Abergavenny Chronicle

Abergavenny Police Court. I Wednesday.—Before Mr. F. P. J. H anbury (in I the chair), Mr. J. O. Marsh, Major Williams, I and Mr. Edwin Foster. I A xKe.r.KCTrri, FATHER. Wm. Morgan, labourer, ol Abergavenny, dul not appear in answer to a summons for neglecting to maintain his two children, Mary and Winifred, who were chargeable to the Abergavenny Union. Mr. Scanlon appeared on behalf of the Guardians. Mr. Thos. Geo. Green, relieving officer, said that Mary had been chargeable since the 8th of March, 1913, and Winifred since the nth July, 1913, and they were still chargeable. De- fendant was convicted some time ago on a similar charge and was sent down for a month. Mr. Scanlon asked Supt. Davies to tell the Bench what he knew about the defendant. Supt. Davies said that was the defendant's 19th conviction, the last occasion being July 9th last year. He absconded, but when he did come back he spent what money he earned and did not give any to his family. It was very little that he did earn. The Bench sentenced defendant to two months' hard labour. I BFN T,%VLOR'S "PATRIOTISM." I Benjamin Taylor was charged, on remand, with malicious damage to a window at the Rothesay Hotel, to the value of 6s. and further with being drunk and disorderly on the 6tli inst. in Monmouth-road, and with assaulting P.C. Oram in the execution of his duty. Defendant, who was in custody, said Before we go any further, there are two gentlemen on the Bench I shall object to. I have objected several times. Mr. J. O. 'Marsh (who now occupied the chair) On what ground J Defendant Because they are prejudiced against me. Mr. H. C. Steel said he did not see any necessity for him to retire. Mr. Edwin Foster remarked that he had not the least desire to adjudicate in the case, and sat hack from the bench. Edwin Attwood, manager of the Rothesay Hotel, said that defendant came into the hotel about f).-t5 a.m. on the (Jth inst., accompanied by his mother, and used very bad language towards witness's wife. Witness came down- stairs, but his wife thought she could manage to get- defendant from the premises, and advised him to go back upstairs., Ta\ lor left the premises, and seeing witness's man in the yard, used filthy expressions towards him which witness could hear upstairs. Defendant also threatened fight and afterwards came back ill the house. Witness came downstairs, and as defendant would not leave when requested to do so, witness pushed him outside. Defendant became very w'ild, and taking off his boots, which were unlaced, deliberately threw them at witness. Defendant's mother interfered, and when witness pushed her away s he fell on her back. Witness went inside the house, and while there heard the front window being smashed. Witness sent his man, Roper, for police assist- ance and also telephoned from the Swan Hotel. Sergt. Prosser promised to send down a man at once, which he did. Defendant .was mad drunk and very wild. The Clitirillaii Why did he come in ? Witness lie wanted me to take some bottles from him. Had he any drink with you that day ?—No. I am a member of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, and we passed a resolution some three or four months ago to the effect that no member should serve him, whether he was drunk or sober. Witness added that while the police were en deavouring to arrest defendant his mother con- tinually obstructed them in their duty. Witness- had to warn her against using filthy language to his wife and threatening her. Whilst witness was at the telephone, Taylor had gone into the yard and took possession of the horse and trolley and drove it up the Monmouth road. In his condition it was very dangerous, not only to himself but to the public at large. Defendant Was I at your house the day I)efore ?-You were there the previous after- noon, and I ordered you out. Did you see me with a Hancock's bottle, coming to change it ?—No. If you did you were not supplied. Did you hit me in the back ?- I pushed you. Did you use me gently or not ?—I might have used a little violence to protect myself and my wife, whom you chased through the passage, threatening.  Did you hit me in the mouth or try to strike me on the ground ? ?o. Elizabeth Emma Attwood, wife of the last witness, said she saw the defendant deliberately rusli and put his fist through the window. He would have done more damage if his mother had not pulled him back. Defendant Did I come in your house the day bef.)re ?- Y eu came in with a couple of bottles and wanted me to have them. I said they were my bottles, but I didn't want them. I didn't want you or your mother. Wasn't the window cracked before ?