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The Western Gazette Friday 27 Jun 1879
Page 6 Column 5
ILMINSTER
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
WEDNESDAY. - Before Mr. R. T. COMBE, (chairman), Col. HOSKINS, Mr. W. BLAKE, Mr. W. SPEKE, and Major LANGWORTHY.
MISCHIEVOUS BOYS. - William HUTCHINGS, Benjamin CLAPP, Frederick LANGALL, George BISHOP, Samuel MAJOR, and Edward WELCH, boys, of Ilminster, were summoned for damaging a fence, the property of Mr. J. W. PAULL, to the extent of 2s 6d, at Ilminster, on the 8th June. - William WELCH, a labourer in the employ of Mr. PAULL, stated that about five o'clock on the Sunday in question he saw several boys driving some cows on Mr. PAULL's land. He went towards them to see who they were, and they all ran away, some of them breaking over two fences, and the others over one. Witness recognised all the defendants, but not the other boys. The fences were greatly damaged, and were pulled down in places, so that the stock could get through. - Mr. PAULL said the boys did a great deal of damage by driving the heifers about the field, besides breaking the fence. - One of the defendants said the fence was broken down before they went near the place, and they all saw the footprints of cows which had been over the fence. - The witness WELCH said the fence was perfectly good on the previous day. - Mr PAULL said he did not wish to press the case against the defendants, but he wished it to be a warning to others. On Sundays, great damage was done to his land by boys, one clover field being injured to the extent of £5. - Defendants were fined 1s and 2s costs each, and were cautioned by the Chairman as to the future.
OBSTRUCTION. - Samuel WHITFIELD, skin-dealer, of Broadway, was summoned for obstructing the highway at Ilminster, on the 31st of May. - Defendant's son appeared, and stated that he knew nothing of the matter. - P.C. CULLIFORD proved service of summons. - P.C. FRY stated that on the night in question, about a quarter to ten, he saw the defendant leave the Market Place with a cart loaded with skins. He drove as far as the Dolphin Inn, where he pulled up and went into the house, leaving the horse and trap in the road. Defendant remained in the house until a quarter to eleven, when witness went into the inn and spoke to him. The reins were thrown off the horse's back and down in the road. The horse stood in great pain, as the load was a very heavy one. Witness had had occasion to caution the defendant on the previous Saturday night. Defendant left the Dolphin a few minutes after witness spoke to him. He had been fined for the same offence twelve months since. - Defendant was fined 10s, and costs 5s.
MASTER AND APPRENTICE. - Frederick DABINETT, an apprentice, was summoned by Mr. George GEAR, carpenter, of South Petherton, for an offence under the Employers and Workmen Act. - Mr. COLLINS, of Ilminster, appeared for the defendant. - Complainant stated that the defendant was an apprentice in his employ, having been bound on the 23rd of April in the present year. He worked on till the 7th June regularly, but since that time had not put in an appearance. Defendant had given him no reason for leaving his work. The defendant's father was drowned on the 8th of June. He (complainant) had seen the defendant since that time, and he and his elder brother agreed that he should go back to work until some arrangement could be made. - Mr. COLLINS contended that, as the indentures were entered into between the complainant, the defendant's father, and the defendant himself, and that as the father was dead and the defendant an infant, they were not binding upon him under the circumstances, and the Employers and Workmen Act did not meet the case. If the boy went back to his work, the complainant asked for £10 for his keep, &c., but the defendant had no means of providing that money. The boy was quite willing to go back if he could do so on the same terms. - The Bench considered that the indentures should be cancelled if some agreement could not be come to; and, complainant agreeing to this arrangement, the indentures were ordered to be cancelled.
DRUNKENNESS, - John RENDALL, labourer, of Ilminster, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly at Ilminster on the 5th June. – P.C. FRY stated about 11 o'clock at night, while in the company with another constable near the Post-office, he heard the defendant coming up Ditton Street, swearing and making a great noise. Witness went to him and asked him to be a little quieter, advising him to go home. Defendant went on in the direction of his home, but when he got up North Street he commenced dancing on the pavement, and asked some ladies to join him. Witness again went up to him, but he became very abusive, and threatened to knock witness's brains out. Defendant had won a bottle of brandy in racing, and had been drinking it “neat” with another man. - P.C. CULLIFORD gave corroborative evidence. - Defendant was then charged with a similar offence on the 14th June. - P.C. FRY stated that he saw a number of people in North Street, and on going in the direction of the crowd he saw the defendant on the ground, and his mother standing by him. On his mother seeing witness, she said, “Here's FRY coming!” and defendant then got up and wanted to fight witness. Some of his friends got him along a short distance, when he began to take off his clothes. - John MEAD also gave evidence. - Defendant said the constable was “down” on him, and would set on him if he went into a public-house to have a glass of beer. - Defendant was fined 10s in each case, with 14s costs, or a week's imprisonment in each case.
Henry BRYANT, labourer, of Middle Lambrook, was summoned for being drunk at South Petherton, on the 14th June. - Sergeant TALBOT stated that at half-past 11 at night he heard a man swearing in North Street, and found the defendant, who was very drunk. A little further on, defendant's son, who was deaf and dumb, was also drunk. Witness had great difficulty in getting the defendant and his son to go home. - P.C. STENT corroborated. - In answer to the Bench, defendant said he and his son were at the Wheat Sheaf Inn from 10 till 11 o'clock – Mr. SPEKE expressed his opinion that the landlord of the house was as bad as the defendant, and ought to be punished. - Fined 5s and costs.
DOG CASE. - John SAVIDGE, jun., butcher, of Kingsbury Episcopi, was summoned for keeping a dog without a license, on the 3rd March. - P.C. STENT deposed to calling on the defendant, who, in answer to a question, admitted that he kept a dog, and showed it to witness. He said that he had no license, but was going to take one out. Witness told him he should report him, and he did so. About three weeks afterwards, the defendant sold the dog. - Defendant said he had only had the dog for two days when the constable spoke about it, and he got rid of it on 27th March. - Fined 10s and 6s costs.
NON-MAINTENANCE CASE. - John MEAD, gardener, Ilminster, was summoned for neglecting to contribute towards the maintenance of his father, who had become chargeable to the parish. - Mr. LOVE, relieving officer, proved that the defendant's father was in receipt of parish relief. - Defendant said he had other brothers who were not called on to contribute, and he did not see why he alone should do so. - An order of 1s a week was made.
EJECTMENT. - Mr. BOND, Barrington, applied for an ejectment order against Charles BLACKER, a tenant. - Phoebe Ann HILLS, plaintiff's daughter, proved service of the necessary notices. - Mr. BOND stated that the defendant had now left the house, and was in Taunton Hospital. He had left the key hanging outside the door of the house, but he (Mr. BOND) did not like to proceed in the matter without an order from the magistrates. - The Bench made an order for immediate possession.
TRANSFER. - The license of the Crown Hotel, South Petherton, was transfered from Mr. J. POOLE to Miss COMBES.
EXTENSION. - Miss COMBES, landlady of the Crown, South Petherton, was granted an extension of one hour on the 5th of July, Petherton Fair-day. - Mr Charles PESTER, of the Foxhounds Inn, Fivehead, was granted an extension of one hour on the occasion of a club-festival on the 1st July.