Potter's Electric News

PEMBROKESHIRE MIDSUMMER QUARTER SESSIONS WEDNESDAY. 'j. The Court assembled at ten o'clock. The ma- gistrates on the Bench were the Chairman, J. H. Scourfield, Esq, M.P., John Harvey, Esq, E. T. Massy, Esq, and James Higgon, Esq. The Clerk called over the panel of the Grand Jury, when only eleven answered to their names. The Court waited some time in the hope that the absent jurymen would arrive, and was at length compelled to select three names from the list of the petty jury and add them to the Grand Jury panel, in order to proceed with the business. The delay produced great inconvenience, as the busi- ness before the Court was unusually heavy. The usual proclamation against vice and im. morality having been read, The Chairman addressed the Grand Jury. He said: Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—I regret very much to have to notice on the present occasion a de- unfair effect, not only upon the Court whose tiii" is occupied, but also upon the other members of the Grand Jury who are detained, and the petty business is also protracted. The effect of the de- lay to-day has been to inflict very serious incon- venience, not only upon the Court, but upon the petty jury and the grand jury, and certainly if I find a recurrence of the practice I shall be obliged to do what I should be very reluctant to do, and that is to inflict a fine upon the jurymen who do not attend. I am obliged on this occasion to have recourse to supplementing the number, and to call .pon the gentlemen who are summoned on the Peity Jury to serve upon the Grand Jury. This of course (tiscenaposes Ittth lists but the gentle- men of the Petty Jury who have been placed upon the Grand Jury will not be put to any inconveni- ence, because as a general rule the work of the Grand Jury is lighter than that of the Petty Jury. The Chairman then referred.to the calendar, which he said contained no cases likely to present any difficulty. They were all of an ordinary kind, and required little or no comment from him. After referring to the charges of stealing hay and lime- stone, the Chairman dismissed the jury to their duties, asking them to select a short case first, in order that the Court might the sooner proceed with the business. A true bill having been returned, the Court commenced the TRIAL OF PRISONERS, of whom there were seven, charged with various offences. STEALING 'WEARING APPAREL, &C. William King, 25, bricklayer, was charged with stealing a piir of trousers, of the value of 19s., the property of James James, at Nevern, on the 24th of May, 1867. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr Lascelles prosecuted: the prisoner was not defended. Elizabeth James I am the wife of James James, ofPenwaun. I have a son named David James. I washed his trousers on the 24th of May, and placed it on a bush. They were taken away trom there that evening at 6 o'clock. The trousers produced is the one I washed. There are different kinds of buttons on it. I produce a piece like it. James Nicholas I recollect the day the trousers were stolen. I saw the prisoner about 300 yards from the house, about three o'clock in the after- noon. He had a bundle under his coat. P.C. William Evans I apprehended the prisoner on the 24th of May, and found the trousers on him under another pair. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner said he was given the trousers the day before between Newcastle Emlyn and Cardigan by a gentleman. Z5 The Chairman summed up the evidence. The Jury found the prisoner guilty. The Chairman sentenced the prisoner to be kept in the House of Correction for five months with hard labour. John Pox, 24, soldier, was charged with stealing one pair of fustian trousers, one plaid waistcoat, one pair of drawers, one pair of stockings, two keys, one caliper, one bracer, one piece of paper, and the sum of 91 10s. the property of John Thomas, at St. Marv's in the Borough of Pembroke, on the 25th June, 1867. The prisoner pleaded not guilty, saying he had bought the articles. t, Mr. Powell prosecuted the prisoner was not defended. P.C. Geo. Morris I am stationed at Penally. On the evening of the 26th of June I apprehended the prisoner at the Wheelabout public house at Penally. I searched him and found 19s. in silver on him. He was wearing the trousers produced. I went to a public house kept by Henry Young at the Ridgeway at Penally, and found the trousers there. John Thomas I am a moulder employed in the Dockyard. I know the prisoner. On the night of the 25th of June, about 11 o'clock, he came to my house, and asked me to buy a pair of boots of him. I declined to do so. He asked me for a pair of old trousers. 