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The Western Gazette and Flying Post: Sherborne and Dorset Mercury, Yeovil and Somerset Times. Friday 21 Jul 1871
Page 7 Column 3
SOMERTON.
PETTY SESSIONS.
FRIDAY: Before F. H. DICKINSON, Esq., and F. W. PINNEY, Esq.
A BRUTAL HUSBAND. - John CHARD, labourer, of West Camel, was brought up in custody by P. C. WATTS, charged with brutally assaulting his wife, Jane CHARD, on the previous day. It appeared that he went home drunk, and beat his wife very much, the poor woman appearing in court with her face covered with bruises. He was ordered to be committed for two months, but, at his wife's request, the execution of the warrant was suspended, and he was liberated on his own recognizances.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY. - Sophia WHITCOMBE was remanded until Monday, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, on Wednesday evening, at Compton Dundon.
MONDAY. - Before F. H. DICKINSON, Esq., and F. W. PINNEY, Esq.
REFUSING TO PAY TOLL. - J. BROOKS, yeoman, of Puddimore, was summoned by Thomas POLLARD, lessee of the Somerton turnpike, for non-payment of toll at the Puddimore Gate. One of defendant's men passed the gate with a water barrel and claimed exemption for it as an agricultural implement, alleging that the drill with which it was to be used would be of no service without it. The hearing was adjourned.
AFFILIATION. - CANDID CONFESSIONS. - James TUDGAY, butcher, of Langport, was summoned by Harriet Lucilla DALLIMORE, of Oathe, to show cause, &c. Mr. PAULL, of Ilminster, appeared for defendant. This case occupied the attention of the Bench more than three hours, and the evidence was briefly as follows:- Appellant stated that, on March 17, 1870, she entered the service of defendant's father, at Horsey Farm, Muchelney, as general servant, and remained there until September 6, when she returned home. On October 5, she met defendant at Bridgwater, and he had improper intercourse with her. On February 9 last, she again entered the service of Mr. TUDGAY, who had removed to Ashington; and when she had been there five or six weeks she was taken ill. Mrs. TUDGAY sent for Dr. FRANCIS, of Ilchester, who announced her enceinte, and that the period of gestation had advanced seven months. In consequence of this, she was sent home, and, on May 15, she gave birth to a seven months' child. Miss DALLIMORE informed the Bench that defendant was the father of her child, and that, about a month before her confinement, he had an interview with her near the New Inn, at Langport, when he endeavoured to persuade her to fix the paternity on some other man, holding out as a bribe a promise that he would “look the better on her, and pay her double.” She declined to do so, and he then gave her 1s. After the child was born, she went to defendant's house with it; and he could not persuade her to leave, as he refused to make arrangements for its support. Defendant was much annoyed, and a row ensued. A crowd collected, and his sister, Miss TUDGAY, who acted as housekeeper, sent for A.S. STICKLAN to eject appellant, but as he was not at home defendant had again to try his persuasive powers. After finding that his threats to throw her through doors and windows had no effect, he said he would rather pay 2s 6d a week than have any further unpleasantness, as such disturbances would injure his business. Appellant was cross-examined at considerable length by Mr. PAULL, who sought to show that, for several years previous to entering Mr. TUDGAY's service, she had led a most immoral life, and that, while she was living at Horsey Farm, defendant's brother had frequently had illicit intercourse with her. The latter she most positively denied. - Robert REED, labourer, of Langport, was called to corroborate appellant's statement as to the conversation with defendant near the New Inn; but he alleged that it took only about a month ago, instead of three months; and that it was much later at night than Miss DALLIMORE stated. - Sarah DALLIMORE, appellant's mother, a very talkative lady, gave evidence as to the interview with defendant at his house; and alleged that defendant had long been in the habit of going about with her daughter. - Martha SQUIRES said she was present at the Halfway House revel, on the previous Tuesday, and heard a young man say to appellant, “Harriet; will you make up this job?” She could not, however, swear that it was defendant who said this, as she did not know him, and did not take much notice of him at the time. - The first witness called for the defence was Henry TUDGAY, defendant's brother, who unblushingly announced that on April 20th, 1870, he had illicit intercourse with appellant, and that he continued to do so frequently until September 20. On the last-mentioned date, he said, he went away from home to manage a business for a brother-in-law, who was ill; and previous to his departure Miss DALLIMORE told him that she was pregnant. The improprieties between him and appellant were continued after she returned to his father's service. - George JERRARD, a labourer in the employ of Mr. HAYTER, at Ashington, deposed that on one occasion he caught appellant and Henry TUDGAY in an invidious position. - Mr. PAULL said he would not for a moment contend that nothing improper had taken place between his client and appellant. It was quite true that he had acted improperly towards her, and that the impropriety commenced at the date mentioned by her. What he contended was, that the child was fully developed and that Miss DALLIMORE knew that she was pregnant before the date named, as was evident from what she had told Henry TUDGAY. Under these circumstances, he contended that his client was not the father of the child. The fact was he had been sued because he was in business, and apparently better able to maintain the youngster than his brother was. In reply to questions asked by the Bench, appellant and her mother gave their reasons for stating that the child was not born after the full period of gestation. After brief consultation, the Bench decided to adjourn the case until 31st inst., to enable the midwife who attended appellant during her confinement (Hannah PESTER, of Curry Rivel,) to give evidence.
