The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions. The Michaelmas Sessions for this county commenced at the Town Hall, Usk, on Monday, when the following magistrates were present :— Samuel R. Bosanquet, Eqk., Chairman. Sir Thomas Phillips, knight, deputy-chairman. The Right Hon. Lord Llanover, Lord-Lieutenant. Right Hon. Lord Tredegar W. A. Williams, Esq. Octavius Morgan, Esq., X.P. F. M'Donnell, Elsq. Col. Clifford, M.P. Captain Tyler Lord Raglan Captain Davies Hon. J. F. Clifford-Butler S. Churchill, Esq. J. A. Herbert, Esq. John James, Esq.- Alexander Rolls, Esq. Thomas Davies, Esq. J. A. Rolls, Esq. John Lawrence, Esq. Hon. Godfrey Morgan Rev. Thomas Prothero. Sir Geo. Walker, bart. S. Homfray, Esq. W. R. Stretton, Esq. P. P. Marsh,.Esq. G. R. Greenhaw-Relph, Esq. The minutes of the last Sessions having been read by the Clerk of the Peace, (Charles Prothero, Esq.,) and some few remarks passed thereon, the following communications and reports were read :— CLERK OF THE PEACE'S AND MAGISTRATES' CLERK'S FEES. The following table of fees which had been approved by the last Court ot Sessions, and certified by the Secretary of State, were adopted. For the Clerk of the Peace- B s. d. For the performance of the several duties in relation to every criminal prosecution at the court of general quarter sessions of the peace, for person indicted, without regard to the number of indictments, includ- ing swearing witnesses before the grand jury and in court, subpoenas, and every other expence connected with such prosecutions 1 11 6 For the performance of the several duties required by the clerk of the peace, under the Criminal Justice Act, 18 and 19 Victoria, cap. 126, in each case without r regard to the number of persons included in the same charge 0 4 0 For the j. erformaiice of the several duties required by the clerk of the peace under the Juvenile Offenders Acts, 10 and 11 Victoria, cap. 82; and 13 and 14 Vic- toria, cap. 37; in each case without regard to the number of persons included in the same charge 0 2 0 By Clerks of Petty Sessions— For the performance of the several duties required under the Criminal Justice Act, in each case without regard to the number of persons included in the same charge 0 14 0 For the performance of similar duties under the Juvenile Offenders Acts o 8 0 THE COUNTY GAOL. The VISITING JUSTICES REPOILT: The good order of the gaol has been preserved during the quarter. A prisoner escaped through the porter's lodge, on the 13th September,' while workmen were wheeling out rubbish after some repairs, but he was immediately re-captured. We had occasion to report to the Secretary of State that a prisoner under sentence for eighteen months, who had undergone nine months of his sentence, was not likely to survive the remainder of his sentence, and the Secretary of State ordered his discharge, which was followed by Her Majesty's free pardon. The new dietary recommended by j the Secretary of State having been referred to the Visiting 11 Justices of the two prisons, we have thought it advisable, after communication with the Visiting. Justices of the Usk House of Correction, to make a separate report to the following effect: -The existing dietary has been fonnd ( sufficient to maintain the health and strength of the ] prisoners. Much question has been raised as to the new I dietary fulfilling its intended object, pnd it is doubtful whether it may not again be changed after a short ex- perience. Under these circumstances we do not recom- mend the adoption of the new dietary at present. The perience. Under these circumstances we do not recom- mend the adoption of the new dietary at present. The deputy-governor having resigned, we have appointed Mr. Joseph Moseley to the office, and elected Wm. Ra wford to be warder, whose confirmation we request by the Sessions. The outside painting ordered is in progress, and the warming apparatus to three cells has been completed, but is not yet approved by the surveyor." The GOVERNOR (Mr. Thomas Holman) presented his quarterly certificate, which shewed that the rules and regulations had been fully observed, and also his annual report, which stated that there had been tewer com- mittals to the gaol than in any preceding year, and the operation of the Bankruptcy Act, 1861, had caused a con- siderable diminution in the number ot debtors. By order of the Secretary of State two male prisoners, under sen. tence of penal servitude, were removed to Pentonville prison, and two others to the town gaol at Nottingham. Also one female prisoner, who became insane, was removed to the Joint Counties' Lunatic Asylum- at Abergavenny. One male prisoner, whose health was much impaired, received Her Majesty's pardon. An attempt at escape was made by one of the prisoners, who ran through the lodge, which was at the time open to allow some rubbish to be wheeled out by laborers employed by the contractor for work in progress, but being seen to start by the officer who had him in charge, was instantly pursued and brought back in a few minutes. The CHAPLAIN (the Rev. E. J. Gosling, M.A.) in his report referred to the Prisoner's relief fund,"—to which he had adverted in a previous report as doing good in the women's ward, through the countenance'given it by the Visiting Justices—lamenting that during the past year he had not haa one prisoner he felt justified in recommending to the benefits of the fund, although, generally speaking, the women's ward had been more promising