Taunton Courier 13 Dec 1882 Taunton Police Court includes Remarkable Bastardy Case William GRILLS and Jane OATEN of Canon Street

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Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser Wednesday 13 Dec 1882

Page 8 Column 2


TAUNTON POLICE COURT.

WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor (Mr Jonathan BARRETT), Mr W. E. SURTEES, Mr R. A. KINGLAKE, Mr Peter TAYLOR (ex-Mayor), and Mr W. H. FOWLER.

THE LONDON HOTEL.

Mr STEED made application for an extension of hours for the county and dress balls.

The application was granted.

ILLEGAL HOURS.

Robert HANDELL, of the Masons' Arms, Magdalene-street, was charged with selling beer during prohibited hours, on the 3rd December.

Defendant pleaded guilty, and also to a similar offence in October, 1878.

Supt. GOLDSMITH said the defendant kept a public house in Magdalene-street, near the Post-office. On Sunday morning Sergeant DICKS met a man coming out of the house, and he requested him to go in again, and he did so. The sergeant saw a bottle projecting from his pocket, and on taking it out found that it contained beer. He asked defendant where the beer came from, and he replied, “I don't know.” He afterwards acknowledged that the defendant came in for a quart of beer and paid 4d for it.

Mr TAYLOR, who defended, said the defendant pleaded guilty, but he hoped the bench would see the difference between an offence like his and that of the man who harboured men on his premises during prohibited hours.

Superintendent GOLDSMITH said he could only wonder that any man should be so mean and despicable as to say that the police sent the man to get the beer.

Defendant denied that he had ever said so.

The ex-Mayor asked whether the defendant was in the habit of selling during prohibited hours.

Mr GOLDSMITH: I can only say that we have not detected him. I cannot say more. I have received several letters, many of them anonymous.

The Bench fined the defendant £2 and costs, and cautioned him that if he came up again his license would be endorsed.

EJECTMENT ORDER.

Mr POOLE made application on behalf of Mr C. J. TURNER for possession of a cottage at Staplegrove, held by a tenant of his, named Martha NATION.

Mr TURNER said that the cottage was let to the tenant about eighteen months ago. There was a written memorandum, but no lease. The rent agreed upon was 1s 6d a week, and one month's notice had to be given by either party. He had given her notice frequently, but she had not given up the tenancy.

The application was granted.

REMARKABLE BASTARDY CASE.

William GRILLS, pensioner, was summoned by Jane OATEN, a woman above the middle age, to show cause, &c.

Complainant said she lived in Canon-street, and the defendant was in the habit of sleeping at her house with her for three days a week.

Mr TAYLOR, who appeared for the defendant, elicited from the complainant that she had frequently been to prison for felony, and that she was under police supervision. She denied that she had ever kept a brothel in East-reach, and that she allowed the visits of any other men.

Mr TAYLOR submitted that there was no reliable evidence, and that the character of the complainant was not such as would justify the bench in making any order.

Defendant said he had not anything to do with the complainant for more than twelve months. During that time he saw another man come out of her house.

The bench declined to make any order.

SATURDAY. - There was no charge sheet.

TUESDAY. - Before the Mayor.

ALLEGED THEFTS OF CLOTHING.

Henry DAVEY, a discharged soldier, was charged with stealing two waistcoats in Taunton, on the 2nd December.

The defendant was remanded until Saturday, for the purpose of obtaining a prosecutor and witnesses, and when a further charge will be gone into, it being alleged that on the 5th December the defendant stole a large quantity of clothes from his father, William DAVEY, of Withycombe Mills, and his brother, Ephraim DAVEY.


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