Bug#82478: apt: Unhelpful error message when /var/cache/apt/lock exists

[John Dalbec <jdalbec@cboss.com>]

Package: apt
Version: 0.3.19
Severity: wishlist

Somehow I got a stray /var/cache/apt/lock file after an apt-get update.
I got these messages on apt-get update/upgrade:
E: Method http has died unexpectedly!
E: Tried to dequeue a fetching object
Removing /var/cache/apt/lock fixed the errors.
Perhaps a more informative error message could be issued in this situation?

-- System Information
Debian Release: 2.2
Kernel Version: Linux bill 2.2.17 #1 Wed Dec 20 19:30:40 EST 2000 i586 unknown

Versions of the packages apt depends on:
ii  libc6          2.1.3-15       GNU C Library: Shared libraries and Timezone
ii  libstdc++2.10  2.95.2-13      The GNU stdc++ library