The Brecon Reporter and South Wales General Advertiser

BT^T^RV%TC7TT-D-N R»TT T> XT'"O CH^O^TAVCI XcXrOVJ'JJN U lkJL\>i llixw O-iiuOxvJxN O. The above Sessions, for the transaction of county business and trials of prisoners, commenced on Tuesday last, at the Shire Hall. There were pre- sent—The Chairman, Penry Williams, Esq.; the Rev. Hugh Bold, the Rev. Charles Griffith, J. W. Vaughan, Esq., J. Jayne, Esq., John Lloyd, Esq., John Lloyd, junior, Esq., H. P. Price, Esq., J. W. Morgan, Esq., W. Perrott, Esq., Mordecai Jones, Esq., T. Davies, Esq., G. Overton, Esq., and Lewis Hughes, Esq. COUNTY SURVEYOR'S REPORT. Gentlemen,—I beg to recommend the expendi- ture of the sum of £ 15 for the repairing of Tre- I'ickct bridge, which is in a very dangerous state. I am, your humble servant, W. WILLIAMS, Surveyor. The sum being small, the report was at once adopted. CHIEF REPORT. Gentlemen,—I have the honor to annex the usual quarterly returns, which show the result of 348 cases dealt with summarily, and the following ab- stract—the number of apprehensions for the past quarter. 113 persons have been apprehended, and were disposed of as follows :—■ Committed for trial 5 Summary convictions 69 discharged 39 113 Hay and Cefencoedcuvimer Police. Stations.-I have further to report that there is no supply of water at the above stations—the former is attended with much inconvenience and expense to the officer stationed there, who has to convey it from some distance. The station being small, confined, and exceedingly unhealthy, it is necessary to have a constant supply of water on the premises for the use of the cells and otherwise. I beg respectfully to call attention to the circumstance. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, Your obedient and faithful servant, EDMUND GWYNNE, Chief Constable of the County. In reference to the supply of water at Coedy- cymmer, it was ordered that the station be supplied at £ 1 Is. per annum, and the Clerk of the Peace was ordered to ascertain what it would cost at Hay. The Clerk of the Peace informed the court that the plans for the warming and ventilation of the various police stations were not quite satisfactory, and returned, with a recommendation to have them insured. The expense being trifling, it was agreed to, and the plans were again ordered to be fmbmitted to the proper quarter. The Clerk of the Peace read an application from the proprietors of the Brecon County Times, apply- ing for the county advertisements. A long discus- sion ensued, when Mr. Lloyd, senior, moved, and Mr. Bold seconded, that the Brecon papers should be supported in preference to papers published in other counties. The proprietor of the Brecon Re- porter having made a similar application, and was refused, he thought it was not doing justice to tho proprietor of that paper. Mr. Bold en- dorsed what Mr. Lloyd had said, and seconded the 'p' motion. Mr. Lloyd, junior, moved an amendment—That the advertisements be discontinued in the Mon- mouthshire Merlin, and substituted by the Brecon County Times." Mr. Vaughan supported the amendment, and after a long discussion the amend- ment was agreed to. VISITING JUSTICES' REPORT. The Visiting Justices and Finance Committee beg to report that they met at the Shire Hall on Thursday, the 26th day of June last, when they examined the Treasurer's account for the past quarter, as well as the-various bills and demands on the county, amounting to £789, 14, 10, and which they allowed and signed, and recommended to be ordered to be paid. They had also examined the probable statement of account for the ensuing quarter, and have the satisfaction of recommending that a rate of one penny in the pound be ordered at these Sessions, which they estimate will be suffi- cient to meet the probable requirements of the ensuing quarter. G'<M<—The warders at the Gaol having applied for an increase of pay, and two of them also having applied to be relieved from duty to a greater extent than at present permitted, the visiting justices re- commend that an increase of one shilling per week be made in the pay of Thomas Callaway, the head warder; that a similar measure be made to the pay of John Dacey, the second warder, and that he be allowed to sleep out of the Gaol every alternate week; that a suit of uniform clothing be allowed to sub-warden Thomas Morgan, and that he sleep at the Gaol on alternate weeks. (Signed) WM. DE