than the men's. He was not, however, without hope that at the close of his next official year he would be able to present a more satisfactory report. In the dis- charge of his duties he had been very caretulnot to inter- fere with the tenets of prisoners of denominations differing from the Established Church, but had studied rather to convince them of sin and to lead them to repentance for it. He had attended at the gaol once every day, tnd more than once or twice when occasion required, and had not been absent one day during the whole of the year. The SURGEON (Mr. Thomas Prosser) reported that dur- ing the winter and spring of the present year several of the.prisoners suffered from severe attacks or influenza and diarrhoea, which in one case degenerated into the typhoid fever. It appeared to be a genuine epidemic dependent upon atmospheric causes, for both diseases were very pre- valent in the town and neighbourhood at the same time. Two confinements, eleven infirmary cases, one death, one pardoned on medical grounds, and one case of insanity were reported as having occurred during the year. The surgeon also stated that he had carefully attended to the ventilation and drainage of the building, both of which were now in a .satisfactory condition. The dietary had" been altered as necessary, and there had been the usual amount of minor complaints. THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION. The VISITING JUSTICES reported as tollows: Lords and Gentlemen,—We have to report that the general conduct of the prisoners has been good and their health satis- factory, and that discipline has been maintained, and the rules and regulations, on the whole, observed. Repairs have been done to two of the chimneys in accordance with an order of the Court. Repairs and renovations to a larger extent than we had anticipated would have been required, bave been made to the warming apparatus. Messrs. Price and Co. sent their engi- neer down to inspect, and they reported to us that three new boilers were required, and that the hot water vessels iu the two wings and in the female lodge, which have been at continuous work for upwards of twenty years, required taking out, clean- ing, and repairing. The estimated cost, including every expense, was f.250, and though we, had not the authority of the Court for such a geueral repair, we considered it desirable to have the various apparatus made efficient, as Messrs. Price assured us they would be put in as good order and condition as when first erected. Complaint has been made, and not without cause, of the nuisance occasioned by the sewage from the prison during the late dry season. We have directed the attention of the county surveyor to it, and he will report on the subject. Re- ferring to the order of the Court at the'last Quarter Sessions on the subject of the dietaries recommended for county and borough gaols, we beg to report that although we have not met theVisiting Justices of the Monmouth prison, we have had communications with them on the subject referred to us, to which we have given our best and most anxious consideration. We fully appreciate the desirableness Of being in accordance with the authorities in a matter of so much moment, but when we find the principal objects of the proposed change.already attained-for in our. present dietary we have comparative economy, with healthy, though uninviting, fare. No one need visit the prison twice to learn-that the fare is even more than uninviting. The surgeon reports that it maintains the health and strength of the prisoners, and our own observation and that of the governor confirm that report, and by the best calcu- that of the governor confirm that report, and by the best calcu- lation we can make it appears somewhat less costly than what the diet under the proposed change wilt be. We are unani- mously of opinion, therefore, that for the sake of uniformity— of an uniformity which would be at best very fluctuating, and for a system which is confessedly but experimental, it is undesirable to adopt the proposed dietaries. G. R. GREENHOW-RELPH. S. CHURCHILL. W. R. STRKTTON. J The, GOVERNOR (Mi*. W. H. Boswortb) presented his usual quarterly certificate and also his annual report, the former of which was of a routine character, and the latter contained a classification of the age, ses, occupation, educational status, and nationality, of the prisoners con- fined in the gaol during the year ending 30th September, shewing the total number to have been 841. In answer to the Chairman, Mr. Bosworth said that the number of commitments during the last year shewed a decrease of 66, as compared with the previous year. The SURGEON'S (Mr. James, Boulton) report shewed that the health of the prisoners had on the whole been satisfactory during the year.. The CHAPLAIN'S report was of too voluminous a charac- ter for us to find space for THE COUNTY FINANCE. