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Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 11 Sep 1861
Page 7 Column 1 and 2
TAUNTON GUILDHALL.
WEDNESDAY, September 4. - Magistrates: C. N. WELMAN and H. BADCOCK, Esqrs., and the Rev. W. J. ALLEN.
THROWING STONES AT A BEDROOM WINDOW. - Caroline HABERSTROH, wife of Mr. HABERSTROH, a jeweller, in Upper High-street, was summoned by Miss Merelina MOORE, residing with her mother, an aged and invalid lady opposite the defendant, for doing acts to the annoyance of the public. - Complainant said: I live in Upper High-street and the defendant resides opposite. On Sunday evening last, about ten o'clock, I was in my dressing-room facing the street with a light, and heard a quantity of stones strike the window. I left my candle and went into the next room, where there was no light. I saw the defendant come from the direction of her house, and go into the middle of the road and throw a quantity of stones against the window. She then ran back into her own house and shut the door. I opened the window and said I should send the police to her. I then put on my shawl and went across the road and knocked at the door, when two men came out and insulted me. I insisted on defendant's coming out, and she came. I said, “Mrs. HABERSTROH, how came you to throw stones at my window?” I don't know that she made any reply; but the men said that she had not done so, and were very impertinent. I then went home. Mrs. MOORE is an invalid. She was very much alarmed and rang the bell to know what was the matter. It disturbed her all night, and excited her so much that she was ill the next day. - The complainant having said that she had taken these proceedings entirely for her mother's sake, the magistrates asked her if she was willing to withdraw the summons on defendant's paying the expenses, and promising not to repeat the annoyance. - Complainant expressed her willingness to do so, and defendant having made the required promise, and paid the expenses, the summons was withdrawn.
EVADING TOLL AND ASSAULT. - CROSS SUMMONS. - John FARR was charged with fraudulently evading toll, and with assaulting William ATTWOOD, keeper of the Rowbarton turnpike gate. There was also a cross summons charging William ATTWOOD with assaulting John FARR. - Mr. F. TRENCHARD appeared for ATTWOOD. - William ATTWOOD said: I am collector of tolls at the Rowbarton gate. Last Friday night, about seven o'clock, defendant passed the gate with a little one-horse waggon. From what my wife told me, I went out and followed him and brought the waggon back to the gate. FARR followed me, and abused me for taking the waggon. I said “Why did you not pay your toll?” He said “I paid it in the morning as I passed.” I told him he had not. He then took out some half-pence and offered his toll. I refused it, as he said he had paid it. He threw it in the road. I did not see what became of it. He said he had paid the toll about half-past six in the morning. I took hold of his horse, and I refused to let him go on. He struck me across the hand with his stick, and left a mark which is there now. I then struck him with my stick several times. - Cross-examined: He said when he came to the gate, that his boy had paid the toll. - Elizabeth ATTWOOD said, I am wife of the last witness. On Friday evening, about seven o'clock, I was at the gate. FARR passed the gate, and I called out to him; but he did not stop nor answer. I followed him to the Railway bridge, and asked for the toll. He said he had paid it, and that he would not stop for anyone. No one had passed with that waggon during the day. My husband went after the waggon and brought it back. FARR followed him swearing, and threatening to break my husband's neck. He offered the toll, but as he said he had paid it in the morning, my husband would not take it. He threw it down in the road, and saying, “Now then,” struck my husband on the hand with a stick or whip. My husband struck FARR. - William Frederick ATTWOOD deposed that he took no toll from the defendant in the morning. - For the defence, Herbert POOLE said: I was at the gate on Friday evening about seven o'clock. Defendant and the gate-keeper were having some words, the latter saying that the toll was not paid. FARR said his son had paid it in the morning. FARR offered the toll, but ATTWOOD said he would not take it, unless the defendant would pay the boy for fetching him. FARR said he should drive away, and got into the waggon. ATTWOOD then took the horse by the head. FARR said he would make ATTWOOD leave go. He offered the toll to Mrs. ATTWOOD, but her husband forbade her to take it. ATTWOOD said that if defendant would pay the boy he would take the toll. FARR then threw the toll on the door step, and Mrs. ATTWOOD took it up saying, “I have got the toll, now pay for the boy, and my husband will let the waggon go.” FARR refused, and tried to drive the waggon away. ATTWOOD held the horse. FARR said if he did not let go he would hit ATTWOOD, who replied that if he did he would knock his brains out. FARR then struck ATTWOOD, who said, “That's what I wanted, and now I'll pay thee for it.” He came forward and struck FARR on the head with a stick with all his might. FARR staggered and fell on his back. ATTWOOD beat the defendant six or seven times. I helped FARR up on the waggon and saw him away safe. - The defendant said that his son brought the cart to him at Spaxton in the morning, and he supposed that he must have paid the toll at Rowbarton, but he had since found that his son had driven the cart by way of Staplegrove. He never saw or heard anybody as he passed the gate and he supposed it was all right. After he came back to the gate he told ATTWOOD that his son had paid the toll in the morning, but when that was denied he offered to pay the toll, when ATTWOOD refused unless he also paid 1½d for sending a boy on a message. He struck ATTWOOD a slight blow, upon which ATTWOOD struck him another which stunned him, and he believed several blows after he fell. He was taken to the Hospital and had the wound dressed, and he had been there every day since to be attended to. - FARR was convicted for evading the toll and fined 5s including costs, and both assault summonses were dismissed.