WINTOX, V.M. HUGH BOLD, V.M. H. POWELL PRICE, V.M. A long discussion followed with reference to the order of improving the gaol, after which it was unanimously agreed, on the motion of Mr. Lloyd, seconded by Mr. Jones, that no money be laid out on the gaol until it was shown them that they were compelled to do so. ASSESSMENT C03IMITTEI! REPORT. The committee of justices appointed to prepare a basis of a fair and good county rate, under the provisions of 15 & 16 Victoria, cap. 81, beg to report that they met at the Shire Hall on the 7th day of May last, when the several returns made to the Clerk of the Peace by the Poor Law Unions, pursuant to the Assessment Committee Amendment Act, was laid before them. Those returns, by comparison with the basis now in force, show an increase in the rateable value of the property in every union, with the exception of that of Rhayader, which has made no return. The committee came to the conclusion of adopt- ing the returns made by the Clerk to the Union Assessment Committee, as the basis for a new county rate, which rendered it necessary to alter the rateable value of nearly all the parishes in the county, and they therefore gave due notice to the parish officers of parishes and hamlets, to furnish to the County Rates Expenditure Act, and appoin- ted a day for hearing objections. After hearing and disposing of all the objections made, the committee have decided to alter the existing basis or standard for a county rate, and that in future the basis should be set out in the schedule annexed hereto, and they accordingly report the altered basis to the court, as required by the Act of Parliament, and recommended its adoption. Summary of Unions. £ s. d. Brecknock 94,823 12 8 Builth 25,684 3 3 Cl'ickhowell. 55,993 8 1 Hay. 29,765 0 0 Llandovery 2,331 11 0 Neath 11,017 15 7 Merthyr Tydfil 11,436 8 6 Rhayader 1,835 16 3 < £ 232,887 15 4 An increase by the new assessment on a penny "rate mil therefore be £ 147. A GOVERNOR'S REPORT. Gentlemen,—In compliance with the require- ments of the Prisons' Act of 1865, with respect jO the separation of prisoners and enforcement of lard. labour, I have to signify that the requirements for the separation of the male prisoners have been carried out, and the enforcement of hard labour so far as 'practicable complied with. The construction of the female prison does not admit of their sepa- ration, indicated in the said act. I am, gentlemen, Your respectful servant, J. LAZENBY, Governor. The Justices of the county of Brecon, in Quarter Sessions assembled. ALTERATION IN THE CORONERSHIP. A long discussion followed relating to the divi- I sion of the county into north and south districts, after which, it was agreed that Mr. Maybery had to choose his district at S50 per annum, and he chose the north, being Merthyr Cynog, Builth, Talgarth, and neighbourhood, and the parishes of St. John's and St. Mary's, Brecon; Mr. James Williams taking the south district at X55 per an- num. being the parish of St. David's, Penkelly, Defvnoek, and neighbourhood. The court then adjourned until Wednesday, ten o'clock, for the TRIALS OF PRISONERS. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury:—Messrs. John Williams, Lion Street, Brecon; John Duncan, chemist, Brecon; Seymour Saffrey Sayers, Brecon; Samuel Jarrett, Crickho- well; William Merrick, Crickhowell; Thomas Wil- liams, Crickhowell; James Wood, Crickhowell; Thomas Hadley, Llangunnider; David Jones, Hay; Benjamin Hadley, Hay; George Horden, Hay, and John Harris, Hay. The usual proclamation against vice and immo- rality having been read, the Chairman delivered the following charge :—■ Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,—Before proceed- ing to make any remarks upon the duties before them, he would make an observation on the atten- dance of the grand jury, and he hoped he should not be called upon again to do so. By Act of Par- liament, it was requisite that a certain number of gentlemen should be summoned to attend. The smallest number that could form a grand jury was 12, and they were only 13. The highest number that could form a grand jury was 23—that was in- tended in case they could not all agree. In some cases there may be 12 out of the 23 for or against bringing in a true bill, or throwing out a bill. It was very important that those gentlemen who were summoned should attend. He would not make any further