1 told him I had none. I went to bed the trousers and drawers I wore that dav. I placed them on a chair by the bed. There were 30s., a purse, a pencil, a pair of calipers, two keys, an income tax paper, and a paper with a measurement of glass in the trousers. The articles produced are mine. When I got up next morning ] missed these articles. I did not lock the door that night: my wife had gone out, and I left the door ajar. The purse produced is mine. By the prisoner: The red purse is not mine. Mary Thomas I am the wife of the last witness. On the morning of the 26th of June I went to a field below my house. I found a military trousers, pair of braces, a. stock, and a belt. I found two keys, a pair of calipers, a piece of paper, in my husband's handwriting, a pencil, and keys. They belong to my husband. They were lost on Tuesday the 25th of June. A trousers, a drawers, a brace, stockings, and a waistcoat were lost at the same time. I found the paper and keys on the top of the military clothing. P.C. Thomas Stephens: I am stationed at Pem- broke-dock. The articles I produce I received from the last witness on the 26th of June. David Venables ] keep the Kilwendeg public house at Peanar. The prosecutor lives in the third house below me. The prisoner was in my house on the 25tb of June: he was there twice—at seven o'clock and at 25 minutes to 11. Thomas Wilcox I live at Pennar. I live about 6° yarcft from the prosecutor's house. I saw the prisoner about half-past II in Mr Venable's door, who got him out: he went straight to Mr Thomas's house, and went in. There was a light there I thought he might have been acquainted with the people, and I went away. The door was open. I can't swear he is the man, but it was a soldier The soldier that came from Venable's house went into Mr Thomas's. Jno. Owen I am a sergeant in the 47th regi- ment. The prisoner belongs to my company. I was orderly sergeant on the 25th of June. The prisoner was absent from barracks. Bis number is 1224. The military clothing produced is the prisoner's, and is numbered 1224. This was the case for the prosecution. The prisoner said that his brother fc rougbt him a little money, and he got into tr( ible. He resolved to leave his regiment, and he purchased the clothes found on him of a person whom he met at Pembroke-dock. The Chairman summed up the evidence. The jury found the prisoner guilty. The Chairman, in passing sentence, said :—John Fox,- T ou have been very properly found guilty of stealing the property of Mr Thomas. The cir- I cumstances of the case as far as disclosed to the court do not differ materially from those in that of case and his is that you have been recently com- mitted to prison, and he was in jail a month. I shall pass, virtually, the same sentence upon you, and the sentence of the court is that you be im- prisoned and kept to hard labour for six calendar months. Thomas Dunn, aged 20, and Daniel Roberts, aged 23, both soldiers, were charged with stealing one pair of cloth trousers, one monkey jacket, one pair of worsted stockings, one check shirt, one serving board, one canvas ditty bag, one blanket, one counter- pane, one canvas bag. three vests, two check shirts, one single barrel gun, one powder flask and shot flask, one spoke shaver, one serving palm, and two flannel waistcoats, together value dE3, the property of John Jones, at St. Mary's, in the Borough of Pem- broke, on the 25th of May, 1867. The prisoners pleaded not guilty. Mr O. Powell prosecuted the prisoners were not defended. John Jones: I am master of the 'Cambria' sloop. It was lying on the beach at Pater on Saturday, the 25th of May. On that evening I and the mate left the sloop the cabin and forecastle were locked up. At eight o'clock the next morning, I went on board. The board of the companion was broken off. I went below a bag, clothes, a ditty bag, and a gun were gone. The articles produced are mine. The value of the articles is about £ 4. The gun is now broken it was not broken when I left it in the ship. P.C. Caleb Nicholas: I am stationed at Little Haven. I apprehended the prisoners on Sunday, the 26th of May, at Broadway, about a mile from Little Haven. I locked them up. I found on Dunn the jacket and trousers over his uniform. On Roberts I found the check shirt over the uniform. I found the stockings in the cell after I locked the prisoners up. The serving board I found in the pocket of the jacket. William Vvilliams: I am an apprentice to Mr Gaddarn, shipbuilder, of Neyland. The canvas