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE reported that the accounts for the last haif-year had been examined with the vouchers and found correct; bills amounting to £ 1705 12s. 7d. had been examined and were recommended for payment, and that rates of ïd. in the £ each for county and police purposes were recommended. (Signed,) S. R. BOSANQUET. G. R. GEEENHOW-RELPH. S. CHURCHILL. THE COUNTY POLICE. The Police Committee reported- The committee having before them the report of the magistrates appointed to select, a site. for. a police station at Caerleon, recommend that the court authorise them to. acquire the freehold of the property selected if it can be acquired on reasonable terms. Mr. Edmund B. Edwards having incurred some expense in repairing or remedying a defeètive lead flashing on the roof of the new office at Pontypool station, erected for him by the county in lieu of the office given up by, him, the committee recommend payment of the amount. It is recom- mended that a sum of £ 10 be placed at the disposal of the Chief Constable to provide a well and pump at the Blackwood station. Also that the sum of 255 Is., amount of certain bills for cloth- ing, &c., be paid. S. R. BosANQIYET, Chairman Police Committee. CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT., My Lords and Gentlemen,—I have the honor to 'submit to you the Government Constabulary Returns for the year ending 29th September, 1864. On comparing the present returns with those of last year, I find but little difference in the number of indictable offences (table 4), but in the offences disposed of summarily (table 5) there is an increase of 309-^the numbers for the two years being respectively 2456 and 2765, exclusive of cases allowed to be settled. This increase is principally under the head of drunkenness, and must, I believe, be attributed to the prosperous state of the mining district, and to the high wages earned by the men employed therein. The offences against property generally have decreased, particularly the cases of sheep stealing, but. the cottage robberies and simple larcenies are still numerous. In tabler3 will be found the daily average of professional vagrants passing through the county, and also the number of "tramps' lodging houses." These numbers are considerably less than in 1863, and as there is also a diminution in the number of vagrants relieved by the police officers who have been appointed assistant relieving-officers, I may venture to hope that professional vagrancy is on the decrease in this county. Table 1 gives the cost of the constabu. lary establishment for the year. The regular expenses, exclu- sive of building stations, are covered by a rate of 2|d. in the S, for the year, in addition to the Government allowance, which will amount this year to £1662 19s. 5d. The resignations and dismissals of constables have, I regret to say, been numerous, amounting during the year to about 26 per cent, of the whole strength I have the honor to be, &c., EDMUND HERBERT,) Chief Constable of Monmouthshire. The usual return was appended to the. report shewing the number of persons taken into custody during the months of June, July, August, and September, 1864, as follows:—Apprehended, 496; disposed of as follows: discharged, 134; convicted, 355; not disposed of, 7. Of the convicted, 54 were committed for trial, 111 committed to gaol, 179 fined, 1 whipped, and 10 awarded other punishments. Persons summoned during tbe same period 861, of which there were not disposed of, 9; settled, 181; discharged, 185; convicted, 536, of which 3 were com- mitted for trial, 20 committed to gaol, 479 fined; 34 were, awarded other punishments, and there were 149 civil offences. CAERLEON POLICE STATION. The Committee appointed by the Court to select a site for a police station at Caerleon, reported that three sites had been offered, viz.:—No 1, the King's Head Inn, situated near the Hanbury Arms, containing 310 square yards, the price asked for which was £330, and the esti- ,I mated cost of conversion £450. No 2, a piece of ground opposite the Hanbury Arms, containing 495 square yards, upon which was a quantity of old.materials which might be made use of for building, the estimated cost of purchase and the erection of a new'building being nearly £ 1UX). No. 3, the Gold Croft school house, situate near the Usk turnpike, containing 1500 square yards, the conversion of which, it was estimated, would cost from £450 to £500, and the "price of the site would not exceed £ 150. The committee added that the site of Nó. 3 was not so desira- ble as that of :No.2, but on the grounds of economy and situation combined they recommended No. 3 as the most desirable purchase. THE NEW HIGHWAY ACT. The Chairman introduced to the court the question as to the confirmation, or otherwise, of the provisional order of last sessions for the adoption of the New Highway Act, for all parishes in the county not at present under local government. Capt. Tyler presented petitions from about 100 parishes bearing the signatures of upwards of 3000 ratepayers, praying that the Act may not be adopted. Sir Thomas Phillips also presented petitions from Mamhilad and Llan- billeth, and Mr. W. A. Williams one from Llangibby, having the same object.. Lord Llanover, as chairman of the committee who had recommended the adoption of the Act, addressed the bench at great length in support of the confirmation. He referred to the many petitions which had been laid before the court, and said it was right it should be known bow those peti- tions had been got up. A meeting had been held at Raglan, which was repres3nted in the newspapers as large and influential," whereas it was, in fact, a small meeting, though he wished not to detract from the influence or res- pectability of the persons attending. Various- resolutions were passed at the meeting, and a printed form of petition against the Act had been agreed upon, which had been industriously circulated throughout the county. Nodoubt farmers, on reading that petition, and being told that their local self-government