SATURDAY, September 7. - Magistrates: C. N. WELMAN, W. E. SURTEES, R. K. M. KING, H. BADCOCK, A. G. LETHBRIDGE, Esqrs., and Rev. W. J. ALLEN.
DESERTION. - Patrick BUTLER was brought up charged on his own confession with being a deserter from the 10th brigade of the Royal Artillery:- A mason named BELLAMY residing in Tangier, said that on the previous day while standing near the Market-House, he heard the prisoner, who was in conversation with another man, mention something about his being a deserter. He afterwards followed the prisoner down East Reach, and induced him to enter a public house, where he confessed that he was a deserter. After leaving the public house they met a policeman, when witness gave the prisoner into custody. - The prisoner was remanded for the purpose of communicating with the authorities.
BEER HOUSE OFFENCE. - Sarah JONES, beerhouse-keeper, of Norton Fitzwarren, was charged with keeping open her house for the sale of beer after ten o'clock on the night of Saturday, the 24th ult. - P.C. TROLLOPE said, that on the above-mentioned night about twenty-five minutes past ten he went to the defendant's house. He entered the front door, which was open, and proceeded to the kitchen, where he saw two men. Just as he entered the kitchen he saw the son of the defendant, who managed the house, bring out two glasses of beer and give one to each man. One of them tendered some money in payment. Witness said that the house ought to have been closed before. Mr. JONES made no answer, but turned round and went into the cellar again. A woman was in the kitchen, and Mr. JONES asked what she wanted. She said she wanted a pint of half and half. Mr. JONES drew some liquor, and having handed it to her, she carried it away. He did not see her pay any money. Witness said he should report what he had seen, and Mr. JONES said, “Very well.” He then left. - Mr. JONES, who appeared in answer to the summons, said he had a witness named Sarah TURNER, but as she did not answer, the magistrates inflicted a fine of £1, including costs.
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ALLEGED EXTENSIVE FRAUDS BY A CATTLE DEALER.
If the facts which have been pretty freely rumoured during the past week should be substantiated a case of the grossest fraud that has come under public observation for a long time past was perpetrated in Taunton market on Saturday week last, by a cattle dealer, named WINDEAT, residing, or giving the address of York Terrace, Holloway, London. The facts of the case appear to be these: For some few years past Mr. WINDEAT, who has a most respectable appearance, and possesses a good address, has been in the habit of attending Taunton and other markets in the west of England, where his purchases have been on a most extensive scale, his prices good, and his payments punctual. He was consequently much sought after by farmers who were always eager to do business with him. On Saturday week, which was our monthly great market, Mr. WINDEAT attended as usual, and bought freely at prices which were readily accepted. It is said that his purchases amounted to nearly £1400, for which he gave cheques on the Reading Branch of the London and County Bank. The sheep, for it seems that he bought no other stock, were immediately dispatched to London, whither he himself also proceeded. After his departure, and the sheep safely away, the farmers having assembled together as it is their usual practice, their conversation turned upon their friend the cattle dealer from London, and some alarm was excited when the extensiveness of his purchases was discovered, and grave suspicions that all was not right were aroused. Prompt action was resolved upon, and Mr. DENNING, of Comeytrowe, was requested on the part of the whole to proceed to Reading, present the cheques, and take any further proceedings that circumstances might suggest to recover their property or their money. The above gentleman immediately started for Reading, and on Monday morning presented the cheques at the Bank, when to his dismay he discovered that the cheques were worthless, there being no effects to meet them. He was, moreover, informed that some weeks previously WINDEAT's account had been closed, and that the manager of the bank had declined to cash his cheques or to receive further deposits. He then proceeded on to London, thinking that the dealer would take the sheep to the Metropolitan Cattle Market, Monday being the day on which that market is held. His arrival there was unfortunately too late, the whole of the stock having already been disposed of. Mr. DENNING did, however, by chance fall in with a Mr. SAWTELL, another cattle dealer, also well known in the west of England markets, to whom WINDEAT had sold about £200 worth of the stock. Mr. DENNING informed him of the circumstances under which WINDEAT had obtained the sheep, and SAWTELL, who expressed his deep sympathy and commiseration with Mr. DENNING and his friends, said that although he had paid for his stock he would endeavour to stop the cheque and hand over the money for the benefit of the entire body of farmers who alleged they had been defrauded in their transactions with WINDEAT. SAWTELL was not, however, able to perform his promise, the money being remitted to Saunder's bank at Exeter, to the credit of WINDEAT.