bag, jacket, counterpane, waistcoats, and check shirt, I saw in a field by the road between Waterston and Milford between nine and ten o'clock in the morning. I went to William Howells at Waterston, who sent me back after the clothes. I went, and gave them to him. William Howells I am a shipwright in the Dock- yard, and live at Waterston. The last witness brought me the articles produced. I gave them to P.C. Thomas. The Chairman observed that the witness had behaved very properly. P.C. William Thomas: I am,stationed at Pater. I went to William Howells on the 28th of May. I received the articles from him by his wife. I also received the other articles from P. C. Nicholas. P.S. Irving: 1 am stationed at Pater. On the 28th of May, I saw the two prisoners in the Guard Room at Pater. They were partly stripped. I found a flannel waistcoat on Dunn under his shirt. Thomas "I athias: I live at Robeston. I am a labourer. I can't say whether I have seen the prisoners before. I have seen the powder flask before with two men. One was dressed as a labouring man and the other had a top coat on. P.C. John Griffiths: 1 found the gun in a field near Waterston-in the same field as the clothes were found. Joseph O'Hara: I am a sergeant in the 58th regt. The prisoners belong to the regiment. 1 am sergeant in charge of the room to which the prisoners belong. The prisoners were not present that night at eleven o'clock, nor at six o'clock the next morning. I reported them as having broken out of barracks. This was the case for the prosecution. Dunn said he was given the articles by a man whom he did not know. Roberts said he had no observations to make, The Chairman summed up the evidence. The jury found the prisoners guilty. I Sergeant O'Hara, in answer to the Chairman, said ( that the prisoners bore a good character, and that the present was their first offence. The Chairman, in sentencing the prisoners, said :— Thomas Dunn and Daniel Roberts,- You have both been found guilty, and very properly, of stealing a great number of articles belonging to Mr Jones. The sergeant, who has attended here to-day, has given you a good character, and the Court on that account is inclined to deal rather more leniently with you than it would otherwise do. In this case, although it presents many features of similarity to the others heard to-day, it appears you actually broke into the vessel. You did not give way to any casual tempta- tion there seems to be something like deliberate action in the matter. However, you have received a good character, and the Court will, on this occasion, pass upon you this sentence-that you be confined in the House of Correction and kept to hard labour for six calendar months. CHARGE OF STEALING HAY. JolmGriJIitlu was charged with stealing 201bs of hay, the property of Stephen Phillips, at Maen- clochog, on the 18th of April, 1867. The prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr O. Powell prosecuted the prisoner was de- fended by Mr Lascelles. Mr Powell, having opened the case, called Stephen Phillips, who deposed I am a farmer residing at Maenclochog. I hold land there. I had a rick and a stack of hay in the hayguard it was lay hay and seed hav. 1 lost some hay on the even- ing, I think, of the 19th of April from the rick and stack. I lost from a cwt to 2 cwt. I went to the prisoner's house after I lost the hay he lives about twenty .yards from me. He has also land and hay his hayHs a little darker than mine. I found the police constable there, and went baek to my own house. 11-was called back again. The prisoner has a atable:in his yard. There was a lock on the door. The prisoner asked me if I wanted him to open the lock, and opened it. The policeman was there, and went into the stable. The policeman found a little hay in the stable on a loft. H was like the hay4 lost. It was seed hay: the prisoner has seed hay in his possession. The prisoner said nothing to me: he asked the police to pass by him—to leave him alone. The hay produced is like what I lost-I can't swear it is what I lost. Cross-examined: I had two sorts of hay on my premises. The seed hay was nearly all cut. I fed the horses from the tick. My son had charge of the horses. I saw the hay the night I lost it. The next morning early I found the hay was missing, and saw the knife produced on the bench. I was first sent for to go to the prisoner's about middle day. I went home, and I went again because the policeman called me. I was then shown the hay. I said I could not swear to the hay, but I fetched some hay from my rick, and the one swore the other. The policeman said he must