remarks on that subject, but would re- mark on the business that would have to come before them. The number of cases are not very numerous, nor yet very serious. The calendar con- tained prisoners charged with larceny, felony, and misdemeanor. They would have the evidence, and it would be for them to say whether there was sufficient grounds to send the prisoners for trial before a petty jury. He would then call their atten- tion to what had been done by the court with reference to the cattle plague. The court had dis- cussed and examined a'number of communications and documents, and found from some of them that when the cattle plague reigned in the year 1744, the medicine that was given them, and every re- medy that was tried failed, and it would appear that they were as far in the dark in the present day as they were then; and they considered that it was nothing but right to prevent the attendance of cattle at our fairs, so long as the plague existed in the country. The court had ordered a county rate of one penny in the pound and a police rate of three farthings in the pound. The Chairman then discharged them to the execution of their duty, and requested them to bring in a bill as early as zzl possible. LARCENY. David Davies, (34) laborer, was charged with stealing a white duck slop and a waistcoat of the value of 5s. or thereabouts, the property of John Jones, at Hay, 7th June, 1866. —The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 4 months hard labour. STEALING A FOWL. Thomas Williams, (23) labourer, was charged with stealing a hen fowl of the value of 3s., the property of George Perry, at Aberllunvey, on the night of the 5th May, 1866. Mr. Bishop prosecuted. George Perry, Three Cocks, deposed that his farm-yard was opposite the house; he had some fowls in the hen-roost; he heard the fowls making a noise; the yard was open; in consequence of the noise he went to them; he called his wife to bring a light; he saw the prisoner there; he sent his wife to call William Bowen, miller; he came directly; the miller told the man to come down; the prisoner said he had gone there to lie down; Bowen went to the loft and brought a fowl down dead, but quite warm; he (witness) sent for the police and gave the fowl to Sergeant Wilson; he should know the fowl if he saw it again. Frances Perry, wife of the last witness, deposed that on the 5th of May last, in consequence of her husband calling her she took a light to the hen- roost Bowen came there and went to the loft and brought a dead fowl down with him; the fowl was her's; there were two missing, but they could not account for them; the fowl was given to P. S. Wilson. William Bowen, miller, deposed that he went to the Three Cocks farm-yard; he saw the prisoner on the loft;. he knew him well and called him by his name, and said, "Tom, what are yon doing ti-iere? prisoner said he went there to lie down the prisoner was aftenvards given into custody. n l n ^ePos_ed that he was sent for to the Three Cocks, the prisoner was charged with steal- ing fowls; he took the prisoner into custody and cautioned him in the usual way; he said that he did not go there to steal the fowl, he only went there to lie down. The Chairman having summed up, the jury re- turned a verdict of guilty. Sentenced to two calendar months hard, labour. A GOOSE STOLEN. --E(livin Edwards, (21) pain- ter, was charged with stealing a goose, the property of Thomas Jenkins, at Cantreff, 18th June, 1866. —Mr. Bishop prosecuted. Thomas Jenkins, Capel-nant-ddu, deposed that on the 17th of June last he had 27 geese; on the 18th the prisoner and another person called at his house and had some beer; they drank together and went away; about half an hour afterwards he missed one of the geese; he saw the goose at the police station at Penclerin; it was his goose; it had a gathering on its foot. Ann Jones, Ynis-felen, deposed that on the 18th of June she was going home from Merthyr; she met the prisoner and another man near the Graig turnpike gate; the goose fell from the man when they got near her; she asked where they had stolen the goose from; the prisoner said, What odds to you, you old gipsy, have you got any for me to steal?" She called to the gate-keeper, and the prisoner with the other person ran away through a wood, crossed the river, and into Pemilad wood; the gate-keeper followed them; she saw the same gotse at the station as