Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 08 Mar 1899
Page 5 Column 8
TAUNTON POLICE-COURT.
WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor (Alderman W. GOODLAND) and Dr. E. LIDDON.
A CHARGE OF FURIOUS BICYCLE RIDING. - Percy J. BARNICOTT, of Taunton, pleaded not guilty to a summons charging him with furiously riding a bicycle. - P.C. WOOD deposed that on the morning of the 23rd February he saw the defendant furiously riding along High-street into Taunton. He passed a lady who witness reckoned was riding at the rate of eight miles an hour, and he turned the corner of High-street by the Devon and Somerset Stores at the rate, witness estimated, of between 12 and 14 miles an hour. A man had to get out of his way to avoid being knocked down. - Defendant said he did not think he was going at more than eight miles an hour, and it was not possible for him to turn the corner at the rate the constable had mentioned. He had never had an accident during the whole time he had been riding, and at this particular time, about nine o'clock in the morning, there were few people about. - The Bench allowed the summons to be withdrawn on defendant paying the costs, 3s 6d(?).
NON-VACCINATION. - THE FULL PENALTY. - Edwin F. PENNY, of Portland-street, did not appear on an adjourned summons with respect to the non-vaccination of his child. - Mr. SLOMAN, who appeared on behalf of the Guardians, mentioned that the case had been adjourned for defendant to carry out his promise to have the child vaccinated, but witness had had no certificate stating that the vaccination had taken place. - Defendant was fined £1 and costs.
TEMPORARY TRANSFER. - The license of the Oxford Inn was temporarily transferred from William PORTER to Arthur TROTT.
A LODGER'S LITTLE TALE. - Thomas Alphonso MILLS, a shabbily genteel dressed young man, was charged on a warrant with obtaining, with intent to defraud, food and lodging, to the value of 7s 6d, from Mrs. Elizabeth TAYLOR on the 27th February. - Superintendent DURHAM, who conducted the case on behalf of the police, stated that at the present time the prisoner belonged to the Somerset Militia. He was a native of Bristol, but for some time past he had been in Taunton idling his time away, and keeping questionable company. Some time since he had been left about £100, and while that lasted he had enjoyed himself. It appeared that on the previous Sunday afternoon prisoner, who gave the name of JAMES, called at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth TAYLOR, who let apartments at her house in William-street, Rowbarton, and had a card in her window to that effect. He said he had just come from London in answer to an advertisement by Mr. E. T. ALMS, solicitor, for a clerk, and intended to go and see him the following morning. He had no luggage. Mrs. TAYLOR told him that she did not take in lodgers on a Sunday, and he agreed to stay at an hotel that night. He went to her house the next morning (Monday), had his breakfast there, consisting of bread, butter, cake, and tea. After his breakfast he went out with the intention of going to the office of Mr. ALMS in Hammet-street, and returning to dinner said he had got the appointment subject to a settlement as to salary. When he came in to tea he said this was all arranged, and he agreed to become a lodger at 13s a week with board and extras. He slept there that night, and next morning has his breakfast as usual, and then went out, giving the impression that he was going to business. Prosecutrix, however, became suspicious, and went the same morning to the office of Mr. ALMS, when she found out that nothing there was known about the prisoner. She next obtained a warrant, which was executed by Sergeant PARSONS. - Mrs. TAYLOR, who stated that she was the wife of James Henry TAYLOR, then gave evidence bearing out the statement. She had no money whatever from prisoner while he was at her house, and she was induced to take him without a reference on the statement that he was going to get employment at Mr. ALMS'. - Mr. E. T. ALMS, solicitor, and clerk to the borough magistrates, next gave evidence, and stated that he had no knowledge whatever of the prisoner, nor knew anything of him. - Sergeant PARSONS spoke to arresting MILES on a warrant. He admitted at the time that he had made false representations to Mrs. TAYLOR, but not with the intention to defraud. He said he had spent all the money coming to him, and did not like to send for more until it became due. If a wire were sent to his friends at Bristol the money could be got. Witness had known prisoner about the town during the past six months as having no fixed occupation. - Prisoner, in answer to the charge, pleaded guilty to the false representations, but with no object to defraud. He gave a false name as he did not want to be known in Taunton. When he had his money he was staying for a portion of the time at the Prince of Wales Inn, Paul-street, Taunton, and as people, he said, were in the habit of going there and having quarts of beer and cigars in his name and unknown to him, and as, moreover, people, he declared, used to come there and ask him to pay their Police-court fines, he went to live out of the town for some time. He then returned in another name, not for the purpose of defrauding, but so as to get rid of the people who were surrounding him. He then took lodgings at the house of the prosecutrix, and said it was his intention to pay her. - Committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions, bail allowed subject to the approval of the police in his own surety of £20 and two sureties in £20 each. - During the hearing of this case Mr. E. T. ALMS abstained from taking part therein, save as a witness.
