Hertfordshire's courts deal with thousands of cases every year, and it was no different back in the early 1900s.

Some of these cases seem bizarre now, so here are five historic St Albans crimes that you won't believe actually happened.

1. Without a leg to stand on

We start in January of 1916, with 40-year-old William Ray.

The tailor was known for having an artificial leg, and pleaded guilty after being found with tools to conduct a break in in St Albans on November 23, 1915.

Tindal-Atkinson, for the prosecution, said that late in the evening of November 23, local residents, Mr James and his mother, were going into the residential part of their house when they discovered the thief, and "his replies were not satisfactory".

He was later taken into custody.

At the police station, a flash lamp, a tin of treacle and other articles were found on his person. 

Later it was discovered that other items were thrown over the fence by the prisoner including a jemmy (short crowbar), a priser and the blade of a table knife .

The one-legged bandit also had a large number of previous convictions and, on this occasion, was sent to prison with hard labour for three months.

2. Man hits 50th conviction

James Vickers, 52, was indicted for stealing five wash leathers at a total value of 2 shillings 6 dimes.

The theft took place in the shop belonging to Charles Bennington, of George Street, St Albans, on the October 30, 1909. James Vickers pleaded guilty to the charge.

Forrest Fulton, appearing for the prosecution, stated that James Vickers had spent twelve years of his life in prison and that this would be his 50th conviction.

The Magistrates sentenced Vickers to twelve months’ hard labour.

3. Fatal cart race led to Peahen pub inquest

At the end of February 1820, two Chester & Holyhead mail coaches were racing along the highway near St Albans, when George Butler, the driver of the Chester Mail, deliberately turned his leaders across the other driver's track.

The Holyhead mail crashed and overturned resulting in the death of William Hart, the parish clerk of Hagley, in Worcestershire, who was travelling on the outside of the coach.

Several other people were left injured after the crash and the two drivers were quickly apprehended. An inquest followed that was held at the Peahen Inn at St Albans where the defendants were indicted for manslaughter.

At their subsequent trial in August 1820, they were found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

4. Knicker theft on the high street

In October 1915, Annie Elizabeth Coles, 32, who worked as a polisher, pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of knickers from the counter of St Albans pawnbroker William Joseph Butcher, on June 17.

Prosecutor, Tindall Atkinson said the offence was committed between 10 am and 12noon, and when confronted by (on-foot) PC Ward in a pub, she admitted to stealing the garment.

She was then sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.

5. The case of the stolen fowls

A case which caused "considerable interest" at the time (1917), involved 49-year-old Charles Addington, a restaurant proprietor of St Albans who was indicted with receiving three fowls.

The birds were the property of Susan Tuck, and on February 15, and Addington received them despite knowing they were stolen.

J.H. Murphy prosecuted and Tindall Atkinson defended.

George Young, 78, was charged with the initial fowl theft and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.

During the trial, the events were revealed. The fowls were stolen from the premises of Tuck in Hatfield Road, St Albans. 

One night Young went to Addington’s and asked for sixpence for a night’s lodging, and the next day he turned up with three fowls, with the story that he could not afford to keep them.

Addington bought them for 6 shillings and he told police that the same man sold him a couple of fowls about a week ago.

It was heard by the court that no questions were asked by the defendant as to where the fowls came from.

Detective Sergeant Paine visited one of the prisoner’s shops, and saw one of the stolen fowls hanging up in the bakehouse. 

The defendant gave evidence, and said he had no suspicion that the fowls were stolen, and he paid a fair price for them.

A jury returned a verdict of not guilty after a quarter of an hour’s deliberation, and the accused was discharged.