The Somerset County Gazette 23 Nov 1878 Taunton Police Court John OATEN Yeovil Inquest Mary CHORLEY Ilminster SALWAY Fivehead

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The Somerset County Gazette, Bristol Express and Devonshire News 23 Nov 1878
Page 6


TAUNTON POLICE COURT.

SATURDAY. - Before Mr. H. BADCOCK, Mr. R. A. KINGLAKE, Capt. DOVETON, Mr. H. J. BADCOCK and Mr. H. HULME.

DISMISSED. - William HUTCHINGS, farmer, was summoned for keeping a carriage without a license, on the 1st of August. - Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. ELDRED, supervisor of Excise, prosecuted. - Mr. William Edward KING and Mr. W. A. BUTLER, Excise officers, gave evidence to the effect that on the 18th August, the day of the militia review, a carriage inscribed with the name “William HUTCHINGS” was being driven about the field with a lot of people in it. Under the name were the words “Church Tanton.” Defendant had no license. HUTCHINGS said he lived at Pitminster, and not Church-stanton. The cart he used for business purposes was inscribed with the word Pitminster. He knew nothing about the matter. - The magistrates failed to see that there was any case against the defendant; no evidence had been given to connect him with the cart. - Mr. ELDRED considered the case had been proved, but the magistrates thought otherwise, and dismissed it.

MONDAY. - Before the Mayor (Mr. Myer JACOBS).

ALLEGED THEFT OF WEARING APPAREL. - Ann WILLIAMS was charged with stealing a pair of trousers and a waistcoat, value 18s., the property of Mr. F. CHEEK. - Mr. Thomas George HULBERT, pawnbroker, said that on Saturday evening the prisoner came to his shop, and producing a pair of trousers asked him to lend her 6s. upon them. The trousers were quite new, and bore a shop-ticket. Witness asked her to whom the garment belonged, and she replied, “To my husband.” Witness said, “Then you had better send him.” She said, “You need not be afraid; it is all right.” Witness replied, “I don't think so.” He had known the prisoner twelve months, and could not be mistaken as to her identity. Mr. HULBERT asked the woman where she got the trousers, and she replied that she brought them at Mr. CHEEK's in the High-street. He detained the trousers, and sent them up to Mr. CHEEK, who identified them as his property. - Frederick CHEEK, clothier, High-street, identified the trousers and the waistcoat as his property. On Saturday night the goods were exposed outside the shop for sale, but he did not miss them until he received a communication from Mr. HULBERT. - Mr. Van TRUMP deposed that prisoner pledged the waistcoat at his shop for 2s. 6d. - Prisoner, who protested her innocence, was remanded until Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY. - Before the Mayor, Mr. R. A. KINGLAKE and Mr. W. M. KING.

AN ARTFUL DODGER. - William THOMAS, a middle-aged man, who is a stranger to this neighbourhood, was charged with begging in Alma-street on the previous evening. - Prisoner pleaded guilty. - Sergeant SELF stated that on the previous evening he was on duty in East-street, when he received a complaint that a man with a begging-petition had called at a young woman's house in Alma-street three nights in succession. He concealed himself near the house, and during the evening he saw a man coming therefrom with a letter in his hand. He went up to the man and asked what he was doing there. He said he had been to see a friend. Witness asked for the letter, and he said he had not one, and with the same he dropped a piece of paper on the ground. Witness picked it up. The writing on it was as follows:- 12th Nov., 1878. - Ladies & Gentlemen, - This is to certify that I know William THOMAS upwards of five years I found him a honest and indusstireis <sic> man he is at present unable to follow his Occupation owing to a Cancer in his inside now he is recommended by all Surgeons to go down to the Brompton Cancer Hospital London and the poor man will require a change of linen and also his Railway fare to go there. I remain, yours humble Servant, William THOMAS.” - Appended to this document were two signatures evidently in the prisoner's handwriting representing that 5s. had been subscribed by “J. LEWIS,” and 3s. by “J. TETLEY.” - Prisoner was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.

VAGRANCY. - John TURNER, a labouring man, of Taunton, was charged with wandering abroad on the previous night and not being able to give a satisfactory account of himself. Prisoner pleaded guilty. - A. S. BEST said that at one o'clock on the previous morning he saw prisoner leaning against the pillars under the Arcade. He went to him and asked him what he was doing there. Prisoner said he could get no lodgings and had no money. Witness then took him into custody. - Prisoner said he had been away from Taunton for some time, but returned on Saturday to look for work. He was unable to get any, and he had neither food nor money. - Supt. GOLDSMITH said prisoner came to him on the previous evening and complained that the relieving-officer would not give him a ticket to go to the workhouse. He could not give relief to the man because he knew he was not a tramp. - Prisoner promised not to ffend <sic>in this manner again, and he was discharged.

LARCENY. - Ann WILLIAMS was charged on remand with stealing a pair of trousers and a waistcoat, the property of Mr. F. J. CHEEK, clothier, of Taunton. - The evidence previously given was then read over. - Prisoner still denied having stolen the things, although two pawnbrokers, Mr. Van TRUMP and Mr. HULBERT, swore that the prisoner was the woman who pledged the missing things with them. She said she was not in the town at the time the things were stolen. She pleaded not guilty, but wished to be “settled with” then. - The Clerk explained that the magistrates could not deal with the case unless she pleased guilty. - Prisoner: I can't do that; I should be telling a lie. - Committed for trial at the quarter sessions in January.

