Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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The Somerset County Gazette, Bristol Express, and Devonshire News. Saturday 20 Oct 1877
Page 6 Column 1 and 2
TAUNTON POLICE COURT.
SATURDAY. - Before Mr. H. BADCOCK, chairman; Capt. DOVETON, Mr. R. Arthur KINGLAKE, Mr. BATTEN and Mr. A. MALET.
A DESERTER OR NOT A DESTERTER? - Alfred WEBBER was brought up, on remand, on suspicion of being a deserter from the army. Prisoner denied that he was a deserter. - Supt. GOLDSMITH stated that since Tuesday he had communicated a description of the prisoner to the War Office, and he had received a letter from the Secretary of War, asking that the man might be remanded for enquiries to be made. Whilst in the police-station for a short time with a fellow prisoner he told him that he had deserted from the F Brigade of Royal Artillery, in India, eleven months ago, and had worked his passage across to Portsmouth. Prisoner now stated that he was discharged from the Royal Artillery, in January, 1875, previous to which he had been imprisoned for 672 days, at Lucknow, India. He was discharged with ignominy at Portsmouth, in the name of Alfred GILL. He had lost his discharge. - Prisoner was remanded, so that the Superintendent might enquire as to the truth of this statement, which was made for the first time since he has been in custody.
CONTRIBUTIONS. - John HARE, labourer, was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute towards the support of his step-son, Isaac PARKHOUSE, who is detained in a reformatory at Surrey. Supt. GOLDSMITH stated that the defendant earned 15s. per week, was married and had a wife and one child dependent upon him. Defendant said he was not in a position to contribute, but the magistrates ordered him to pay the small sum of 6d. per week. - James WESTCOTT, smith, was also summoned to show cause why he should not pay towards the support of his daughter, Mary WESTCOTT, who is confined in the reformatory at Exeter. Supt. GOLDSMITH stated that the wages of defendant would be from 24s. to 30s. per week. Defendant's wife was present. She sad it would be impossible for her husband to pay anything. She had a lot of children home. In reply to Supt. GOLDSMITH she said three out of six children were at work. The magistrates made an order for 1s. 6d. per week.
MONDAY. - Before the Mayor.
CASES OF SUSPICION. - Talbot PEARCE, shoemaker, of Street[?], was charged with stealing four pairs of “leather uppers,” the property of Messrs. Cyrus and James CLARK, boot manufacturers, of Street. The robbery was alleged to have taken place twelve months ago. - James CANN, shoemaker, stated that he met the prisoner about twelve months ago at VENNER's beer-house, Taunton, when prisoner said he had some “uppers,” and asked if witness would pledge them for him. Witness said he would try, and prisoner then handed him three pairs. Witness pledged them at Mr. Van TRUMP's for five or six shillings, and handed the money to prisoner, who gave him the ticket. About a month ago he saw prisoner at his (witness's) house, when he said that someone had been making a row where he was living, and had thrown out certain insinuations, and he had come down to caution him (witness), as he did not want him to get into trouble. Prisoner also said that BESLEY had told him he could put him up with Mr. OAKLEY. Not long after he had pledged the uppers he transferred the ticket to Mr. MOORE, and he received eighteenpence for it. Three or four months ago witness made up a pair of patent uppers for Mr. F. VENNER similar to the uppers he pledged for the prisoner. - Mary Ann VENNER said about a year and nine months ago prisoner came to her house with a pair of uppers, and asked for her husband. Witness replied that he was not in. Prisoner then said, “You will do just as well; I know I owe you some money, and I've made Fred a pair of uppers.” Witness replied, “All right; you should not have troubled about that.” She then received a pair of patent uppers, the same which A.S. BEST produced, made up into shoes. - Sergeant Walsingham HALL stated that on that morning he went to prisoner's house at Street. He charged prisoner with stealing some uppers and lasts from Messrs. CLARK. Prisoner said he knew nothing about them, and his book would show that Witness asked him, “Do you know anything about a pawn-ticket that a man name MOORE had, in High-street, Taunton?” Prisoner replied, “I know nothing about any pawn-tickets.” He then arrested the prisoner. - Francis J. CLARK, in the employ of prosecutors, said his employers had lost a large number of boots within the past two years. The uppers and shoes produced by A.S. BEST were the property of Messrs. Clark. They could not have been sold by the firm. In a dozen of work he prisoner might have had thirteen pairs of uppers. Prisoner took material off the premises to make up, which was booked to him, and he was supposed to return the goods made up. - Cross-examined: Every man in the employ has to “clear up” monthly. Prisoner, however, had not “cleared up” since August. - Edwin MOORE stated that about eighteen months ago he received a pawn-ticket from CANN. He bought it, and redeemed two or three pairs of uppers from Mr. Van TRUMP's. - Mr. H. J. Van TRUMP said he remembered some uppers being pledged. They were redeemed by Edwin MOORE about two months after. - The Mayor, considering the evidence insufficient, discharged the prisoner. - William SLOCOMBE, shoemaker, of Taunton, was charged with feloniously receiving a pair of “uppers,” two pairs of lasts, one leather strap and buckle and a set of cardboard patterns, the property of Messrs. Clark, of Street, from a person unknown. - A.S. BEST said he went with Mr. CLARK and Sergt. SELF to prisoner's house in East Reach, and searched it. Mr. CLARK picked up a pair of lasts, and said to SLOCOMBE, “How did you come by those?” Prisoner replied, “Different people have been working in my house, and they may have left them.” Witness searched some drawers, and found the slippers and buckle-strap produced. Prisoner said he could not tell where these things came from. Mr. CLARK said, “They are our property.” SLOCOMBE said, “There is no doubt that is Mr. CLARK's. It was brought here by a man named SEARLE and left some time ago.” - Prisoner said they were brought to his house by SEARLE a long time ago. - The uppers of the slippers produced were identified as belonging to Messrs. Clark. - The Mayor remarked that this was a case of strong suspicion, but he did not consider there was sufficient evidence to justify him in convicting. - Prisoner was then discharged.
<NOTES: John HARE son of James HARE and Sarah BURGE, married Sarah TOWLER
Isaac PARKHOUSE son of James PARKHOUSE and Sarah TOWLER, married Julia DEANE>