Sarah
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 27 Nov 1889
Page 5 Column 3 and 4
TAUNTON POLICE COURT.
WEDNESDAY.
Before the Mayor (Alderman G. SAUNDERS), the ex-Mayor (Alderman H. J. SPILLER), Colonel ALLEN, Mr. R. H. SEARS, Mr Wilfred MARSHALL, and Mr W. BARRETT[?].
THE THEFT FROM A GROCER'S SHOP.
George HILL (60) was brought up on remand charged with having stolen two florins, the property of George BENNETT[?], of High-street.
Sabina BENNETT, wife of prosecutor, was sworn, and the evidence given by her on the previous day was read over, additional details being stated respecting the size of the window through which she looked and saw the prisoner.
P.C. SHEPHERD stated that he went in search of prisoner, and saw him at the corner of South-street. As soon as prisoner observed witness he turned and went up Alma-street. Witness went after prisoner, who got behind a pillar and watched witness, and afterwards went into the Alma inn. Witness followed him into the inn, and put several questions to him, but obtained no answer whatever. Witness then led him outside, and wrote in his notebook the words, “Do you belong to the town,” being under the impression that prisoner was deaf and dumb. Prisoner nodded in the affirmative[?], and witness then wrote down the words, “Are you deaf and dumb?” In reply, prisoner again nodded. Witness took prisoner to prosecutor's shop, and Mrs BENNETT said, “That is the man. He came into the shop, and took the two two-shilling pieces out of the till.” Prisoner then spoke for the first time, and denied that he had ever been in the shop before, adding, “I don't know nothing about no two-shilling pieces.” On searching prisoner at the police-station witness found 8s 10½d in his possession. Prisoner would not give his name, and did not do so until he was brought before the magistrates on the previous day.
Prisoner stated to the Bench that he was ill-used at the police-station, and that was the reason why he refused to give hs [sic] name. P.C. SHEPHERD “knocked him down, and put his fingers in his mouth.”
P.C. SHEPHERD, recalled, denied having ill-used prisoner in the least degree.
Prisoner added that he was so ill-used that he shouted “Murder.”
P.C. SHEPHERD said he did not know why prisoner called “Murder.” He did so while he was being searchedr [sic].
Mr DURHAM gave details respecting the position prosecutor's shop and kitchen, and of the till and counte [sic] which he stated he had examined on the previous day. Prisoner had had opportunities of complaining to witness of ill-treatment, if there had been any, but he had not made the slightest complaint respecting the matter.
Prisoner elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. He added, “I was out of my mind at the time I did it. I'm a poor old man, gentlemen, so please be lenient.”
While the Bench were considering as to the sentence they should pass, the prisoner burst into tears, and knelt down in the dock, with his hands clasped in the attitude of prayer. His conduct occasioned considerable amusement, for it was evident that he was “playing the hypocrite.” Upon sentence of three weeks' hard labour being passed, prisoner was profuse in his expressions of gratitude, and exclaimed, “That's something like gentlemen, that is.”
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.
George TUCKER[?], a young man, described as a labourer, pleaded guilty to having been drunk and disorderly in East-reach on the night of the 13th inst., and was fined 5s and costs. - P.C. REDWOOD proved the case.
CASE WITHDRAWN.
Eli PIKE, sweep, of Upper High-street, was summoned for having assaulted Robert SELLICK, a boy of twelve years of age, on the 13th inst. - Annie CHALK, wife of Edwin CHALK, of St. James's-street, said that the boy SELLICK was her brother. - Before the evidence had been taken, defendant agreed to pay 5s to the Hospital, and 2s 6d, the cost of the summons, and the case was accordingly withdrawn.
FRIDAY.
Before the Mayor (Alderman G. SAUNDERS), and Mr. R. H. SEARS[?]).
A PERFORMANCE THAT WAS NOT APPRECIATED.