Was being interfered with, that they would have increased local taxation, and so forth, had been induced to sign the petition in the fear that they would be materially injured, were the Act adopted. His lordship proceeded to argue that the objections against the Act sprung chiefly from persons resident in the parishes where the roads were the worst, and he went into figures to show that the principle of the new Highway Act was by far the more economical as. compared with the old system. In conclusion his lordship said there was no wish to interfere with the vested rights of the ratepayers but, however much they might wish to meet the wishes of the farmers and other inhabitants of the county, they had a public duty to perform, and he hoped, therefore, that the court would at this stage of the proceedings adopt the usual course of confirming the unanimous recommendation of their committee. Lord Tredegar, Mr. Octavius Morgan, and Colonel Clifford, supported the adoption of the Act, enlarging upon the benefits likely to result therefrom. Captain Tyler spoke in opposition to the adoption of the measure, instancing Ross, Cirencester, and Ledbury, as examples of the increased expenditure incurred by the operation of the Act. At the former place, be said, the expenditure had been increased 43 per cent. the first year, whilst at Cireneester an increase of 73 per :ceut.,bad been effected. After strongly urging the claims of the peti- tioners he represented—especially the farmers, who Were at present suffering from great depression, and conse- quently looked with alarm upon any augmentation of their rates—the speaker called upon the Court to hesitate ere it passed a measure, the result of which would render increased 'expenditure certain, whilst the improvement would be problematical, and he suggested as an alterna- tive that the salary of the county surveyor should be in. J creased to 9.300, dS400, or £500, so that he might exercise a strict supervision over the highways. Sir Thomas Phillips argued that the question was one solely for the Court, and that, however much they might ? respect the gentlemen forming the committee, the decision should be arrived, at independently of the recommendation of that committee. In expressing the views of the peti- tions, which the speaker did at some length, he suggested that the matter should be respited until the next Sessions, which, while it would not dispose of the question indefi- nitely would shew the ratepayers that the decision had not been arrived at without full and mlture deliberation. As regarded the question of expenditure, Sir Thomas roughjy estimated the cost of the staff required would amount to about a 2d. rate, which calculation, he thought, would allay the alarm that was felt in some quarters if it could be clearlv shewn that the roads would be so much improved. The ,speaker concluded by proposing as an amendment that the decision of the Court be respited until the next Sessions. Mr.. W. A. Williams seconded the amendment, observ- ing that he thought the adoption of the Act would not be prejudiced by the delay, as it could not conveniently be .put in .force-until March, which, in the matter of high- ways, was the end of the financial year. Lord Llanover said he saw no good as likely to result from the postponement, and he therefore advocated a division. Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was nega- tived and the proposition for adopting the Act carried by a very large majoritv. It was resolved that Llanhilleth should be excluded from the application of the Act, on account of ite isolated posi- tion; that the number of way-wardens for each parish should be regulated by the number of poor-law guardians, and that the election of way. wardens should take place on the 31st of March next. COUNTY BRIDGES AND BUILDINGS. The COUNTY SURVEYOR (Mr. W. P. James) reported that all the bridges and buildings under his care were in good repair with the following exceptions:—Newport bridge, parapet out of repair as already reported; Gros- mont bridge, rail fencing decayed-cost of replacing it £ 40. Usk gaol—with regard to a drain which runs from this building into an adjoining brook, the surveyor stated that it had.become a serious nuisance to the neighbour- hood, and in consequence of the brook being dried up the drain must be continued to the river unless the water in the brook could be recovered. Stones were stated to be required for the future repairs of the following bridges:- Newport bridge, 100 tons at a cost of £25; Llanellen bridge, 20 tons, £5; Kenvy bridge, 20 tons, £ 4; Wye and Monnow bridges, Monmouth, 48 tons, £10;. Llantarnam bridge, 15 tons, dBo; B lydybiew bridge, 20 tons, £5. The various recommendations of the surveyor were confirmed, that with refernuce to the drain at Usk gaol to be executed under the direction of the visiting justices. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. The Inspector of Weights and Measures (Mr. Wm. Graham) reported the number of weights, &c., he had stampea during the quarter, the fees for which amounted to e 9 £ 7 os. 8|d. The following fines vtere reported as having been imposed at the Usk Petty Sessions on the 19th August:—Ann Francis, shopkeeper, Is. and costs; James Parker, shop keeper, 2s. 6<1. and costs; George Edmunds, butcherV Is. and costs; Hannah Dixon, butcher, Is. and costs; Jane Edwards, shopkeeper, Is. and costs; Herbert Thomas, shopkeeper, Is. and costs; John Morgan, inn- keeper, Is. and costs, J, M. Macfarlane, Is. and costs; Henry Jenkins, beer-house keeper, Is. and costs. NOTICE OF MOTION.