Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 06 Dec 1899
Page 6 Column 4
BRIDGWATER.
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BOROUGH POLICE-COURT, Monday. - Before the Mayor (Mr. T. GOOD) and Mr. T. MANCHIP. - Edward SEALEY, Walter LETHERBY, Harry GILBERT, Harry THYER, Lewis MEAKER, and Edward George GRIFFIN, boys, were summoned for disorderly conduct by playing football in the streets on November 23 rd. - They pleaded guilty, and were dismissed with a caution. - Henry BELL, wood turner, of Liberty-place, and Eliza BELL, his wife, were charged with causing unnecessary suffering and injury to the health of their six children, named Kate, Arthur, Edith, Ernest, Christian, and Olive, by neglecting same on November 15th and divers other dates. - The husband did not appear, it being stated that he was ill in bed, and the case was heard only against the wife, who pleaded not guilty. - Mr. E. H. WATSON, of Taunton, solicitor to the Taunton and West Somerset branch of the N.S.P.C.C., prosecuted, and called Inspector SAMPSON, who deposed to finding the respective children nearly all in a deplorable condition, filthy, and swarming with vermin. The house was also in a dirty condition, and the bed in which four of the children slept was in a disgusting state, and had no clothes on it. - The wife made several untrue statements, and admintted that her husband allowed her 15s a week. - The Bench considered the case one of gross negligence, and committed the woman to prison for 14 days. The summons against the man was withdrawn. - William SMITH, labourer, of Honeysuckle-alley, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly on the 25th November, and was fined 5s and costs, or seven days. - John KIRK and Robert MANNING, labourers, were summoned for being on the licensed premises of the Cock Inn during prohibited hours on the 6th November, and were dismissed on payment of costs.