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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 31 Mar 1909
Page 2 Column 5
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
WEDNESDAY. - Before Mr. H. J. BADCOCK (in the chair) and the Mayor (Alderman J. G. PRICE).
FOWL STEALING AT HOLMAN CLAVELL.
Two fowls, a “Plymouth Rock” and a “Black Orpington,” both alive and clucking, played an important part in a case in which Thomas BROOK, a labourer, of Bishopswood, Otterford, was charged with stealing the fowls.
John HUNT, licensee of the Cogwheel Inn, Holman Clavell, stated that defendant was at his house on Sunday evening last. The same evening, about nine o'clock, he found his fowl-house, on the opposite side of the road, had been broken into, and that two fowls were gone. Defendant left the inn between seven and eight p.m. on the evening in question.
Harriet HUNT, wife of the prosecutor, stated that they kept over a hundred fowls. She identified the birds (produced) as their property, the one a “Plymouth Rock” and the other a “Black Orpington.”
Henry SHIRES, a labourer of Otterford, gave evidence that defendant had been lodging with him about a month. On Monday morning he found two fowls in a shed at the back of the house. The police subsequently fetched away the fowls.
P.C. JONES gave evidence that in consequence of a complaint he received from the prosecutor on the 22nd inst., he subsequently saw the defendant at Pitminster. Witness took him to the Holman Clavell, and found that the boots defendant was wearing corresponded with the footprints round the fowl-house. Defendant exclaimed “Yes, that is my footprints; I can't deny it.” He expressed regret at what he had done, but said he could not remember anything about it. Witness charged him with stealing the fowls, and then took him to Taunton.
Defendant pleaded guilty, and said that he had had the neuralgia last week, and had been drinking a good deal. He had not been able to get much sleep.
James HUNT (re-called) said that defendant had not bee drinking much at his house, and seemed quite right on Sunday.
Superintendent STOKER stated that defendant was a native of Long Ashton, and there were several previous convictions against him there.
Defendant was fined 10s, or seven days, and was given till Saturday next in which to pay.
SATURDAY. - Before Mr. John WHITE and Mr. R. BRUFORD.
THE USEFUL PROBATION ACT.
William FRY, a young groom, residing at King-street, Taunton, was charged with stealing a pair of scissors, valued at 3s 6d, the property of Edgar DORSE, of Trull. - It appeared from the evidence of prosecutor, a farmer, of Boxenhedge Farm, Trull, and Frederick DODDEN, groom, residing at Pig Market, Taunton, that the former employ the latter on the 24th inst. to trim the coats of some horses at the farm, and after doing the work he left the scissors he had been using in the stable. The same day prosecutor saw the defendant in East-street, Taunton, who told him that he had no work to do, and prosecutor gave him something to do on his farm. Defendant had been in the stable, and after he had left the scissors were missing. When arrested by P.C. ELKINS in King-street, defendant admitted that he had stolen them and he now pleaded guilty. - Having appealed for leniency, and this being defendant's first offence, on the application of Superintendent STOKER, the Bench put him under probation for six months and ordered him to pay 10s towards the costs.