CRUELTY TO A HORSE. - Charles DURSTON and James DIGHT were summoned for cruelty to a horse, on June 21, at Beer, in the parish of High Ham. A.S. STICKLAN said he met DIGHT driving a horse with a timber carriage. He noticed that the animal appeared to be working in pain, and stopped it The horse held its off hind foot off the ground as soon as it stopped. The hock was swollen to nearly twice its usual size, and appeared to be full of matter. There was a running wound on the hock, which appeared to have been there some time. He told DIGHT to take the horse out. He said he was bound to take the timber on to Bridgwater, a distance of nine miles, that night, but he (the constable) refused to allow him to do so. The man took the harness off and led the horse on to the Othery Inn. It could then scarcely walk. He never saw a horse in worse condition. Mr. DURSTON the owner, who said the horse was injured a few days previously by a piece of timber falling on the leg in question, was fined £1; and DIGHT was ordered to pay the costs, 6s 6d.
DESTROYING CLOTHES AT THEWORKHOUSE. - William SAFFRAY and John DAVIS, two vagrants, where charged with tearing up their own clothes, at the Union Workhouse, on Tuesday, July 11. Mr. C. FLACK said prisoners were admitted into the vagrant ward on the evening of the 11th inst. When he took in their breakfast, on the following morning, he found that they had torn up their coats, trousers, and vests, in consequence of which he was compelled to supply them with clothes belonging to the Union. Prisoners said their clothing was in a very bad state, and they could not get work. Committed for one month with hard labour.
A FEMALE INEBRIATE. - Sophia WHITCOMBE, of Compton Dundon, was brought up in custody, charged with being drunk and riotous, on Wednesday, 12th inst., at Compton. Prisoner was apprehended by P.C. MELMOTH, and taken to the lockup at Somerton. On the following day she was taken before Mr. DICKINSON and Mr. PINNEY, and remanded. As she had been in custody since that time, she was dismissed with a caution.
A PENITENT THIEF. - William WINDLE, 16, was brought up in custody, charged with stealing two coats, valued at 10s, the property of Gabriel FRAMPTON, at Walton, on Wednesday, July 5. Prosecutor said he left his house on the morning in question, leaving two coats hung up on the settle. On his return, he missed the coats and gave information to P.C. RICHARDS. They heard that prisoner had passed by, and traced him to the Horse and Jockey Inn, near Wells. He was wearing one of the coats, and the other was in a donkey cart in which he had been riding. Defendant, who pleaded guilty and expressed his sorrow, cried bitterly, saying that he was in want of food or should not have stolen them. He was on his way to Wincanton, as he knew Mr. BIRD, the master of the Workhouse at that place, who had formerly been his schoolmaster at the Birmingham Workhouse, where he was brought up. He had been in custody 10 days, and was committed for five weeks' hard labour.
A PINAFORE FOUND BEFORE IT WAS LOST. - William WHITE, plasterer and tiler, of North Brewham, who had been locked up a week, was charged with stealing a pianfore [sic], valued at 3s, the property of William HULL, at Babcary, on Saturday, July 8. Prosecutor said he was trimming a hedge at the roadside, on the day in question. He had been wearing a pinafore, which he placed at the side of the ditch. Prisoner passed by, and about a quarter-of-an-hour afterwards he missed the pinafore. He followed him and overtook him at Castle Cary, where he communicated with A.S. OTTERY. He and the constable went into the Angel Inn together, where they found the prisoner's possession. A.S. OTTERY gave corroborative evidence. Prisoner said he saw the pinafore at the side of the road and took it up, as he did not see anyone near. He afterwards pleaded guilty and was committed for a fortnight. He begged hard for forgiveness, alleging that his wife had been ill in bed 10 years.
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. - Supt. DREWITT reported that this disease had broken out on land occupied by Mr. Daniel JACOBS, at Baltonsborough, and on land at Downhead occupied by Mr. Joseph NICHOLLS, of West Camel. The usual orders were given.
<NOTES: Harriet Lucilla DALLIMORE daughter of John DALLIMORE and Sarah PETTY, married Albion or Thomas Albion PETTY>