SATURDAY. - Before Colonel W. O. MEADE-KING (in the chair), Mr. Jeffreys ALLEN-JEFFERYS, Mr. W. G. MARSHALL, Major-General EMERSON, and Mr. R. BRUFORD.
SHOWING A CONSTABLE AN UP-COUNTRY TRICK. - George BRAGG, an iron moulder, of Taunton, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Middle-street on the 3rd inst., and to assaulting P.C. LOVELL while in the execution of his duty at the same time and place. - On the previous night at about a quarter to 12 P.C. LOVELL saw defendant in Middle-street drunk and he was making use of very bad language. The constable remonstrated with him, but instead of going away defendant took off his coat, and told him he would show him a trick he had practised 200 miles up country. He also threatened to knock the constable's brains out. P.C. LOVELL then apprehended him, and in the scuffle that ensued defendant kicked him. Defendant attributed his conduct entirely to drink. - Superintendent DURHAM said that usually the prisoner was well behaved, but he got into company, and the mixing of his drinks made him wild. - Defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs for being drunk, and 5s and costs for the assault, 14s 6d in all.
EDUCATIONAL. - Edwin HILES, of North Curry, was summoned for not sending his child regularly to school, and an order was made against him.
SUNDAY POACHING. - Frederick CADDY, George CADDY, and Thomas CADDY, youths, of Cutliffe, Pitminster, were summoned under the Poaching Prevention Act for having poaching nets and wires in their possession, and also for trespassing in search of rabbits on Cutliffe Farm, in the occupation of Mr. HURFORD, on the 26th ult. - Defendants pleaded not guilty, but, according to the evidence of P.C. GUPPY, the three defendants were seen on Cutliffe Farm at half-past 11 the previous Sunday, and they caught a rabbit from a hole in the hedge. They also tried several other rabbit holes. The constable subsequently searched the defendants, and on Frederick he found a net and three rabbit wires, on George three nets, but on Thomas he found nothing at all. When asked for the rabbit they had caught they fetched it from home close by. - The defendants said they saw the rabbit while they were out, and caught it. - The magistrates, however, fined them 5s and 2s 9d costs each.
VACCINATION. - Edmund DARE, chair maker, of North Curry, was summoned for not having his child vaccinated. - He pleaded guilty, giving as his reason that he objected to vaccination. He applied for an exemption, but was two days too late to obtain a certificate. - Mr. MEDWAY, vaccination officer for the district, stated the facts, and he was fined 10s and costs. - William DOSTER(?), labourer of Stoke St. Gregory, for a similar offence, was fined 12s 6d and 5s costs; and Charles WYATT, carpenter, Stoke St. Gregory, was fined 10s and 5s costs. - George Henry MANNING, carpenter, of North Curry, and Walter T. COLEMAN, oil merchant, of Creech St. Michael, were also summoned for not having their children vaccinated. - Mr. MEDWAY in these cases applied for orders against the defendants, which were accordingly made, and they were also mulcted in the costs, amounting to 6s each.
AN UNRULY APPRENTICE. - Frank BIRD, a blacksmith, of Stoke St. Gregory, applied for an order under the Employers and Workmen's Act, instructing Frank RENDELL, an apprentice, to perform his duties in accordance with the deed of apprenticeship executed by him. - RENDELL admitted that he had not properly performed his duties, and applicant stated that the boy had not put in an appearance at his smithy at all since the 21st ult. - The Bench cautioned the boy, and made the order applied for.
VACCINATION EXEMPTIONS. - Vaccination exemption certificates were granted to Charles PAVEY, gardener, of Norton Fitzwarren, and Samuel Charles SHATTOCK, railway porter, of Staplegrove, but the application of Frank N. GREENSLADE, farmer, of West Hatch,was refused, owning to his not producing the birth certificate.