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The Western Chronicle Friday 28 Feb 1896
Page 6 Column 6
ILMINSTER
PETTY SESSIONS.
WEDNESDAY. - Before Mr. W. W. SPEKE (in the chair), Col. BLAKE, Col. LANGWORTHY, Mr. James LEAN, and Mr. SALTER-BEVIS.
OVERCROWDING. - Walter DEAN, of Dinnington, was summoned for that he, being the owner of a house at Dinnington, allowed it to be overcrowded on January 25th. - James HOLWILL, sanitary inspector of the Crewkerne district of the Chard Union, said that the defendant was the owner of a house at Dinnington, occupied by a man named PERRY. There was only one bedroom in the house, and the family included prisoner and his wife, and sons – aged 14, 5, 3 and 2. There was only about 670 cubic feet air space in the room. He had served the necessary notices on the defendant, but the house was still occupied by the family. The house was totally unfit for human habitation. - Dr. STEPHENS, medical officer of the union, said that the house was totally unfit for human habitation, being in a most dilapidated and filthy condition. There was no bedstead or anything of the sort in the house. Several notices had been served to get them out of the house, but they refused to leave. - An order was made for the house to be closed forthwith. - Messrs. SPEKE, LEAN, and BEVIS did not adjudicate during the hearing of the case.
ALL ABOUT A VALENTINE. - Phillis WELLS and Annie WELLS, of South Petherton, were summoned by Elizabeth WELLS, of South Petherton, for assulting <sic> her on February 14. - Complainant said that she paid a visit to her grandmother when Phillis WELLS came down stairs and struck her in the face. Witness told her to do it again, and she did it. Annie WELLS then appeared on the scene, and pulled witness's hat off. Both of them got her to the door and pushed her outside. - Phillis WELLS said that complainant accused her of sending her a valentine and that was the reason why she struck her in the face. - Annie WELLS said that the complainant first struck her and in the “scroping” which ensued her hat fell off. She was told to leave the house, but refused, and they and to put her out. - Ordered to pay 4s 6d each, including costs.
STRAYING DONKEYS. - Edward JAUXSON, of Ilton, was summoned for allowing two donkeys to stray at Ilton, on February 16th. - P.C. GILLSON stated the facts of the case. - Fined 2s and costs.
CRUELTY TO A HORSE. - Henry BROOKS, labourer, of Dinnington, was charged with working a horse in an unfit state, at Dinnington, on February 8th. - P.C. POINTING said that he was near the Rose and Crown, when he saw the defendant in charge of a putt full of mangolds. The horse was holding its head on one side, as if it was in pain. He told BROOKS to stop, and asked him what was the matter with the horse. He replied that it had a bit of a rising. Witness lifted the collar, and found a lot of blood on the bottom of it. On the lower part of the shoulder was what appeared to be a “gathering,” with the head rubbed off, whilst just above it was another raw wound about an inch long. In answer to witness, he said the horse was like that in the morning. The horse belonged to Mr. WHEADON, who, the man said, was perfectly acquainted with the horse's condition, as they had told him that the animal was unfit for work. Witness then when to Mr. WHEADON's, who, on being shown the horse, said that if he knew it was in that condition he would not have had it worked. The man, he said, had not told him of the horse's condition. They had some time before, and it had been turned out for a time. The horse was subject to those “risings.” About two days after the horse was shot. - Fined 10s and costs.