she saw drop on the road; the goose was covered in something like a white smock. Thomas Davies, Darren gate, deposed that he saw two men pass; the prisoner was one the last witness called out, Come to catch the thieves he followed them; he only saw the one on the road; the prisoner ran down to the wood, through the field they then crossed the river together the river was high he went along the road and saw Watkin Meredith going towards the river on horse- back he (witness) crossed the river and caught the prisoner; he asked Where were the geese ?" prisoner said he knew nothing of them; they gave the prisoner into the custody of the police. Margaret Meredith deposed that on the day in question she saw the two men crossing the field and the river; before she went out she heard some person call out, "Catch the thieves;" the prisoner was one; he was near enough to hear what was called out; after they crossed the river she saw them in the field the other side; the prisoner was taken by Thomas Davies; there are fields between the road and the river; she went down to the river-side where they had crossed; she did not cross the river; she found the goose that evening by tracing their steps through the wood; she took it home; on the next morning she gave the goose to the police. Two policemen were examined and gave evidence as to having received the goose and apprehended the prisoner; after which, the Chairman summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of Guilty.— Sentenced to 2 calendar months hard labour. PIG- STEALTI-,G.- Henry Bevan, (61) haulier, was charged with stealing and driving away three pigs of the value of X6, the property'of Wm. Williams, at Llanelly, 28th May, 1866. Mr. Henry Maybery prosecuted. William Williams, quarryman, deposed that he had three pigs on the 27th May last; from what he heard on the 28th he went on Brynmawr road; he met his wife and his brother bringing the pigs home. Jane Williams, wife of the prosecutor, deposed that on the 28th of May last she let them out of tho piggery about one o'clock; she was told by Margaret Price, about five o'clock, that the pigs were gone up the road. Edward Williams deposed that on the 28th of May last he met Jane Williams, about seven o'clock in the evening; he went about half a mile on the road to the prisoner's house; Henry Bevan's wife opened the door; the prisoner was at the top of the stairs; prisoner said the pigs were about 300 yards distant, at his sister-in-law's house; prisoner went and showed him where they were they were in Henry Beavan's sister-in-law's pig-stye; they were his brother William's pigs; the prisoner did not say anything when lie took the pigs away. Margaret Price, Llanelly, deposed that she saw the prisoner drive three pigs in the direction of her house, and by William Williams's house. Elizabeth Pritchard deposed that she saw the prisoner on the day in question; he was driving three pigs towards Brynmawr. I y James Bythell deposed that he was coming out of his garden on the day in question; he saw the prisoner driving some pigs; prisoner said they be- longed to a butcher at Blama, who had given him some drink for driving them on; when he got to the gate it was shut, and he turned them up to- wards the hill; the one laid down, and two little boys sent them after him. The Chairman having summed up, the jury re- turned a verdict of guilty.—Sentenced to 3 calendar months hard labour. HORSE-STEALING.— Joshua Simmons, (26) labo- rer, was charged with stealing and leading away a pony mare, the property of Roger Williams, at Builth, 8th June, 1866. Mr. Bishop prosecuted. Rice Evans, servant at Court-y-coed, in the pa- rish of Bronllys, deposed that on the 8th of June last he went to Beaufort; he had the loan of his master's horse; on his way back he called at the Old Bridge Inn, Bwlch; he put the horse in the stable to give him some oats; when he went back to the stable the pony was gone; he went on to Brecon and gave information to Mr. Price, super- intendent he went to Builth and found the pony in the possession of P.S. Fly. P.S. Fly deposed that he was stationed at Builth; he saw the prisoner (with a pony mare) in conversa- tion with Doctor Jones; he (witness) asked him how much he wanted for the pony; prisoner said £ 20; he said it was his father's pony, who lived at Gwilly, near Brecon, that he had the pony for the last six years, and he had lived with his father all that time; prisoner said that he thought Gwilly was in the parish of Brecon, that his father's name was Simmons; he (witness) charged the prisoner with stealing the pony and took him into custody. The Chairman summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty.