Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
The West Somerset Free Press, and Williton and Watchet Journal. Saturday 08 Feb 1873
Page 5 Column 2
WILLITON PETTY SESSIONS.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH,
Before J. HALLIDAY (chairman) and John BLOMMART, Esqrs.
In an assault case, EDWARDS v. PENNY, both of Watchet, the case was withdrawn by complainant, the defendant being very ill.
TRESPASS IN PURSUIT OF CONIES – Robert SOUTHWOOD, a soldier, who did not appear, and Henry WILLIS, of Roadwater, were summoned on the information of Mr. Francis LARCOMBE, keeper for Sir W. C. TREVELYAN, Bart., for trespassing in pursuit of conies at Nettlecombe park, on the 11th of January. - Service of the summons in the case of SOUTHWOOD was proved by P.C. CLAPP, and WILLIS pleaded guilty. - Mr. F. LARCOMBE stated that on Saturday, the 11th January, he saw defendants, go across the park, with three dogs. They went to some rabbit holes, and one of them began poking one of the holes with a stick. Believing there was a ferret in the hole, he waited and saw a ferret come out, covered with blood. SOUTHWOOD gave his name as Richard BARRETT, a marine, living at Williton, and also said the other was called James CHIDGEY, of Watchet. Witness ordered them off, but they refused to go till they got the ferret. - They were each fined £1 including costs, or in default fourteen days' imprisonment.
STEALING CIDER. - Francis MILTON and Thomas SELLICK, labourers, of Williton, were charged with stealing six quarts of cider, value 1s., the property of Mr. F. W. POLE, of Egrove, their master, on the 6th of January last. - P.C. Albert HOLE stated that on the above day, about two o'clock in the afternoon, he concealed himself in Mr. POLE's cellar. There was a vat there containing cider. After he had been there about an hour and a half, he saw the prisoners enter the cellar. He heard something dipped into the cider vat, and then saw SELLICK carry out a pitcher, MILTON following him. In about a minute, MILTON came in with a bucket, and threw what he (witness) thought was water into the vat. He charged MILTON with stealing the cider, and he replied that SELLICK had been in there too. Witness then charged SELLICK with stealing the cider, and asked him what he had done with it. SELLICK said that it was in the tallet, and witness found a corn hutch there, which was locked. He broke the lock and then found a pitcher nearly full of cider, in the corn hutch. - The prisoners elected to be tried by the magistrates, and pleaded guilty to the charge. - Mr. POLE said he believed SELLICK to have been perfectly honest, that it was his first offence, and wished the Bench to deal leniently with the defendants. - The Chairman said it was a very serious case, as they ought to protect their master's property, and they were liable to three months' imprisonment. They were committed to gaol for one month each, with hard labour.
PROHIBITED HOURS. - William BRYANT, Alfred BINDING, and Edward SMITH, mariners, of Watchet, neither of whom appeared, were charged with being, on the 24th December, at the Star inn, Watchet, during prohibited hours – P.C. CLAVEY having proved the service of the summons on the defendants, stated that about 11.30 p.m., on the above day, he saw the three defendants sitting round a table in the parlour with three other men, BINDING being dressed in woman's clothes, and SMITH and BRYANT were smoking. There were slops of drink on the table. He called their attention to the clock, and they said they knew it was late. - They were each fined 10s., including costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment.
ASSAULT ON A WIFE. - William GOULD, of Williton, was summoned on the information of Agnes GOULD, his wife, with assaulting her on the 2nd of February, at Williton, in consequence of which she was afraid he would kill her, or do her some grevious bodily harm. - The prosecutor, who bore on her face evident marks of ill-treatment, said as they were sitting at breakfast on Sunday morning last, she asked the defendant if the potatoes which his mother was going to sell them were taken out of the pit. He cursed her, and then some words passed between them. He took up a boot and struck her in the head. (Defendant: O you --- liar!). He pulled her down and struck her with his fist in the face, brusing it very much. She had no bruises on her face before. (Defendant: You're a liar; you had a black eye before.) He had threatened her before, and said if she ever brought him before the magistrates he would kill her. (Defendant: Oh! You ought to sink down through the place.) - The Chairman said it was a very bad case, and he was afraid the defendant was a very wicked man. He must have been a great coward as well as a brute to strike a woman in that way, and that woman his wife. He was ordered to be sent to gaol for two months, and then enter into his own recognizance to keep the peace for three months.
THEFT. - William BURGE, a youth, eighteen years of age, living at Golsoncott, Old Cleeve, was charged with stealing a meerschaum pipe and case and two pairs of gloves, of the value of 12s., on the 1st of February, the property of Thomas SEDGEBEER, of Williton. - The prosecutor, a post-boy at Fry's Railway hotel, Williton, stated that on Saturday last the prisoner came down with a load of hay to his master, and witness helped him to unload it. Witness took off his coat, and put it near the waggon, the things being then in the pocket of it. They both went into the house for some refreshment, about half-past three o'clock, and left the coat in the yard. Prisoner stayed till about five o'clock, when he left. About a quarter to six witness went for his coat and put it on, and then found the articles missing. On Monday he gave information to the police. He had not seen the things until now, and those produced were the ones he missed. - P.C. CLAPP said that on Wednesday he went to Slade farm, where the prisoner worked, and saw him. Witness asked to see his pipe, when he turned out the pockets of his trousers, in which were some keys and a knife, but no pipe. Witness not being satisfied he searched the prisoner and found in one of his pockets the case of the pipe. He took the prisoner to the stable, where he had a jacket, and there found one pair of gloves. Witness then took him to his lodgings, at Golsoncott, and in his bedroom, in a box, found the meerschaum pipe and the other pair of gloves. On charging prisoner with stealing them, he said he would got to Williton and pay the prosecutor for them. He then took him into custody. - The prisoner pleaded guilty, and he was sentenced to gaol for fourteen days, with hard labour.
SPECIAL LICENSES. -Mr. DORE, of the White Horse inn, and Mr. TUCKFIELD, of the Swan inn, Stogumber, obtained licenses to keep open their houses on the 19th of February, until one o'clock, a concert being announced to take place on that evening.
<NOTES: William GOULD son of Thomas GOULD and Rebecca COURT, married Agnes HAKE
Agnes HAKE daughter of Absalom HAKE and Anne BULLER, married William GOULD>