Sarah
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The Chard and Ilminster News and Somerset, Dorset, and Devon Advertiser. Saturday 04 Sep 1886
Page 5 Column 3 and 4
Ilminster.
<section not transcribed>
PETTY SESSIONS, - FRIDAY. - Before Mr W BLAKE (chairman), Mr W SPEKE, Captain BLAKE, Colonel LANGWORTHY, and Mr J W SHEPHERD.
A TRADESMAN IN TROUBLE. - Joseph CHAPMAN, butcher, Ilminster, was summoned, but did not appear, for being drunk and disorderly in Ditton Street, on July 31st. - Supt. SELF deposed to being called to defendant in that public thoroughfare at 10 p.m. About 6.30 on the same evening, at the request of Mr CHASE, he prevailed upon him to leave the George Hotel, where he was creating a disturbance. - Mr E PAULL, who appeared on defendant's behalf, urged the excuse that he had been induced to the excess through falling in with a friend who was going abroad. He asked the justices to take into account also the defendant's character as a highly respectable tradesman. - The Bench imposed a fine of 10s and 6s costs.
BOUND OVER TO KEEP THE PEACE. - Frank KEATES labourer, Curry Mallett, was summoned by Albion WHAITES, farmer, also of Curry Mallett, for using threatening language towards him on August 21st. - Mr H PAULL was for complainant. - It appeared that some short time before defendant's son met with an accident, and that complainant was asked to convey him to the hospital, but had to decline, the whole of his horses being, as he alleged, out at work. On the evening in question, shortly after nine o'clock, defendant visited complainant at his house to thank him for his kindness in the matter. He was asked for an explanation, when, according to complainant's story, he threatened that if the latter came out he would split his head in two. - The evidence of P.C. COLES showed that KEATES used a threat with regard to complainant when he was served with the summons. - Defendant pleaded that Mr WHAITES was in a position to take his son to the hospital if he had chosen to do so. - The Chairman: That is no reason for going and abusing and threatening him. - Defendant: I didn't. - The Chairman: He says you did. - Defendant: He would swear a white horse is a black one in a minute. - The magistrates bound defendant over to keep the peace for six months.
MUCH OBLIGED TO THE POLICEMAN. - Fredk. COOMBES, journeyman saddler, East Street, Ilminster, was summoned for being drunk and incapable in New Road, on August 1st. - P.C. HORNER was the officer in the case. He stated that at 11.15 p.m., he found defendant lying in the centre of the road helplessly drunk, and, having assisted him up, took him to his home. - The Chairman asked defendant if he had anything to say. - Defendant: Merely that I was not in the middle of the road. (Laughter). - The Chairman: You don't know where you were. (Renewed laughter). You ought to be obliged to the policeman. - Defendant: I was very much obliged to him, sir, and so I am now. (Laughter). - The Chairman: You must pay 5s. Don't come here again. - Defendant: Thank you, sir. It will be a caution, I hope. (Laughter).
OFFERING A COW AS A PRESENT. - William STROUD, South Petherton, pleaded not guilty to an information charging him with being drunk and disorderly at that place on the 17th inst. - Acting-Sergeant FRANCIS made a somewhat lengthy statement in support of the charge. From this it would seem that he was passing through West Street about 11.15 in the evening, and there came across the defendant, a Mr RUSSELL, and a man named SPRAKE. He was induced by a remark from the defendant to stop to enquire what was the matter, when he was subjected by the accused to not a few rather offensive personal remarks, which ended in his being requested to go on about his business. He passed on, but afterwards again saw the defendant, who was then only accompanied by RUSSELL. Defendant commenced another conversation with witness, in the course of which he invited him to go across his farm, stating that if he would he would give him a cow. He declined the invitation, when defendant, altering his tone, threatened to give him two smacks across the head. The officer swore that defendant was considerably the worse for liquor. - Mr H PAULL appeared for the defence, and handed in a letter from Mr WILLY, defendant's employer, denying that the accused was the worse for liquor at 20 minutes to 11. - John RUSSELL supplemented this evidence by swearing that neither was he in that condition when he had the conversation with the policeman. - The magistrates dismissed the case. They, however, cautioned defendant to be careful what he did in future. - Defendant: If the officer had not come and looked into my face I should not have spoken to him. - The Chairman: Well, there seems a little doubt in the case, and we give you the advantage of it.