—No. Sophia Creenhow, mother of the defendant, was called for the defence. She said that de- fendant took some bottles to the hotel and brought a flagon of stout back. The glass door had been broken for ten or twelve months. The next day defendant went to the hotel to see why Mr. Attwood was so nasty to him. She saw Mr. Attwood strike defendant in the month. He came to strike her and put his knee into her, pushing her down on the road. On the charge of being drunk, P.C. Calder said he found prisoner drunk and disorderly, and he refused to go away when requested to do so. When witness took hold of him to bring him to the police station, defendant put his foot behind him and tried to trip him up. Defendant was hitting and kicking all the time. P.C. Oram camp to his assistance, and they managed to get him on the ground and put the handcuffs on him. Defendant kicked P.C. Oram on the head and legs. Defendant's mother came and pulled him off the defendant and stopped him putting on the handcuffs. They tried to get defendant to walk, but he only walked about 50 yards. A trap then came along and they were invited to put defendant in it to take him to the station, which thev did. Defendant kicked I'A uram and tried to throw them both out of the cart. P.C. Oram corroborated and said defendant's mother put her arms round P.C. Calder to prevent him handcuffing defendant. P.-Sergt. Prosser said defendant was cursing and swearing when brought to the police station. He was mad drunk and very violent. He kept shouting and swearing in the cell for hours, until lie shouted himself to sleep. He pretended to be lame when witness went to the cell, but was all right afterwards when witness looked through the shutter. The Chairman Have you any questions to ask the witness ? Defendant I haw seen him too often to ask him any questions. (Laughter). Supt. Davies said this was the defendant's 8tst appearance for all sorts of offences. He had tried all ways of dealing with the defendant. He had offered many times to pay his fare to go out of the town, as far as Canada, if lie would Defendant Why not send me to Germany ? Defendant, in an appeal to the Bench, said that in these critical times lie wished the Bench would deal as leniently with him as possible. He wished to show that he was as patriotic as any- one else. The Chairman It is a funny way of showing it. Defendant said he did not wish to become a burden to his country, but wished to help it. Producing a daily paper, he said he noticed the newspapers were short of paper. He had a ton of waste paper at home, and he was willing to give it. The Chairman said that the defendant was a terror to the town. He was always creating disturbance and trouble, and the Bench were determined to keep order in Abergavenny as much as possibly in these troublous times and to assist the police in doing so. Defendant would be sentenced to one month for the malicious damage, and two months for assault- ing the police. He would have three months of quiet and peace, and they hoped that when he came out he would be a little more sensible. DISMISSED. Sophia (.reenhow had summoned Edwin Attwood for assault, but after hearing the evidence the Bench dismissed the case. DRUNK AD DISORDERLY. Annie Thompson, a hawker, of Pontypridd, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly in Monk-street the previous day. P.C. (lower said he was in the Chief Con- stable's office when lie saw the prisoner behaving in a very disorderly manner in Monk-street. She refused to go away when spoken to. She was shouting and dancing and offering to light anyone. The Chief Constable ordered him to I lock her up. He went to do so, and she acted most violently, bitim; and kicking and scratch- ing. He and another constable got her on a truck and wheeled her to the station. Supt. Davies said defendant had been up twice before. She had two children with her, who had to be sent to the Union. The children appeared to he well looked after. Defendant was fined 2S. od., including costs, and given time to pay. A OUESTIOX OF PATERNITY. I Elizabeth Thompson, single woman, of 0 f, St. Helen's-road, summoned Gordon Powell, clerk, of Joq, St. Helen's-road, to show cause. Mr. C. C. Heywood appeared for the com- plainant; and defendant was represented by Mr C. B. James, ffom the office of Messrs. James Charles and Davies, of Merthyr. Complainant said she was employed as a barmaid at the Bridge End Inn up till December last, aud lived with her sister and brother-in- law. who kept the inn. She became acquainted law, NN- l i(i kept the iiiii. with the defendant in July, 1913, when lie came to the Bridge End Inn. She went out with him practically every night. Intimacy took place about the 20th of September, in the Skirrid fields, and continued into October. She found out her condition on the 4th of October, and told defendant, who said he would see that things were all right. lie frequently promised to come to see her, but lie never came, and when she went to see him he ran awav. A male child was born 011 the 7th June. Defendant told her to keep her ring on her engagement finger, so that the boys would think she was engaged. Mr. j aiiie,, Did he give you the ring ? — No. Although not formally engaged, you allowed him to take liberties with you ?--He did do. In cross-examination, witness said her mother had left her to fight the case alone. Mr. James: Because of your general con- duct ? Because of this case. In further cross-examination, complainant said she never went away for a holiday or for a change. She did go to Blackpool for a day with her sister and brother-in-law. She did not go with a Mr. Davies. Her sister and brother-in- law left the hotel in December, but that had nothing to do with her conduct. She did not know a man named Bob Morris. She did not go with a man to Brynmawr one night. She only knew the Territorials who had encamped at Abergavenny, as customers. No Territorial had been familiar with her in the bar. J >id Billy Rose tell you that if he gave evidence it would be rather against you than for you ? Yes. What did he iil(-aii ? -He said he would not do anv good for me. He would rather stick up for his pal. Did you have your photograph taken with the Cheshire Territorials in camp ?