ALLEGED ASSAULTS AND RICTOUS BEHAVIOUR. - Zebulon WOOD, publican, of Taunton, John OATEN, innkeeper, of Allerford, and Thomas EDWARDS, of Taunton, were charged with assaulting Charles BERRY, road-contractor, at Taunton, on the 4th of November. There were other cases arising out of the same transaction. Charles BERRY was charged with assaulting Martha WOOD and Sarah Ann SYMES, at the same time and place; and also with being drunk and disorderly, and refusing to quit the Railway Inn, Taunton, when requested to do so by the wife of Zebulon WOOD, the landlord. Mr. CHAPMAN appeared for Charles BERRY, and Mr. TRENCHARD for the other persons interested in the cases. It was agreed that all the cases should be heard together. - Mr. CHAPMAN stated that on evening of the 4th of November BERRY and his brother went into WOOD's house, and the brother called for some refreshment. WOOD, who appeared to be under the influence of liquor, refused to draw any drink, and alleged that Charles BERRY had attempted to commit arson. BERRY remonstrated with WOOD about this statement, and he was then attacked by two or three women, who endeavoured to push him out of the house. He said if they would let him alone he would go out quietly, and endeavoured to free himself. John OATEN, who was in the public-house, then walked up to him and struck him a blow on the side of the face with his fist, which knocked him down. While BERRY was on the ground EDWARDS kicked him in the eye, and his eye was still black. This was the assault his client complained of. Mr. CHAPMAN then called attention to the fact that his client was charged with being drunk and disorderly, but he took the precaution to go to the police and complain of the manner in which he was treated, and the policeman and the superintendent to whom he complained could give evidence as to his condition. The morning following the assault BERRY took out the summons for assault, and cross-summonses were taken out after the summonses issued at the direction of BERRY had been served. One of these cross-summonses was not issued till the 11th of November. All these cross-summonses were merely issued for the purpose of letting in evidence as a kind of set-off against BERRY's complaint. - BERRY was then sworn and said that he went to Mr. WOOD's house on the night in question, and his brother, who was with him, called for some beer. Mr. WOOD, who was the worse for liquor, said, “That fellow has threatened to set my house on fire.” Witness asked for an explanation, and Mrs. WOOD then took him by the collar and tried to get him out of the house. He asked her to let go, but she would not, and he took her by the collar to prevent being choked. A Mrs. HOBBS and Mrs. SYMES then fell upon him. He tried to release himself, and John OATEN struck him, causing him to fall. When he was down he kicked him in the eye, and he became insensible. When he recovered he found himself outside the public-house, and he went for a policeman. In answer to Mr. TRENCHARD, witness said he was not drunk. - Several witnesses were called in support of BERRY's case, but none of them proved that Mr. WOOD took any part in the alleged assault, and the case against him was dismissed. - Mr. WOOD went into the box and swore that BERRY was drunk when he came into his house, and for that reason he refused to draw him anything to drink. His wife endeavoured to get BERRY out of the house, and he caught her by the collar and held her there till she was black in the face. At his request several persons, including those BERRY had charged with assaulting him, and two women, in addition to his wife, attempted to turn him out. He did not see all that took place; he was standing in a position that prevented him from so doing. - A man named George HEALE corroborated the statement of the last witness, and stated that when Mrs. SYMES went to assist Mrs. WOOD, BERRY struck her in the face. - John OATEN said when he saw BERRY strike Mrs. SYMES he interfered and struck BERRY. There was then a general squabble between BERRY and himself, and BERRY's brother and Mr. EDWARDS. - At this stage the legal gentlemen engaged consulted with their clients, and it was agreed that all the cases should be withdrawn, and each party pay their own costs.

DRUNK. - Catherine JEWELL was fined 10s., including costs, for being drunk, in Hammet-street, on Friday night.

NEGLECTING TO MAINTAIN HIMSELF. - Walter THOMAS was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment with hard labour for neglecting to maintain himself, and in consequence becoming chargeable to the common funds of the Taunton Union. - THOMAS made no defence, but pleaded guilty to the charge.


YEOVIL.

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INQUEST. - On Monday an inquest was held, before Dr. WYBRANTS, at the Mermaid Hotel, touching the death of the illegitimate child of Mary CHORLEY, cook, whose remains were found in the fire-grate at the house of Dr. FLOWER. - William BUTLER said he worked for Dr. FLOWER, and slept at his house. He knew Mary CHORLEY, who was cook at Dr. FLOWER's. She had lived there, he believed, three years – first with Dr. FLOWER's predecessor. Dr. FLOWER had been in the house a month. On Friday night she did not seem very well; she said she was cold in her back. Witness slept in the next room to that occupied by Mary CHORLEY. He was not disturbed until the following morning about seven o'clock, when Mary CHORLEY came to his bedroom and asked him to do what he could for her, as she didn't feel very well. She said she had lit the kitchen fire. After she had gone to bed he went down to the kitchen fire and saw some bones and the inside of a child. He then went to the groom, and they called Dr. FLOWER. He saw the remains taken out of the fire. - There being no evidence to show that the child was born alive, the jury returned an open verdict.


ILMINSTER

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At a special magistrates' meeting, held at the magistrates' clerk's office, on Monday, before Major VAUGHAN-LEE and Major LANGWORTHY, Frederick SALWAY, aged nine years, of Fivehead, was brought up in custody charged with being uncontrollable. The father promised to pay 1s. per week towards the boy's support if he were sent to a reformatory. It appeared that during his father's absence the boy broke the windows, struck his mother and would not sleep at home but in an outhouse. He was sent to a reformatory until he was fifteen years of age.


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