A BALLARD SINGER FINED. - Jas. WHITE, of Pitney, South Petherton, described as a travelling ballad singer, was summoned for fighting on the licensed premises of the Bell Inn, South Petherton, on Aug. 14th. - Acting-Sergeant FRANCIS and Mr J BEST, the landlord, proved the case. - Defendant, who did not appear, was fined 10s and the costs, the alternative being fourteen days' imprisonment.
THE RESULT OF THE DRINK. - Abel TRIBLEY, Kingsbury Episcopi, a labourer, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly there on July 37th <sic>. - P.C. STENT gave evidence that defendant, who has frequently figured before the Court, had previous to the day in question been a total abstainer for six months. During that time he conducted himself in a quiet, respectable way, and got a nice home together. Since he had broken out again, however, the good effects produced by his steadiness had been undone. - Defendant promised that he would take the pledge again. - The Chairman advised him to do so, but pointed out that unless he kept it he would reap very little good. - Defendant was allowed a month to pay a fine of 10s and 6s costs.
DISPUTE ABOUT WAGES. - Mark MALE, James MALE, and Charles GREENSLADE, all labourers, of Barrington, were summoned by P.C. STENT for being drunk and disorderly at Kingsbury Episcopi on August 11th. It appeared that the defendants had been engaged by Mr E J JENNINGS, farmer, to cut a quantity of corn at a price previously agreed upon. They refused to proceed further, however, when they had cut about half of it, and demanded payment at the rate of 12s each. Mr JENNINGS offered them 9s, which they refused to accept, whereupon he sent for the policeman in whose presence they again refused the 9s. They then left the farm, and, according to the officer, conducted themselves in the street in a disorderly manner. He declared that they were all drunk. - A question from the Bench elicited that on the day in question the accused, with the assistance of two other men, consumed in all six gallons of cider. - A fine of 4s was imposed in each case.
DRUNKENNESS. - Wm. HAWKINS, of Yeovil, a railway employee, for being drunk and disorderly at Kingsbury Episcopi, on August 1st, was fined 10s and 5s costs.
AN UNSUSTAINED CHARGE. - John BEALEY, labourer was summoned by Elizabeth BEST, a young woman, for using threatening language towards her on July 25th. Both parties lived at Shepton Brauchamp <sic>. - Complainant's case was that she was leaving the New York Inn, where she had been for her sister, when the defendant took hold of her in an improper manner. Because she then spoke to him, asking him what he meant by such conduct, he put himself in a threatening attitude, but was prevented beating her by his cousin. He said, however, that he would twist her neck off if she said anything. - Defendant denied the truth of any of this evidence. - He called Mrs WELCH, who was in the public house at the time with her husband, and who declared that it was her husband who took hold of complainant in the passage. - The Chairman: Did you see him? - Witness: Yes, sir, I did see it. He took hold of her by the shoulder, as a friend would, and always being neighbours together. - The justices dismissed the case.
ANOTHER CASE OF DRUNKENNESS. - William HARRIS, labourer, The Butts, Ilminster, was summoned at the instance of P.C. HORNER, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly in East Street, and was ordered to pay a fine of 5s.
NO SCALES. - John LEE, baker, Isle Abbots, was summoned for dealing in bread without weight. - On August 20th, about four p.m., Supt. SELF saw defendant's lad delivering bread from a cart, and asked him if he had any weights and scales. The lad looked in the cart, and, failing to find any, observed that his master must have forgotten to put them in. Defendant pleaded that it was an omission on his part that the weights and scales were not there. He thought the law with required bakers to carry them a very hard one. - A fine of £1, including costs, was imposed.
(An abridged report of the above appeared in our last issue.)