—Sentenced to 2 years hard labour. CHARGE OF INDECENT ASSAULT.—John Evans, (24) railway time-keeper, was charged with unlaw- fully and indecently assaulting Ann, the wife of John Jones, and otherwise illtreating her, at Ys- tradgunlais. Mr. T. Bishop prosecuted, and Mr. W. Games defended the prisoner. Ann Jones, wife of John Jones, Penrhos, Ys- tradgunlais, deposed that she went from Llachfane to Ystradgunlais on the 23rd May last; she went along the line leading from Brecon to Neath; she saw the prisoner and another man at a lonely spot on the line; the prisoner came over the fence to. her; she was then on the road; he passed the time of day and asked her how far she was going; she said she was going near the Ystrad; he said she could not get home that night, as it was too late; he asked her to take his arm; she refused; he caught hold of her arm and dragged her on a little 19 way; he then put his arm round her waist; he then pulled her down and she was uppermost; she saw a man on the mountain who hallooed out; at that time prisoner let go his hold and she got away; about half a mile further he overtook her and caught hold of her shoulder; he fell down on his back; she also fell down, but got away; prisoner again overtook her and put his hand at the bottom of her clothes; a horse's head appeared in sight and he pulled her on by the arm; a man with a cart and two horses came up, and she asked him to stop the prisoner from following her; the prisoner then beckoned to her; he stayed with the man and the cart; the prisoner again followed her; she met William Thomas, the tailor the prisoner afterwards followed her, and she ultimately got away from him; she had had a miscarriage about three weeks previous; the prisoner pulled her about against her will. David Thomas, farmer, Nantmadoc, Devynnock, deposed that on the 23rd May last he met the pri- soner and the last witness on the road as he was going home with some lime; she was under his arm, and she said to him (witness) for goodness sake to get the prisoner to let her go; he (witness) said to prisoner, if he did not let her go he would knock him; prisoner then let her go and began to fence before him she asked him to get the prisoner to let her loose when about ten yards from the cart; when he saw them first they were about 200 yards distant. William Thomas Williams, tailor, Ystradgunlais, deposed that be remembered the 23rd of May last; he was going in the direction of Devynnock; he had a horse leading; he met Ann Jones on the road opposite Cwmnant-yr-wydd.; she was running; she said some man was coming after her; she appeared to be much fatigued; when she was talking the prisoner came up; witness asked the prisoner why he did not let the woman alone in such a lonely spot -bS that; prisoner said what the devil was that to him; he (witness) told the woman to go away and he would keep him there; he told prisoner that he ought to be taken up; prisoner turned back and said he would get some men t settle his (wit- ness's) account; he then hailed to come men; one man came, and the other man struck him with something he had on the head, and the prisoner struck him on the shoulder with a stone; he then ran for his life, and some of them were between him and his home, and when he found blood flow- ing from his head he jumped over the hedge to escape the prisoner jumped on the horse and was riding him. Alexander Smith, shepherd, deposed that he saw the prisoner and a woman near the railway bridge; he saw the prisoner pull her down on the pitch the other side of the bridge; she got up and ran away; the prisoner ran after her; he was about 40 or 50 yards distant. John Jones, a shepherd boy, deposed that he remembered the 23rd May last; he was crossing the railway bridge; he saw the prisoner and the prosecutrix going along; the prisoner put his hand round her waist and tried to pull her on one side; she was pushing him away; he caught hold of her again; he then pulled her down; the both got up together, and the woman got away after she got up. Mr. Price, superintenbent, deposed that a war- rant was issued to apprehend the prisoner; he was also gazetted, and was apprehended at Carmarthen; he saw the prisoner at the station and told him that he was charged with committing an indecent assault and highway robbery; prisoner replied that "he knew what he bad done to the woman, but highway robbery was awful." The Chairman having summed up, the jury re- turned a vernict of Guilty of a common assault.