--Yes it was done for sport. Mr. James held up the photograph which showed complainant astride on horseback, and asked Do you think that is the kind of position in which a girl of respectable habits ought to allow herself to be taken ?—Yes, it is sport. There is no harm in it. Do you agree that it exposes you ? —No. Would you go down the street like that ? No. Mr. fames here handed the photo, to the Bench. In reply to further questions by Mr. James, complainant said she did not write to inform defendant of the birth of the child. She did not think it was any good, as he never answered her letters. She did not want any witnesses. Any- body could see by looking at the child who was its father. You went out with the defendant the first night you were introduced'to him ?—1 was going to the fish-shop and he asked if he might come along, aud T said Yes." Did you make any inquiries about this man before you walked out with him ? --I asked several people what he was like, and they never said he was good or bad. Complainant further said that defendant on one occasion said they would have to get married. He was Ultimate with her after he knew of her condition. Charles Frederick Johnson, brother-in-law of complainant, said lie had seen the complainant all([ defen d ant ?-er I and defendant very close together, hanging round one another's necks so close in fact that it was a job to tell one from the other. (Laugh- ter). Defendant had taken complainant up Holy well-road after stop-tap, and he had had to go and call complainant in. He would stay outside with her after the house was shut. Major Williams Love wis very strong then. (Laughter). Witness, continuing, said that defendant wore complainant's ring, which her sister gave her, for nearly a month, and they had a lot of bother about it. In reply to Mr. James, witness said, vehem- ently, that defendant was a rotter and a waster. Mr. James Did you warn your sister-in-law about him ?—I did. Did you take any steps to prevent them meeting ? I could not refuse him entrance to a public-house. Did you see any familiarity between them in the hot se -No, if I had 1 should have chucked him out. Lily Johnson, sister of the complainant, spoke to meeting the defendant in the Great George Hotel three or four weeks before the birth She asked him if he had seen Lizzie, and he said he hadn't. She said, You are a kind boy, aren't you ? Are you going to see her ?" Defendant said, I should have seen her all right if she had waited a bit longer." Mr. J ames Did yon think that was an im- portant conversation ?- Yes, I thought he was waiting to see if the baby was born dead or alive. Defendant said lie became acquainted with complainant about the middle of June, 1913, and walked out with her about a fortnight after- wards. He had been out with her about a dozen times, and September yth was the last ()Oc?1,; i oii. "Oi n ?,, occasion. He stopped going with her because he was told a man named Davies had taken her to Blackpool. A man named BoboDavies slept at the house on four occasions. About the middle of December complainant and her mother met him oil the Crickhowell motor-'bu^. The mother asked him what he was going to do about the girl. He asked her what she meant, and she suggested that lie had got her into trouble. He said he knew nothing about it. The mother suggested rhat if he would marry the girl, she would furnish a villa for them. The mother also asked why he did not marry the girl, as he had promised, but the girl said he had not promised to marry her. He had never miscon- ducted himself with complainant. He (lid not know complainant had a ring. He did not have a conversation with Mrs. Johnson in the Great George Hotel. It was a general conversation. Major Williams You have been for a walk with her a dozen times ?—Yes. Didn't you kiss her or have your arms round her, or she have hers round vou ?--Ko. Major Williams Come, now, you know what love k (Laughter 1. The Chairman My friend seems to know a good deal about it. (Laughter). Mr. James: It seems we have an expert on the Bench. Wilired Powell, brother of the defendant, said he was with the defendant all night on the 20th September. Defendant was not with her at all. He had seen complainant walk out with several fellows between the dates mentioned. John Rumsey Jenkins also yave evidence for the defence, and Mr. James submitted that there was no corroboration. The Bench retired, and while they were out of Court complainant picked np the baby, and approaching as near the defendant as the fixtures would allow her, held up the child and in an excited manner invited defendant to recognise the likeness. The Bench adjudged defendant to be the father of the child, and ordered him to pay 5s. per week until the child attains the age of K., with a guinea for advocate's fee and a guinea towards the expenses of the confinement. Mr. James intimated that he might appeal.