Wm[?]. COLTHRUP, described as a circus man, mountebank, and conjuror, apparently between forty and fifty years of age, was charged with having on the 21st inst., stolen a pair of scissors, value 2s 6d, the property of Emily ROGERS. – Prosecutrix said she was the wife of Urbane ROGERS, landlord of the Seven Stars inn, East-reach. Prisoner came to the inn on Thursday afternoon and asked for a bed[?]. He was afterwards supplied with some drink, and took a seat at the kitchen fire. Witness was at work in the kitchen with a sewing machine, and was using a pair of scissors. Witness left prisoner for a few minutes to serve a customer, and on returning missed the scissors. In prisoner's hearing she said she could not find her scissors, and asked her little girl if she knew where they were. Prisoner thereupon said, “Then I can have a bed,” and left at once. Prisoner told witness that he had left his circus at Plymouth, and was now “doing a few tricks at public-houses on his own account.” After prisoner had left, witness told Mr ALLEN, of the Telegraph inn, who was in the house, that she had lost her scissors. - Elizabeth ALLEN, wife of Thomas ALLEN, of the Telegraph inn, said that on Thursday afternoon prisoner came to her house and sold the scissors to a man from Chard for 3d. He afterwards “did some conjuring tricks.” Witness told her husband about the matter when he returned, and he obtained the scissors back from the Chard man. - P.C. SHEPHERD proved arresting prisoner on Thursday evening at the Royal Marine inn, where he was performing conjuring tricks. Prisoner was abusive and said, “You are locking me up because I have stolen a pair of scissors, worth 3d.” - Prisoner elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. - He was sentenced to a month's hard labour.
SAVAGE ASSAULT ON A POLICEMAN.
George HOLMAN, a Taunton man, and John SMITH and Albert KIMBER, two sailors on leave of absence from H.M.S. Shannon, were charged on a warrant with assaulting P.C. BOURNE on the previous day. SMITH and KIMBER were further charged with being drunk and disorderly at the same time and place. HOLMAN pleaded not guilty, but SMITH and KIMBER pleaded guilty to both the charges against them.
Complainant stated that at 11.15 p.m. He was on duty in North-street, and saw KIMBER and SMITH, both of whom were drunk and behaving in a disorderly manner. They assaulted a man named CHAPMAN, and witness tried to take them into custody. KIMBER threw witness on the ground. Witness rose, and was about to place his handcuffs on KIMBER, who was also on the ground, when SMITH and HOLMAN seized witness, shouting “Let the man go.” Witness let KIMBER get up; he at once struck witness three or four times in the face, giving him a black eye. KIMBER escaped from witness's hold, and when witness blew his whistle for assistance he snatched it out of his mouth. CHAPMAN came to witness's help, and they took SMITH to the police-station, while KIMBER was afterwards apprehended by P.C. KELLAWAY. Witness was positive that HOLMAN was one of the men who assaulted him, and he had known him for months. He could not swear to having seen HOLMAN's features, but he knew his clothes and voice. - Thomas Goldsworthy CRUMP, who witnessed the occurrence, also gave evidence, but said he could not swear to HOLMAN. In defence, HOLMAN said he was in bed at the time, and had two witnesses to prove it. -The Bench gave HOLMAN the benefit of the doubt, and dismissed him. KIMBER and SMITH were each fined £2, including costs, for the assault, and 8s 6d, including costs, for being drunk and disorderly. The money was paid.
SATURDAY.
Before Colonel ALLEN (in the chair), Major BARRETT, Mr. A. A. SOMMERVILLE, Mr R. H. SEARS, and Mr Wilfred MARSHALL.
TRANSFER.
The license of the Bear inn, Upper High-street was transferred from Charles COURT to Percy KING and George SCARLETT.
STEALING APPLES.
Thomas HOLLY, an old man, was summoned for stealing, on the 12th inst., a quantity of apples, value 2s, the property of Mr William TAZEWELL, of Moor Farm. Wm. HAYES, carpenter in Mr TAZEWELL's employ, gave evidence. - Defendant pleaded guilty. - Mr DURHAM said defendant had had six months for fowl-stealing, and had twice been convicted of stealing greens. - Fined 10s[?] and costs.
[For remainder of police-court reports see district intelligence].