—NEWPORT BRIDGE. Mr. S. Homfray gave the following notice of motion:- "That at the next Court of Quarter Sessions a motion will be made that Newport bridge shall be widened at the ex- pense of the county, and also that permission be given to widen and improve the approaches to the bridge on the town side, at the cost of the undertakers of that work." USE OP THE COUNTY HALL BY THE VOLUNTEERS. Mr. Greenhow-Relph applied to the Court for permis- sion for the Usk Volunteers to use the Second Court for drilling in during the winter months, observing that they had done no harm to the room last year, nor had they put the county to any expense for gas. Granted. TUESDAY. The Court was opened at ten o'clock, the following magistrates being present on the bench S. R. Bosanquet, Esq., (Chairman,) G. R. Green how-Relph, Esq., W. A. Williams, Esq., P. McDonnell, Ewj., and tbe Rev.Thouias Prothero. The following gentlemen were sworn on'bue GRAND JURY.—Mr. Richard Mullock, Newport, foreman; Messrs. Thomas Dunn, Usk; Oliver Davies, Usk; Thomas Davies, shopkeeper, Abersychan; Edwin Fowler, draper, Pontypool; W. H. George, grocer, Blaenavon; Aaron Goolden, ironmonger, Pontypool; Wm. G. Golding, jeweller, Pontypool; John Havard, grocer, Poutypool; Thomas Hallen, farmer, Panteague; Owen James, clothier, Pontypool; James Leigh, shopkeeper, Blaenavon; Joha Morgan, shopkeeper, Aber- sychan Wm. Morgan, cabinet maker, Pontypool; Wm. Moss, cabinet maker, Newport; Charles Miller, Usk; W. Pegler, grocer, Pontypool; FrederickPhfllips, grocer, Pontypool; Wm. Lee Pratt, shopkeeper, Abersychan; John Stephens, farmer, Llanvihangel Pontytnoile; Wm. Walters, brewer, Pont- newynydd; J. G.Williams, draper, Blaenavon; J. E. Williams, grocer, Blaenavon. The usual royal proclamation having been read, the Chairman delivered his ""CHARGE TO THE GBAND JURY. He complimented them upon their numerous atten. dance and said the calendar contained the names of 43 prisoners, which was about the same number as there was at the corresponding Sessions last year, and there was nothing in any ot the cases, he was happy to say, to call" for any special remarks from him. There were three cases of stealing from the person, in two of which more than one person had been engaged; this was an offence that was very prevalent in this county, and one which the Court visited with very heavy punishment, especially, when two persons were engaged in it, and the more so when one of those persons happened to be a man. After briefly adverting to the character of several minor charges in the calendar, the learned chairman said there was one case in which a wife had taken her husband's goods -and run away with another man; but as a wife could not be convicted of stealing the goods of her hus- band, it was probable that only one person would be indicted for the offence-the adulterer—who, if it was proved that he was aware that the goods were the property of the husband, would be guilty of stealing. The learned chairman next proceeded to enumerate, as usual at the Michaelmas Sessions, the heads of the Acts affecting the pubjic generally, that had been passed during the pnst Session of Parliament, which he said were designated 27 and 28 Victoria. The first Act or Chapter that he would refer to was cap. 9, which enacted that malt used by farmers for feeding their cattle should be free of duty. The next he would notice was an amendment of the "Union Assessment Act," which provided that notice should be given to the Assessment Committee before an appeal could be entered against an assessment. Cap. 42 made provision for superannuation allowances being granted to officers employed under the Poor Law Board to the extent of two-thirds of the salary but such allow- ances could only be made to such officers as had devoted the whole of their time to the duties of the Poor Law Board, so that persons who fulfilled other duties, such .as relieving-officers who in many cases held the appointments of assistant registrars, would be excluded from the bene. fit of the Act, as the office of registrar was not connected with the Poor Law.. The enactment was essentially tor the benefit of those who had been emptoyttd solely under the Poor Law Board, and who had grown old in the ser. vice. Cap. 47 amended the law respecting sentences of penal servitude; by it tne shortest term for which a prisoner could be sent into penal servitude was five years., Hitherto shorter sentences ot penal servitude had been allowed, and it had been the practice ot, the Government to remit a portion of the sentence under certain circum- stances; but that had been done away v. ith by this Act. Cap. 64 enforced the closing of public houses and refresh. ment houses between the hours of one and four in the morning, these being the hours during WhlCll people were supposed to be the least in want of refreshments, and it was to be hoped that tuis enactment would tend to repress drunkenness, which prevailed to a great extent in this county as well as elsewhere. In corporate boroughs, however, the adoption of this Act was optional. Cap. 25 prohibited the use of any steam engine witbiu 25 yards of the turnpike road, unless placed behind some wall or house so as to be out of view of the turnpike road; this Act more particularly applied to steam threshing machines, and was therefore one that would require to be observed by farmers. Cap. 97 made it compulsory that burials in all burial grounds should be registered. Hitherto only such as had taken place in Church of England burying grounds had been registered, but now those taking place in chapel and other burying grounds would have to be. Cap. 101 was an amendment of the recent Act relating to j highways, and he might mention that the Court had on tb^ previous day decided to adopt that Act for this county, which, for that purpose, would be divided into seven dis- .