Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 12 Dec 1888
Page 5 Column 6
TAUNTON POLICE COURT.
WEDNESDAY.
Before Mr R. A. KINGLAKE (in the chair) and Mr T. WALSH.
THE ALLEGED THEFT FROM AN EMPLOYER.
Charles POTTER, farm labourer, was charged on remand with stealing on December 3rd or thereabouts, at Taunton, a bag containing a quantity of chaff and mangolds, of the value of 3s, the property of Messrs Fry and Sons, farmers, of Shoreditch; and Henry BURDGESS, gardener, of Ruishton, was charged with feloniously receiving the same knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. E. F. PAULL appeared for POTTER, and Mr C. BERE for BURDGESS.
P.C. STUCKEY resumed his evidence. After locking up BURDGESS he went to the latter's house at Ruishton and made a search. In the outhouse he found two sack bags, produced. Afterwards he went to Mr FRY's farm at Ruishton, and found there the prisoner POTTER, who looked after the horses and their forage. Witness asked POTTER, “Where did you get that bag of chaff that you placed in the stable at the Blackbrook for BURDGESS?” Prisoner denied having put anything there. Witness then chargep <sic> him on suspicion with stealing the bad and chaff, and brought him to the Taunton police station. When the charge was made POTTER said, “I didn't steal it. BURGESS must have taken it off my waggon while it was stopped outside the Blackbrook.”
A.S. CULLIFORD, who was in the charge-room when the prisoners were brought in, said, in answer to Mr PAULL, that POTTER denied having put the bag and chaff in the Blackbrook.
James COLES identified the bag as belonging to Mr FRY.
Jane VICKERY, servant at the Blackbrook, said she knew both prisoners and saw them at the inn on Saturday afternoon last.
Mr Wm. James FRY said prisoner had been in the employ of witness and his father. He identified the mangolds as his property but could not swear to the bag. The value of the bag and its contents was 3s.
Mr
PAUL, for POTTER, and Mr BERE, for BURDGESS, urged that their clients
were entirely innocent, and went through many details of the evidence
in support of their contention.
The magistrates retired, and on
returning fined each defendant £1, including costs, or 14 days.
SATURDAY.
Before Mr R. A. KINGLAKE (in the chair), Major BARRETT, Mr T. WALSH and Col. ALLEN.
APPLICATION.
Mr E. E. ORAM applied, on behalf of Mr DEE, landlord of the Winchester Arms, for permission to supply refreshments at a Cinderella ball to be held at the Parade Assembly-rooms on Wednesday, the 12th inst., and the same was granted.
AN UNGRATEFUL HUSBAND.
Walter OATEN, painter, of Seven Stars-court, East-reach, Taunton, who had been apprehended under a warrant, was charged with having on the 5th instant assaulted his wife, Ellen OATEN. - Prisoner pleaded not guilty. - Prosecutrix deposed to the prisoner having come home drunk and beat her. Through his doing so constantly she often had to walk the streets all night. - P.C. SALMON said that on the previous Saturday night he was on duty in East-reach, when the prosecutrix called for his assistance. He went to her house and found the door locked, and her husband in bed. The prisoner came downstairs in his shirt, opened the door and let his wife in. He was under the influence of drink, but his wife was quite sober. Witness had received several complaints as to the ill-treatment of the woman. She was a collar worker, and maintained her husband, who was too lazy to work. She was a quiet, sober woman. - Mr DURHAM put in a long list of previous convictions against the prisoner, who was sentenced to three weeks' hard labour. He was also ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for six months, himself in £10 and two sureties in £5 each; if unable to find the sureties he was to undergo and additional 21 days' hard abour <sic>.
<NOTES: Walter OATEN son of Henry
OATEN and Sarah BENNETT, married Ellen DYTE and Catherine Louisa or
Kate WILKINSON
Ellen OATEN is Ellen DYTE daughter of William DYTE
and Ann, married Walter OATEN>