— Sentenced to 10 calendar months hard labour. The court then adjourned until 10 o'clock on Thursday. CHARGE OF RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY. — JanLeS Jones, (59) servant, and Francis Healey, (bailed) labourer, were charged with feloniously receiving from one Edward Field a quantity of tobacco, the property of John Benjamin, they well knowing the same to have been stolen, in the month of June last, in the borough of Brecon. Mr. Bishop prosecuted, and Mr. W. Games defended the prisoners. John Benjamin, grocer, deposed that in conse- quence of what was told him, lie made a particular mark on some of his packets of tobacco, about 40 in number, about three weeks ago the same eve- ning he missed four of them he missed others previous they were in the cellar; he bad a young man of the name of Field a porter he had access to the warehouse he did not sell any of the pac- kets that he marked he never instructed Field to sell any the porter looked after the horse the prisoner also looked after a gentleman's close by he never employed Jones to work for him he never gave Jones four packets of tobacco for doing work it is not usual for working men to buy so much at a time; it would get dry. Cross-examined: Field is in his employ no proceedings had been taken against him, but he was watched. Edward Field, porter in the employ of Mr. Ben- jamin, deposed that in June last, the prisoner used to go to their stable; the prisoner asked him to get him a bit of tobacco prisoner knew he was in the employ of Mr. Benjamin he gave prisoner tobacca two or three times he gave two half-quar- ters at one time, and four at another time it was given in the stable he got the tobacco from the box in the cellar; he did not ask Mr. Benjamin for it; he did not say he was going to give it to any person he took it without Mr. Benjamin's consent; the prisoner did not know where he got it from prisoner did not give him any money for it, nor promised to. Henry Kettle, grocer, deposed that he knew the prisoner; prisoner offered to sell him four half- quarters of tobacco he said that he got it from Mr. Benjamin's boy he bought it for 2s. 4d. he told his brother of it, and that he intended calling with Mr. Benjamin Jones said without asking where he got it from. John Prosser, grocer, assistant with Mr. Benja- min, deposed that he never sold any half-quarters of tobacco to the prisoner, nor authorized Field to do so. Edward Shears, assistant with Mr. Benjamin, deposed that he did not sell any Franklin tobacco to the prisoner, nor authorized Field to sell any; they sold a quantity of Franklin's tobacco. Mary Kettle, wife of Henry Kettle, deposed that she saw the prisoner about three weeks or a month ago in their shop he offered her two half-quarters of tobacco for sale she bought them of him for Is. 2d. he said that Mr. Benjamin had given them to him for helping the boy in the stable she heard him another time in the shop offering to sell tobacco to her niece, but did not see him it was done openly he did not attempt to conceal it. Frederick Hodges, grocer, deposed that he had some Franklin tobacco in a box, but had not open- ed it; about the 12th of June he opened it; it may be before that; he would not be certain as to the exact day; he sold a great quantity, but he did not know to who the tobacco was sold. Superintendent Lee deposed that he apprehended the prisoner James Jones he cautioned him, and charged him with receiving some tobacco of a boy in the employ of Mr. Benjamin; he said" yes I have had some tobacco of the boy the prisoner was in bed unwell. Mr. Bishop addressed the jury, after which the chairman and sitting magistrates retired to consider if this was a case to go before the jury, as set for- ward by Mr. Games. The chairman said that the court thought there was a doubt, and that the pri- soner should have the benefit of the doubt. The charge against Healey was not pressed, and both prisoners were discharged. This concluded the business of the Sessions.