Now is the time to purchase your Novels for the winter evenings. To make room for new stock, we are clearing a large number of ill- Novels at 6d. 6d. Novels, id. 3d. Novels, 2d. —" Chronicle Office, Abergavenny,

I The National Eisteddfod Deficiency I Guarantors Who Wouldn't Pay. I ANOTHER APPEAL TO BE MADE. There did not seem to be a great deal of interest manifested in the meeting of the Execu- tive Committee of the National Eisteddfod of 1913, which was held at the Town Hall on Saturday afternoon. The object of the meeting was to receive the report and statement of accounts and to devise some means of clearing off the balance of the deficiency, which amounted to ^51 os. 4d. Advantage was also taken of the opportunity of replying to criticisms of the delay in calling the Executive together. Major- General Sir Ivor Herbert presided over a small attendance. COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee, in their report stated that the work of collecting and tabulating the various liabilities of the different committees necessarily occupied a very considerable time. livery effort was made to collect all outstanding income from every available source, as the first estimates indicated a possible deficiency of £ .400. Consequently it was not till January last that the Finance Committee were able to consider the complete statement of account and the de- tailed schedules of income and expenditure. The accounts were afterwards passed, subject to audit, and the hon. treasurer was authorised to immediately issue cheques in discharge of the various obligations, as far as the funds would allow, the expenditure of the committees having been sanctioned by the Executive prior to the Eisteddfod. At this time the deficiency was over (16o, plus contingent liabilities of approxi- mately (40, making a total of £ 200, and there- upon the Finance Committee decided to call upon those guarantors who were not subscribers to the Kisteddfod fund to pay 4s. in the of their guarantees. Applications were accordingly ad- dressed to 70 guarantors for their proportions, which totalled to over /50. Only 32 had re- I sponded to the call, and their contributions amounted to f26 3s. 9d. Since February strenuous efforts had been made to increase the subscription list, with the result that the de- ficiency had been reduced from the original estimate of floo to an actual £ jj 4s. id., and of this latter amount the hon. treasurer held rih <s. od. above referred to, and therefore the deficiency now to be met was £5 r os. 4d. The General Secretary (Mr. R. H. Jackson) commenced to read his report, and was referring to the criticisms which had been made in regard to the delay, when the Chairman interrupted It is rather a lengthy document. We had bet ter take it as read. Mr. 1). H. James (hon. treasurer) We have been attacked through the Press, and I think we should have an answer. It won't take many minutes. The Chairman Of course it will appear in the Press. I can't allow you more than five minutes. Better leave it till later, and go on. The really important question we have to decide is that of clearing off the deficiency. I THE I IXAXCIAI, STATEMENT. The Hon. Treasurer was then asked bv the Chairman to explain the accounts. The state- ment showed that the receipts were as follows Messrs. J. Davies & Co., copyright of programme. ?1?0 ? Proclamation receipts, including luncheon tickets, ?22 i?s. 2d. competitors' entrance fees, £ 70 10s. Abergavenny section of choir, entrance fees, £ 7 4s. rehearsal receipts, choir practices, /it 10s. 3d. rent of stall spaces, iio 7s. 6d. Pageant receipts, including re- bear.al, £561 12s. Od. Eisteddfod receipts, in- cluding art section and Castle, £ 2,740 19s. )(1.; miscellaneous receipts, 8s. 7d. 7 subscriptions and prize gifts, £ 1,896 2s. nd. Y.M.C.A. profit balance, I 10s. 6d. total,(,tH os. ;(l. The payments were By expenditure on behalf of the various committees—Music Committee, £1.51<> 13s. (256 is. 6d. Art Committee, £ 283 7s. nd. Gorsedd Com- mittee, f2.