< tricts. As some feeling had, he said, been evinced with regard to the adoption of this Act, the learned chairman proceeded, in the course of some observations, to sbew that so far from the management of the roads being taken out of the hands of those immediately interested in them, the only difference would be that a waywarden would be appointed for each parish instead of a surveyor, and that magistrates would exercise a similar supervision as a Highway Board to that they now exercised; that the roads would be kept in better repair and in many cases more economically, whilst greater impartiality would be shewn, and that the increased expenditure caused by the appointment of a paid surveyor and clerk to each district, which it was estimated would be covered by a Jd. rate, would be counterbalanced by the benefits accruing. After expressing himself most hopefully of the beneficial working of the Act, the learned chairman gave the grand jury some instructions as to their duties, and dismissed them to their room. After the petty juries had been sworn, the Court pro- ceeded with the TRIALS OF PRISONERS. « CHEPSTOW.—EMBEZZLEMENT. Mark Catley, 49, baker, was charged with embezzling the sum of Is. 8d., the monies of his master, John Child, at Chepstow. I appeared from the evidence that prisoner delivered bread from house to house for prosecutor, and that he received the sum named from a person named Hannah Anthony, in payment for goods, and for which he did not account to his master. The prisoner was found guilty and was sentenced to tvvelve months' hard labor. NEWPORT.—ROBBERY ON THE RAILWAY. William Charles. 32, was charged with stealing a hat box and a brush and comb, the property of Thomas Watson. Mr. Somerset for the prosecution and Mr. Smythies for the defence. It appeared that prosecutor and prisoner, who is an innkeeper from Cardiff, travelled in the same carriage on the South Wales Railway by the train due at Newport at seven p.m., on the 1st September, and upon reaching Newport prisoner left the train and was seen with a hat box in his hand. Prosecutor, who was going beyond Newport, missed a box of the description named after prisoner had left the carriage, and made known his loss to the Station Master. Prisoner was fol- lowed by a porter and brought back with the box in his possession. Several respectable witnesses spoke to the good character of prisoner, and Mr. Smythies having made an energetic appeal on his behalf, the jury found him not guilty. NEWPORT.—POCKET PICKING. Elizabeth Robbins and Mary Thompson were charged with stealing a purse, containing £ 1 18s., from the person of Mary Jenkins, on the 27th August. Both prisoners were found guilty, and Robbins, having been twice pre- viously convicted, was sentenced to ten years' penal servi- tude, and Thompson to twelve months' hard labor. GOYILON.—ROBBERY FROM THE RAILWAY STATION. John Rosser, 48, charcoal finer, and Ellen Rosser, his wife, were charged with stealing a quantity of drapery goods, the property of the London and North Western Railway Company, on the 29th September. The female prisoner pleaded guilty and in a statement exonerated her husband from any share in the robbery, and having also pleaded guilty to two former convictions, she was sen- tenced to seven years' penal servitude. The male prisoner was acquitted. NEWPORT.—AN ELOPEMENT. George Smith was indicted for stealing dB23, and two trunks containing table cloths, blankets, carpet, a biblo, and other articles, the property of Henry Lewis, at New- port. Mr. Croft appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Granville Somerset for the defence. It appeared that prisoner lodged in the house of prosecutor, who is a green- grocer, and on the 11th August last prosecutor's wife left home during the absence of her husband at Gloucester, taking with her the articles named and about £60 in moneyj" and also two of their children. Prosecutor, aft er his return home, proceeded to London in search of his wife, and while he was away the prisoner also disappeared, and the guilty couple were subsequently traced to Bristol, where they lodged as man and wife for a few days, and from thence to Hull, whither Inspector Curtis and prose- cutor followed them, and having found the woman at a house where they lodged together, and where the missing property was also found, they went in search of the man, who they ultimately found at work in a stone yard. Upon the charge being made known to the prisoner by the police officer, he said I did not steal £ 60, we had only £ 20 when we started from Bristol." Mr. Somerset made an earnest appeat to the jury' on behalf of prisoner, urging that, inasmuch as the goods and money were found in the possession of the woman and not in that of prisoner, the crime was not made out against him. The learned chairman put the case plainly before the jury, pointing out that if the prisoner with his own hand took away any ot the goods or money laid in the indictment, or received any benefit from them, he would be guilty of the charge. The jury, however, found the prisoner not guilty. TREDEGAR.