the next year when she took her niece in their D’Urban  Street, Lodge home.
Mrs. Meusa said she quarreled with her husband for forcing a friendship with the girl while she was away at work.
She told the court that her husband did not deny it, but became more daring with the girl, even when she was at home.
The niece was sent away, but since then, the husband has left the marital home and has not returned.
(Guiana Graphic: October 9, 1961)
40 fowls and a Mayor
FORTY FOWLS were in court yesterday when the Mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. JG Pimento appeared on charges of receiving stolen fowls.
On trial with the Mayor is 34-year-old Dennis Thomas.
Four small farmers told the Magistrate, Mr. Mungal Singh, that fowls which they lost were found in the Mayor’s pen.
One of the farmers, Madramootoo, said he reared fowls for his own use, and marked them by cutting off their claws.
On July 12, two cocks and six hens were stolen from his pen, and on the following day, he found them in Mr. Pimento’s pen.
But in reply to Mr. Hanoman, who appeared for Thomas, Madramootoo admitted that he did not have any real mark on the fowls, as the claws had grown back.
Lilian Briggs, a domestic of Stanleytown, said three of her hens were stolen on July 12.
When invited to inspect the Mayor’s pen, she identified her hens.
Adelaide Williams, a seamstress of West Canje, said that after she lost two of her fourteen fowls, she found them in the Mayor’s pen.
Mrs. Lucille Gibson, housewife of New Amsterdam who had lost three hens and a turkey, said:”I found them in the Mayor’s pen.”
The trial continues next Monday.
(Guiana Graphic: October 17, 1961)
Running ace is late for his wedding
BRITISH Guiana and West Indies long distance champion, George de Peana, who has broken two West Indian records, was late for his 7am wedding yesterday.
His lovely bride, the former Leila Bouyea, had to wait outside the new St. Pius X Church for almost six minutes before the bridegroom, accompanied by bestman, Sandbach Parker sports organizer, Neil Moore, rushed in.
It was the first wedding at the new church, blessed less than one month ago.
Leila, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Bouyea of East Ruimveld, wore an elegant gown of traditional satin and lace.
(Guiana Graphic: October 1, 1961)
Short-weight butchers fined
MAGISTRATE Clifford Baburam imposed fines totaling $200 on four butchers, three provision vendors and one grocer for having unjust scales and weights.
This was as a result of a successful campaign waged by revenue officer, Mr. CR Franker.
Dealing with one of the cases, the Magistrate said: “It is my conclusion that this is a skilful deliberate and clever trick on your part  to defraud your customers.”
He had found Mohamed Baksh, a butcher of East Ruimveld Housing Scheme, guilty of tampering with his weights machine. His scale was two ounces out.
The Magistrate ordered that Baksh’s scale be confiscated. In addition, he has to pay a fine of $44.
Also confiscated were two other scales from W Prince, of Bourda Market, and S. Alladin of West Ruimveld Housing Scheme.
Their scales were half-ounce and two ounces out respectively.
The other offenders, Robert Benjamin, W Johnson, C DaSilva, Balram and H Khan, were each fined for having unjust weights.
(Guiana Graphic: October 17, 1961)
N.A. Mayor freed in fowl case
MAYOR JG Pimento was freed yesterday in the New Amsterdam fowl case.
But the Police gave notice of appeal in open court.
Mr. Pimento and labourer Dennis Thomas were set free because Magistrate Mungal Singh found that although the Mayor of New Amsterdam was found with seven stolen fowls, there was no satisfactory and reliable evidence to show how he came into possession of them.
“I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Pimento’s explanation has raised doubts in my mind, and I do not feel sure of his guilt,” the Magistrate said after scrutinizing the defendant’s statement as to how he came into possession of the fowls.
He was giving a decision at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on a no-case submission  by defense counsel who, a week ago, had refused to lead a defense and had relied on the submission of the case in which Mr. Pimento and Thomas were accused of receiving stolen fowls.
Dismissing the charges against the Mayor and Thomas, Mr. Singh ruled that Thomas, who was accused of taking the fowls to the Mayor’s home, was never in the possession of the seven fowls.
The Magistrate explained: “In order to establish the offence of receiving, it is incumbent that the prosecution prove that the fowls were stolen, that the fowls were received by the defendants, and at the time of receipt, they knew that they were stolen or unlawfully obtained.
But Senior Superintendent of Police Carl Austin, who prosecuted, said: “I desire on behalf of the complainant, Cpl. Liverpool, to give notice of appeal in the presence of the defendants.”
Mr. Bhiro Persaud, who appeared for Mr. Pimento, said: “I don’t believe that the
legal advisers for the Crown would think of appealing after reading the evidence.”
Mr. Austin said: “I am acting on the advice of the legal advisers.”
The Magistrate put in: “Each of us has to do his duty. I have just finished doing mine.”
(Guiana Graphic: November 8, 1961)
(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or by telephone: 657-2043)