-6 os. bd. Pavilion Committee, £1.5Ù2 rs. 2d. Pageant Committee, /4^4 13s. (id. Castle expenditure, £ 94 us. 6d. staff organisation, conductors, etc., £ 202 10s. 2d. advertising, printing, and billposting, dc., £333 6s. 7d. postages, telegrams, telephone, carriage, cheque books, etc., i166 9s. 4d. office accommodation and secretarial administration, including clerical assistance, £ 300 miscellaneous expenditure, £ 21 iSs. tod. balance at bank, £ 96 6s. 6d. The outstanding income was as follows Messrs. Foster & Hill, promised dona- tion, £ 10 balance at hank, £ 96 6s. 6d. de- ficiency," £ 77 4s. id. The outstanding liabilities were Messrs. Foster & Hill, balance, 12,) 17s. Abergavenny Corporation, £ to 3s. yd. winding up, say £10; Miss Jackson, contingent liability, ?3?tOS. ie accoiii-its ex p la;iie(I h. D. H. James said the accoHnts eXplained themselves. Tiley had heen audited by a duly appointed auditor. He was prepared to answer questions. Mr. W. L. Thomas: Wehave £ 5! os..jd. to find. That is the pith of the whole thing, isn't: Mr. James Yes. The Chairman Against that we have certain, guarantees which have not matured. I D}P.\l'I.TIXG C;RAXTORS. Mr. James said he would explain with regard to the guarantees and contributions. They had 29 guarantors to the amount of who sub- scribed no less than i 325. Every one of those 29 contributed voluntarily the amount of their guarantee or more. Then they had 53 more people who also contributed in full the amounts of their guarantees. These two classes together numbered 82. and as guarantors they were down for £ 633 and actually coutrtibued £ .500. There were 70 guarantors who did not contribute anything at all. They were called upon to pay not the full amount of their guarantees, but only 4s. in the L which was exceedingly small, and the result was that 32 out of the 70, or less than half, had contributed £ 26 3s. gd., and 38 were still defaulters. These people who were in default had had two notices, and they had done all they could to request them to contribute. He was sorry to say that a dozen of them were members of committees, and as such had not paid their half guineas. The Chairman: What can we say to these people Mr. James: I don't know. We have called upon them twice to pay. If they would oav up we should have enough money to ciear us, especially with the promises which have been made. Mr. E. H. Brethertou asked if the guarantors had made any excuse for not paying. Mr. James said it was in print. They had three half guineas in view since that statement went out. Mr. W. L. Thomas You have a list of the defaulters, I suppose. Miss Jackson (Brynderi) We shan't get any more money now, except what is already promised. The Chairman said that a good many people had already given subscriptions to meet that deficiency, which was covered bv a guarantee, and that kind of thinu could not go on. Miss Jackson: Canuot the guarantees be enforced ? The Chairman I dou't know what the liability of guarantors is legally, but morally there is no doubt about their obligations. Mr. D. II. James said there were 10 or 12 names down for a guinea, one for two guineas, quite a numlxsr for 12s. od., and another eight or so. They were very sin all amounts, and the guarantors were mostly local people. If they would pay up they would have 1-26 more. Miss Jacksen That would cover the actual liability, The Pageant liability is contingent. Mr. Janus: We are treating the Pageant, liability as one we should meet. Miss Jackson That could, of course, stand over the f26 cariiot. Miss Jackson produced the details of the Pageant account, and suggested that they should be published with the general accounts, but the Chairman considered it was unnecessary. Each committee was entitled to ask for the same thing. MR. MARSH OBJECTS. the Cliairinall read a letter from Mr. J. (). Marsh, who said he was unable to attend the meeting, and he should object to pay any pro- portion of the deficiency until the guarantors who were not subscribers had been made to pay their proportion. The Chairman remarked that Mr. Marsh did not inform them how they were to be made to pay. Could Mr. James inform them how the operation was to be performed ? Mr. James: I cannot. If we put it in the hands of a solicitor it will cost us more than we shall get back. The Chairman Have v/e a case ? The General Secretary It is a legal guarantee under seal. The Chairman I think it would be a very good thing to take steps to recover. Mr. \V. L. Thomas It is very sad it should h. necessary to take steps. It is a great shame.