—ROBBING A TILL. William Ashton, 29, laborer, (a deaf mute,) was charged with stealing 2s. 6d. the money of Wm. Mc. William. Mr. G. Somerset prosecuted and Mr. F, Prothero defended the prisoner. Ann Rogers stated that she was in the em- ploy of prosecutor, who keeps the Tredegar Arms Inn, Tredegar. On the 3rd of October she saw prisoner about the premises, and having been absent a few minutes from the tap, which she attended to, she missed a half-crown from the till on her return—the only half-crown there was then in the drawer. Mary Ann Caw deposed that being in an adjoining room during the absence of the last witness she heard some money jingle, and upon going into the tap she saw prisoner kneeling on the ground with his hand in the till. Sarah Evans corroborated the lait wit. ness' evidence. P.C. Jones deposed 'to searching the prisoner and finding half-a-crown aud some other silver in his? pocket. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and it having been proved that he was a lazy dissolute man, and had been once convicted for vagrancy, he was sentenced to four calendar months' hard labor. COMMUNICATION FROM THE GRAND JURY. The Grand Jury, in, handing in their last batch of bills, presented to the Court a list of several cases which they thought ought to have been disposed of summarily, instead of putting the county to the expense of bringing them to the Quarter Sessions, at the same time suggesting that the Court should disallow the expenses in such cases as it saw fit. The chairman remarked that in one of the cases referred to-one of indecent aSilalllt-it was not in the power of the justices to deal with it summarily, and in others it might have been that the prisoners had elected to be tried at Quarter Sessions; he added, however, that the suggestions should have the consideration of the Court. SECOND COURT, before Sir THOMAS PHILLIPS, deputy. chairman, and the Rev. THOMAS PROTHERO. EBBW VALE.—ROBBING A FELLOW-LODGER. Daniel Murphy, 21, puddler, was charged with stealing several articles ot wearing apparel, the property of George Carpenter, a fellow lodger. Mr. F. Prothero, prosecuted. The jury found the prisoner not guilty. PONTYPOOL.—PASSING-COUNTERFEIT COIN. Matthew Gainey, 23, laborer, pleaded guilty to unlaw- fully and knowingly tendering and putting off a medal representing half a sovereign, knowing the same to be counterfeit, on the 5th September. The deputy-chairman expressed some doubt whether the medal, which was pro- duced, bore such a resemblance to a coin as to be regarded as acuuuterfeit. Tbe prisoner, however, having pleaded guilty, was sentenced to six months' hard labor in the county gaol. NEWPORT.—SHOPLIFTING. Daniel Sheen, 20, seaman, was charged with stealing a pair of boots, of the value of 25s., from the shop of Henry Chaplain, on the 6th August. Mr. Croft prosecuted. Acquitted. NEWPORT.—THIBB AND RECEIVER. Joseph Gillingham, 64, shipwright, and Richard Grant, 48, marine store dealer, were charged, the former with stealing, and the latter with receiving well kaowimg to have been stolen, 6lbs. of copper nails, the property of Henry Oakley and others. Mr. Somerset prosecuted and Mr. S nythies defended; The prisoner Gillingham was sentenced to four months' hard labor,, and Grant was acquitted. HACHBN.—STEALING A DRAKE. Margaret Young, 64, married woman, pleaded guilty to stealing a drake, the property of David Mprris, on the 11th September. It having been stated to the Court that prisoner had been five times previously convicted and was a constant offender, she was sentenced to fifteen months' hard labor. NEWPORT.—SHOPLIFTING. Maria Biss was indicted for stealing a silk pocket hand- kerchief from the shop of Robert Williams. Mr. Cleave for the prosecutio D and Mr. G. Somerset for the defence. The prisoner was acquitted. ST. WOOLLOS.—ROBBING AN UNCLE. Henry Whiting pleaded guilty to stealing a sack and 1 cwt. of potatoes, the property of his uncle, James Whiting, and also tQ a previous coaviction, and was sen* tenced to twelve months' hard labor. ST. WOOLLOS.—ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON. Dennis Keefe and Dennis. Connor, laborers, were charged with stealing from the person of Wm. Cooney the sum of Is. 8da handkerchief, and a pair of trowsers. Mr. Smythies prosecuted. The bench instructed the jury to acquit the prisoners. NEWPORT.—SHOPLIFTING. Charles Thomas, alias Roberts, seaman, was charged with stealing a coat from the shop of Samuel Little and another, on the 29th August. Prisoner had been pre- viously convicted three times, and on the last occasion sentenced to seven years' penal servitude; he was now sentenced to five years' penal servitude. RHYMNEY.—ROBBING LODGINGS. Richard Jones, alias Griffiths, 18, was indicted for steal" ing, from the house of Evan Thomas, sundry articles of wearing apparel, the property of the said Evan Thomas and John Jones. The prisoner was found guilty, and a former conviction having been proved against him he was sentenced to six months' hard labor, and afterwards to be conveyed back to a reformatory at Neath, from which he had escaped. WEDNESDAY. FIRST COURT, before S. R. BOSANQUET, Esq., (chair- man,) G. R. GEEENHOW-RELPH, Esq., and S. CHURC- HILL,. Esq. EBBW V ALE.