Taunton Courier 23 Jan 1889 Taunton Police Court inc SATURLEY WHITE THOMPSON EDWARDS KIMMINS BULL DUCKWORTH PURCHASE Wood Street EAMES CARTER FROST SUMMERHAYES

Sarah Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper Articles


Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 23 Jan 1889

Page 5 Column 5


TAUNTON POLICE COURT.

WEDNESDAY.

Before the Mayor (Mr H. J. SPILLER), Mr. R. A. KINGLAKE, and Mr T. WALSH.

A NIGHT REVELLER.

George SATURLEY, tinman, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly in Noble-street on the 9th inst. - Defendant pleaded guilty. - P.C. REDWOOD proved the case, stating that the offence was committed at 1.30 a.m., and the defendant gave a great deal of trouble before he went home. - A fine of 5s and costs was inflicted.

HIS FIRST OFFENCE.

William WHITE, photographer, of Taunton, was summoned for using bad language in Pigmarket-court on the 8th inst. - P.C. GRANT said that directly he spoke to the defendant he went quietly away. - As it was defendant's first offence he was fined 2s 6d, with 5s costs.

ALLEGED THEFT OF WORKMEN'S TOOLS.

John THOMPSON, a tramping painter, was charged on remand with having stolen a spirit level, value 7s 6d, the property of George WEBBER, carpenter, 62, Albemarle-road, on the 2nd inst. - From the evidence it appeared that the level was left in some buildings in course of erection at Rowbarton, together with some other tools, in an upper room. On going to work next morning prisoner found that the level was missing. Most of the other tools in the room had the owner's names stamped upon them, but he had not put his name of the level for fear of injuring it. Prisoner, who had been seen hanging about the town, was suspected of the theft, and a description of him and the stolen article was immediately circulated throughout Somerset and the neighbouring counties. Prisoner was arrested by P.C. RICH at Highbridge on a charge of begging. The spirit level was found in his possession, and he accounted for it by saying that he bought it from a “fellow traveller” five miles from Bristol. The following morning, at Weston-super-Mare, he said he had bought it five miles from Highbridge. He was sentenced by the Weston-super-Mare justices to 10 days' hard labour for begging, and on being released from gaol was re-arrested on the present charge. Prosecutor identified the level as his property. P.C. RICHARDSON was the Taunton constable concerned in the case. - Prisoner was committed for trial at the next assize.

THURSDAY.

(Before the Mayor, Alderman J. SPILLER).

A PEDLAR'S LICENCE CONCEALED IN HIS CLOTHES.

Thomas EDWARDS, hawker, was charged with having given false information in applying for relief. P.C. SHEPHERD stated that the previous night prisoner called at the station for a ticket to admit him to the casual ward of the workhouse and gave the name of Thomas BROWN. On searching prisoner the officer found a pedlar's licence concealed in the lining of the back of his trousers, on which was the name of Thomas EDWARDS. Prisoner admitted that he had given a wrong name. The Mayor said there evidently was no reason why prisoner should conceal his identity, and he would dismiss him on his promising to leave the town; this the prisoner promised and he was discharged.

Lady Eva QUIN, who has been shooting in Upper India seems to have had good sport. She has killed no fewer than five tigers.

SATURDAY.

Before Mr R. A. KINGLAKE (in the chair), Major BARRETT, Mr E. CHISHOLM-BATTEN, Mr F. M. NEWTON, Mr H. HULME, and Mr Alfred MELLOR.

A SAD CASE.

Joseph KIMMINS, footman, of Taunton, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly in High-street, Taunton, on the previous night. - Defendant pleaded guilty. - A.S. CULLIFORD stated that he was in company with P.C. KELLAWAY about 12 o'clock on the previous night, when he received a complaint from a woman that the defendant had been following her about. He soon afterwards found the defendant leaning against some shutters in High-street. He advised the defendant to go away, but he would not do so. He shouted and behaved in a disorderly manner, and several times refused to go away. He was led away by P.C. KELWAY, and he then came back and was taken into custody. - Mr DURHAM said the defendant was one of a family of ten, and he was the first of them that had ever occupied this position. - Mr KINGLAKE advised the defendant to take the pledge and keep it. - Fined 7s 6d and 3s 6d costs.

VACCINATION CASES.