The following is a list of the gentlemen who had transactions with WINDEAT:- Mr. STEPHENS, Musgrove Farm, £60; Mr. BOND, Orchard Portman, £170; Mr. EDWARDS, Holway, £156; Mr. TAZEWELL, Moor Farm, £90; Mr. TEMLETT, Bishop's Hull, £30; Mr. RENDELL, Shoreditch, £105; Mr. GOULD, Priory Farm, £70; Mr. CHAPPELL, Bradford, sum not known; Mr. LOVIBOND, Meare Elm, £170; Mr. HALLETT, Swell, £150; Mr. DENNING, Comeytrowe, £168; Mr. HAWKINS, Bishop's Hull, £30.
On the result of Mr. DENNING's mission to London being made known to the other farmers, the professional advice of Mr. H. TRENCHARD and Mr. TAUNTON was obtained, and on Wednesday after the magistrates had disposed of the ordinary business, a warrant for the apprehension of the delinquent was applied for, and the facts of the case being mentioned, was readily granted, and placed in the hands of Sergeant JUDD for execution. He hastened to London and repaired to the Cattle Market where the object of his search was only too well known, but his whereabouts could not then be ascertained. Sergeant JUDD, in no way disconcerted, pursued his enquiries with indefatigable zeal, and on Friday morning obtained the valuable information that a large sum of money had been paid into Barclay's bank for the purpose of transmission to his credit at Saunder's at Exeter. Sergeant JUDD immediately telegraphed this to the Superintendent, who rightly judging that their quarry was in that city, telegraphed to Superintendent STEEL, who succeeded in capturing him at the bank. P.C. DERHAM was then dispatched to Exeter, and brought him to Taunton on Friday evening by the train arriving here at 6.33. A large number of persons assembled at the railway station to witness his arrival, and he was brought through the town while the crowds were waiting on the parade for the return of the volunteers.
On Saturday morning he was brought up at the Guildhall, before C. N. WELMAN, Esq., H. BADCOCK, Esq., W. E. SURTEES, Esq., R. K. M. KING, Esq., A. G. LETHBRIDGE, Esq., and the Rev. W. J. ALLEN, charged with obtaining by false pretences – namely, that a certain cheque was good and valid – from Abraham Bevis BOND, of Orchard Portman, eighty sheep of the value of £180; also from William TEMLETT, Bishop's Hull, forty-two sheep and £1, by a like false pretence; also from Benjamin Edward DENNING, eighty sheep, by a like false pretence. The case excited intense interest, and the hall was densely crowded during the hearing of the case.
Mr. TAUNTON and Mr. H. C. TRENCHARD appeared for the prosecution; the prisoner was not defended, but it was understood that Mr. P. O. H. REED of Bridgwater had been retained, though not in time to attend.
