[About two years before their mother’s death], the boys were caught stealing apples at a farm near the city. They were with a gang of boys, all about to swarm up the tree and pick the apples, when the farmer appeared. The gang took off, leaving Paul stuck up a tree. Mike ran back to help him, and the farmer caught both and, with a show of great indignation, locked them up in his barn, then called their father.
Jim came out and the farmer explained his situation. “Not that their such bad kids, but maybe you want to teach them a lesson.” Jim did, and in front of the barn he and the farmer put on an act for the boys inside. In raised voices they discussed the possible consequences of the theft–‘do you think they’ll get a long sentence?’ Should we spank them now and not call the police?”
Julius Fast, The Beatles: The Real Story, 1968
We used to do our fair share of knocking off apples in a nearby orchard –it was called Chinese Orchard and it was in Horseshoe Woods. That day there were four of us altogether— Paul and I, a neighbouring tearaway called Roger the Dodger–and our shaggy dog, Prince.
We were doing very nicely when Prince suddenly started barking. We turned and saw a man lurching towards us, shouting. We all dropped the apples and ran. Prince got clear and Roger the Dodger vaulted the fence like a greyhound and I wasn’t far after him. But Paul, because of his weight, got stuck on top of the fence and couldn’t get over in time. The man grabbed him and yelled after us: “Come back, all of you or I’ll take it out on your pal!” Trust me, of course. Like a nutter, I ran back. The man locked us both up in a dark shed until Dad came for us. This time he simply read us the riot act–which made a greater impression on us than half a dozen hidings.
Mike McCartney, Portrait of Paul, Woman Magazine, 1965
In Their Own Words 