Charles BULL, of Bishop's Hull, was summoned for disobedience of an order requiring him to have his child Annie vaccinated. - Mr. E. J. VENNING appeared for the defendant, and pleaded that there had been no public vaccination since the order was made, and therefore there had been no opportunity of carrying it out. - Fined 10s and 6s costs. - James DUCKWORTH, schoolmaster, of Portland-street, Taunton, was summoned for having neglected to have his child John Whitaker Waldo DUCKWORTH vaccinated. - Defendant pleaded guilty, and an order for the vaccination to be carried out in 14 days was made, defendant to pay 4s costs. - Defendant said he would never have the child vaccinated although the order had been made. - Francis Robert PURCHASE, of Wood-street, Taunton, was summoned for disobedience of an order requiring him to have his child Francis Robert vaccinated. - Defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 10s and 5s costs. - John EAMES, of Portland-street, Taunton, was summoned for disobedience of an order requiring him to have his child Gertrude vaccinated. - Mrs EAMES appeared and pleaded guilty. - Fined 10s and 5s costs.

MONDAY.

Before Mr R. A. KINGLAKE.

DRUNK AT THE POLICE-STATION.

George CARTER, a tramp, was committed to Exeter prison for seven days, in default of paying a fine of 5s and costs, for having been drunk in Upper High-street. - Sergt. BROWN said that on the previous evening prisoner applied at the police-station for a tramp ticket for the workhouse. Prisoner was drunk, and witness told him that the workhouse authorities would not admit him in that condition. Prisoner replied that if he could not get a ticket he would beg, and he therefore left the station. Owing to his condition he was apprehended in Upper High-street. He used very obscene language, and during the night tore up his trousers and shirt, and application had to be made at the workhouse for a pair of trousers before the prisoner could be brought before the bench.

TUESDAY.

Before the Mayor (Mr H. J. SPILLER), the ex-Mayor (Mr S. FARRANT), and Mr R. A. KINGLAKE.

JUVENILE THIEVES IN TAUNTON: “A REGULAR YOUNG JACK SHEPPARD.”

A sharp-looking little boy named Francis FROST (11), son of a labourer named Francis FROST, living in Woodford's buildings, Pigmarket, was charged with having, upon that morning, stolen 2½d from a till at the shop of Mrs BROMSGROVE, baker, High-street.

Prosecutrix said that at 8.15 that morning she looked through the window between her back room and the shop, and saw prisoner behind the counter with his hand in the till. She ran into the shop and seized him, but he broke away from her and ran off. A young man named COURT, who was outside, went after the prisoner and brought him back. Witness said “What have you taken?” At first the prisoner replied “Nothing,” but afterwards he said he had taken 2½d. He also volunteered the statement that he had been to several shops and done the same thing.

Charles COURT, labourer, said that when Mrs BROMSGROVE gave the alarm he followed prisoner to a house in Pigmarket, from where he took him back to the shop. Prisoner showed witness where 2½d was hidden under a brick in the water-closet.

Mr DURHAM said that prisoner had confessed to having committed several robberies within the past month. He stole 6s at the Queen's Arms in East-street, some of which money he gave to another man, and some to his mother.

Mrs FROST (who was in court): No, sir, I haven't received anything.

Mr DURHAM: Well, you hear what he says. Proceeding, Mr DURHAM said that soon after that prisoner stole 5d in Pigmarket-lane, and also 1d at NICHOLS's. He kept watch while a younger boy named SUMMERHAYES stole 3s, and together the two boys also stole 6d from NICHOLS's, 1s from LOCK's, 5d from another place, the top of a loaf from one of the carts of the Norton Bread Company, a loaf from Mr. GILL's cart, and a loaf from another cart.

Mr KINGLAKE: He's a regular young Jack SHEPPARD.

Mr ALMS: Do you know the character of your son?

Mrs FROST: No, sir, but he stops out at nights.

Mr KINGLAKE: When was he last at school?

Mrs FROST: They wouldn't have him because of his behaviour.

Mr ALMS: Did you have any of this six shillings?

Mrs FROST: Not a penny of it.

Mr DURHAM applied for prisoner to be sent to the union, so that in the meantime he might make arrangements for having him sent to an industrial school. He mentioned that there seemed to be a regular gang of these boys, who had been guilty of many thieving acts. The boy SUMMERHAYES, who was only six years old, had also stolen 10s from the till at the Squirrel inn, but in consequence of his extreme youth nothing could be done to him.

Mr DURHAM's application was granted.


Back to Miscellaneous Page

Back to Home Page