-A BAD CHARACTER. John Jones, 54, laborer, pleaded guilty to stealing an umbrella, the property of James Hughes, at Bedwellty, on the 26th August, and also to two previous convictions. There were four other indictments against the prisoner for stealing goods belonging to A. Darby, Esq., and other persons, to which he pleaded not guilty, and which were not gone into. In answer to the bench, Sergt. Williams gave the prisoner a very bad character, and he was sen- tenced to seven years' penal servitude. LLANBADDOCK.—ROBBERY FRqM LODGINGS. James Hall, 50, tailor, was charged with stealing the sum of 7s. 6d., the money of Mary And Thomas, at Llan- baddock, on the 3rd August. It appeared that prisoner, who had been working for Messrs. Waters and Son, tailors, Usk, for about a month, took lodgings at the house of the father of prosecutrix, on the evening of Monday, the 1st of August; on the following day he remained in bed until evening, and on the Wednesday morning he got up at half-past five o'clock, saying he was going to work and that he would be back to breakfast at eight o'clock. As he did not return, prosecutrix was induced to look in the dressing table drawer, in the bedroom he had occupied, when she missed 7s. 6d., which she had seen safe at the back of the drawer on the previous Monday night, since which time no one had stopped in the house but theinem- bers of the family, except the prisoner. Prosecutrix im- mediately gave information to the police, but prisoner could not be found until the 13th of September, when he was apprehended at Chepstow, and in answer to the charge, said he had never been in Usk. The jury found the pri- soner guilty, and he was sentenced to four months' hard labour in the county gaol. TREDEGAR.—ASSAULTING A POLICE CONSTABLE. Michael Hassett, 27, laborer, was indicted for unlawfully assaulting and beating Thomas Lewis, a county constable, whilst in the execution of his duty, at Tredegar, on the 9th October. Mr. Somerset prosecuted. The prisoner was sentenced to six months' hard labor in the county gaol, the chairman remarking that it was always the firm determination of the Court to protect the police in the execution of their duty, as assaulting them in the manner prisoner had done was, in fact, waging war against the Government. MYNYDDYSLLWYN .-F,ALSE PRETENCES. Lewis Lovell, a travelling tinker, was charged with having by a false pretence obtained from Catherine Jones the sum of Ell, a silver watch, a blanket, and other property, belonging to her husband, Rees Jones, with intent to cheat and defraud, on the 1st February. Another Count in the indictment charged the prisoner with stealing the property, and upon this he was tried. Mr. Granville Somerset prosecuted and Mr. Smythies defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner obtained a job of work at the house of prosecutor, and whilst there became acquainted with the fact that prosecutor's wife was laid up with the "asthma and rheumatic," whereupon he said that his wife could cure those complaints, and the sick woman at length consented to be treated by the gipsy doctress," which resulted in the prisoner and his wife paying several visits, and on departing each time they persuaded the patient or her daughter, to give them some or other of the property named in the indictment, aud ultimately they succeeded in getting from them ten sovereigns, which, for some mysterious purpose, they professed to tie up in a handkerchief and place in a cup- board, which they locked and took the key, giving in- structions that the cupboard was not to be openad until they called again, but a week having elapsed without their doing so, the prosecutor was acquainted with the facts, and the cupboard was broken open, when it was found that instead ot sovereigns the handkerchief contained ten pieces of lead. Upon this discovery being made, search was instituted for the prisoner, but he was not found until July, when he was apprehended in Radnorshire. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to nine months' hard labor. SECOND COURT, before Sir THOS. PHILLIPS, (deputy- chairman), W. A. WILLIAMS, Esq., and the Rev. THOS. PROTHERO. TREDEGAR.—INDECENT ASSAULT. Benjamin Thomas, a youth of 18, was charged with in- decently assaulting a girl named Martha Padfield, aged 12 years. Mr. Smythies prosecuted, and Mr. Pritchard defended. The prisoner was found guilty of a common assault, and was sentenced to six weeks hard labour, sub- ject to a case to be submitted to Her Majesty's judges. NEWPORT.-ROBBERY IN A BROTHEL. Ellen Sullivan, George Hawkes, Maria Johnson, Martha Howells, and Ann Sullivan, were indicted for stealing from the person of George Williams, the sum of 14s. 6d., and a tobacco box; and some of the prisoners were further charged with assaulting and beating the said George Williams. Mr. F. Prothero prosecuted. This was a brothel robbery of the usual description. The prosecutor after having been robbed was, according to his evidence, beaten in a savage manner, and turned out into the street nearly naked. The jury found the whole of the pri- soners not guilty. BILLS IGNORED. Ellen Ashfield, stealing the sum of dBlO Is., the money of Job Ashfield, at Nash. Ann Jones, stealing a bag containing flour, the property of Jane Cartwright, at Aberystruth. John Curtis, stealing butter, the property of his master, James Kjiapp, at Undy. Mary Jenkins, stealing four chickens, the property of Job Thomas, at Bedwellty. Eliza Horsman, stealing a shawl, the property of Vin- cent Allen, at Risca. George Libyatt, charged with committing an unnatural offence, at St. Meltons.