be taken before a magistrate. I agreed with him, and dressed to go with him. He told the policeman that he would be worse than any of his family if he did not pass him by. P.C. John Davies I am stationed at Maenclochog. On the 19th of April I went to the last witness's hayguard. I afterwards went to the prisoner's hay- guard. I sent for the prisoner, and he came at once. I told him of the hay robbery, and that I was going round his premises to search for it. He asked me for a search warrant. I told him I had none. should get into trouoie. I told him I should searcn. I searched the barn, when the prisoner took hold of me, and asked me to go away as I had been there long enough and to say that I had found none. I went to the stable it was locked. Before I searched the barn the door was not keyed. In a few minutes afterwards I saw the prisoner in a little house near the fold. I asked him to open the door: he refused to do so. I said I was going to break it open if he did not. He said if I called upon Stephen Phillipa, and if he came, he would open it. I called Phillips, who came, and said he wanted the door opened. It was opened. I found a small quantity of seed and lay hay on boards over the stall. The hay produced is what I found there. The prisoner begged me to pass him by and not make a sway, and that if I did it, Stephen would be all right. I produce a hay- knife. I had it with Stephen Phillips. The prisoner had seed hay in his hayguard. I have a sample of the prisoner's own hay. Cross-examined I went to the prisoner's between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning. I was not surprised at the prisoner asking me for a search war rant. There was no padlock on the stable when I saw it first. The prosecutor recalled: I have seen the hay knife before to-day. I found it on my bench of hay. I gave it to John Davies. It is not my knife. Cross-examined: I was never asked before the magistrates about the knife. P.C. John Davies recalled, deposed that when before the magistrate he said that he had no evidence respecting the knife. David Harries I am a servant living with Mr Walters, vicar of Maenclochog. I don't know whose hay-knife it is but it is a knife which the prisoner lent me once. He lent it to me twice. Cross-examined The prisoner lent it to me once and the woman who lives with him lent it once to me. He did not lend me the knife the night the hay was lost. This was the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Lascelles addressed the jury in behalf of the prisoner, contending that the case was one of mere shallow suspicion, and that there was no evidence whatever to sustain the charge. Thomas John In April last I lived with the prisoner. The prisoner had a mare. He had hay in the hayguard. I fed the mare the night before the policeman came there. I had the hay from the prisoner's hayguard. I fed the mare in the morning with hay from the prisoner's mow. There was some hay left after feeding the mare in the morning. I locked the door of the stable, and took the key to the house, and placed it on a shelf. I was present when the policeman came. The stable door was then locked. The prisoner was very willing to open the door, when Stephen Phillips came. The hay that the policeman took from the stable came from the pri- soner's and my hayguard. The hay belonged to us both. The prisoner had a hay-knife. I had no knife that morning, as some one had removed it. I did not know what became of it. I used it on the Thursday night previous. The knife was often lost. I did not see the hay taken by the police from the prisoner's rick. I was about there at the time. The police showed me the hay-knife: I could not identify it as it was all dirt. Cross-examined I fed the mare the night before. I cut hay from the rick but I don't know the hay produced. There is some of it very like the pri- soner's. The hay produced is lay hay. The prisoner had seed hay amongst his. It is like the prisoner's hay, but I can say nothing about it. The hay found by the police in the stable was had from the prisoner's hayguard. There was a little lay hay there. Mr Powell addressed the jury in reply, and the, Chairman summed up the evidence. The jury retired, and after a brief absence returned into Court with a verdict of not guilty. The prisoner was therefore discharged. The Grand Jury returned no bill against Henry Griffiths and Nathaniel Rudd, charged with stealing about 24 tons of quarried limestone, value £ I 4s, the property of Thomas James, at St Mary's, in the borough of Pembroke, about June, 1867. The Court adjourned about three o'clock.