Mr. TAUNTON said that he appeared on behalf of Mr. BOND and other farmers to prosecute the prisoner on a charge of fraudulently depriving them of a quantity of sheep. Some of the gentlemen on the bench might remember that an information was laid by Mr. BOND on Wednesday last, when a warrant for the apprehension of the prisoner was granted. Pursuant to that warrant an officer was despatched to London, and succeeded in ascertaining that the prisoner was at Exeter, where he was apprehended the preceding evening. He did not now intend to go entirely into the case, it having been impossible in the time to obtain requisite evidence, but he would lay before the bench the facts of the case, and so much evidence as would reasonably warrant them in complying with his request to remand the prisoner for a week. The prisoner is a cattle dealer, residing at 13, York-terrace, Holloway, London, and has been in the habit of attending Taunton for a few years past. At the last great market he bought a quantity of cattle amounting to about £1200, for nine-tenths of which he gave cheques on the London and County Bank at Reading, the whole of which have been dishonoured. At the adjourned hearing he should be able to show that the prisoner took all the cattle to Islington Market and sold them on the following Monday, receiving payment for them not in the ordinary way, by the purchaser depositing the money at the bank at the market, and bringing him a ticket to show that he had done so, a practice adopted to avoid carrying large sums upon the person, but by receiving the cash or crossed cheques, which he put in his pocket and forwarded to Exeter, making no communication with the bank at Reading or with his creditors who held his dishonoured cheques. An officer was sent to Exeter, and arrested the prisoner at Messrs. Saunders's bank, where he had gone to receive a large sum of money which had been transmitted through Messrs. Barclay and Company. For a week previous to this the manager of the Reading Bank had had numbers of returned cheques of the prisoner, with all the trouble and bother of them, from all parts of the country. This being so, it was clear that this case was nothing more nor less than a gross swindle. He then called
Abraham Beviss BOND, who deposed: I am a farmer, residing at Orchard Portman. I was in Taunton market on Saturday last, and had sheep for sale there. I there saw the prisoner, who is a cattle dealer frequenting Taunton market. I believe he resides in London. I sold him eighty sheep at 45s. each, amounting to £180. He gave me a cheque drawn on the London and County Bank at Reading, which I have now in my possession. That was before the sheep were delivered. It was at Clarke's Hotel that the transaction took place. The prisoner took the cheque from a cheque-book. About ten minutes afterwards I went to the market and found the sheep were gone. I had not given my man (whose name is John COLLINS), who was in charge of the sheep, any order to deliver them to the prisoner. I was induced only to part with the sheep on the belief that the cheque was good. I paid the cheque into Badcock's Bank, in Taunton, the same day. I received the cheque back from Badcock's Bank on Monday or Tuesday. I received the cheque from Mr. SPRY. I now produce it. It is in the same state as when I received it. - (Cheque was read by Mr. PINCHARD.)
Cross-examined by the prisoner: The prisoner came to my pen about eleven o'clock. I said I had not seen him for the whole day before, but I did not say that I had wanted to see him. The prisoner did not say, “I have been buying very strongly to-day, and I don't know that I want any more.” He did ask the price, and I replied 48s. The prisoner then said he should not look at them at that price. I might have said that I should not abate anything till he had been into the pen to look at them. The prisoner offered me 44s., he never offered to buy at 42s. He did not tell me that he did not wish to buy.
Mr. PINCHARD: The Court desire me to ask you, Mr. BOND, if you have received any money for your sheep or on account of the cheque.
Witness: I have not received anything.
Benjamin Edward DENNING: I am a farmer, I reside at Comeytrowe, I hold a dishonoured cheque given me by the prisoner, which I produce. I went to Reading on Monday last and presented this cheque to the London and County Bank. I did not get any money for it, payment being refused. I brought it away again. From what I learned at Reading I believe that material evidence respecting this case may be obtained from there on an adjourned hearing. On the same day I went on to London from Reading and I have also reason to believe that further material evidence may be obtained from there.
The Magistrates then announced that they had resolved to remand the prisoner till next Saturday at eleven o'clock.
The prisoner, who said he was not very well, applied that he might be provided with better accommodation than the previous night.
Mr. GOLDSMITH informed him that he would not now be confined at the police station, but at the County Gaol.
Mr. BADCOCK said the police should speak to the Governor of the Gaol, who would do what he could for him.
The prisoner thanked the Magistrates.
Mr. PINCHARD (to the prisoner): It is my duty to inform you that a further charge will be preferred against you on Saturday next, for obtaining a quantity of sheep from Mr. RENDALL, of Shoreditch.
The prisoner: I would rather that Mr. RENDALL's case was proceeded with at once.
Mr. PINCHARD: That cannot be done. The magistrates will not remand you upon that charge. I have simply to inform you that Mr. RENDALL will prefer a charge against you on Saturday next, though the information will be laid to-day.
The prisoner: There was no occasion for the gentlemen to fear. I meant to be honourable and honest.
The prisoner was then removed, and was followed by crowds of persons to the gaol.
<NOTES: Sarah JONES is Sarah DUDDERIDGE, married Aaron JONES>