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	The Windsor and Eton Express. Bucks Chronicle and Reading Journal
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Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express

7th January 1837

On Tuesday last a young man name Groom, otherwise Kimbell, was fined by the magistrates �2 and costs for having been found cutting a large branch off one of trees in the Long-walk, and in default of payment was committed to hard labour for one month.

Fatal Accident

Yesterday morning a person named Brown, a barge-master, while endeavouring to recover a punt in the Thames, near Bell-wear in the vicinity of Egham, which had drifted the night before from the barge, fell into the water and was unfortunately drowned. Intimation of the event was sent to Capt.Thomson, a county magistrate resident in the neighbourhood, who with four men instantly attended on the spot and used every exertion to endeavour to recover the body, but without effect.

Lectures on French History

On Thursday last Mr. Tarver gave the first of a series of lectures on French History, in the Town-hall. It was well attended, there being about 80 present, including many of the most respectable inhabitants of the town, to whom the lecture proved highly interesting. The Lecturer commenced his discourse with the origin and rise of the French nobility and of the feudal system, into which portion as he proceeded he introduced some very amusing and remarkable facts, such for instance as the system that was allowed of doing penance by proxy. A rich man, who for some forbidden act was ordered to fast for a certain number of years, was permitted to employ as his substitutes 500 monks who could divide the penalty conveniently between them, while their principal continued to enjoy his luxuries. Another, on being sentenced to be scourged every day for six months, could in like manner have his scourgings performed upon so many deputies, by which means the punishment was quickly inflicted, and without any bodily pain on himself. Proceeding to the time when Charles Martel defeated the Saracens, Mr.Tarver seized the occasion to give an interesting history of those people, tracing their progress through Asia, Africa, Spain, and until their defeat by Martel at Poietiers, by which means Europe was saved from becoming infidel. The audience were much gratified with the extensive information which the lecture afforded them. The next lecture will be delivered on Thursday, and will continue with the reign of Charlemagne.

Windsor Town Council

On Monday the Quarterly Meeting of the Town Council was held in the Council room at the Town-hall. The Town Clerk stated that he had received a letter from Mr.Baverstock, expressing some surprise that the vacancy in the Council caused by his removal from Windsor had not been filled up. After a short discussion it was agreed that the notice of the vacancy required by the Act should be given, signed by the Mayor and members of the Council present.

The Town Clerk then read a letter from Mr.Baker, the carver and gilder, complaining of the order issued by the Magistrates to shut the gate at the bottom of George street from eight o'clock at night until six o'clock in the morning as being injurous to his property. The subject was referred to the Watch Committee.

Mr.Blunt moved a vote of thanks to William Legh, Esq., for the manner in which he had discharged the duties of Mayor of the Borough for more than two years.

Mr. John Clode (Castle Inn) said he had great pleasure in seconding the motion, which was put and carried unanimously.

Mr.Legh briefly acknowledged the compliment that had been paid to him, and said, that if in the discharge of his public duty he could entertain the hope that he had merited so great a mark of confidence, it would be to him always a source of gratification.

Mr.Adams,sen., was admitted into the Council Room to apply for the expense to which the parish officers had been put in purchasing the parish engine, which, on the formation of the new Corporation, had been handed over to the care of the latter, and had since been repaired by them. After a short discussion , Mr.Adams was informed that his application could not be granted.

On the motion of Mr.Barton, the opinion of the Recorder (in addition to that of Mr.Sergt.Merewether, which had been received) was ordered to be obtained, respecting the case of Mr.Towler, late one of the Overseers of Clewer, whose accounts had been refused to be passed by the Magistrates, in consequence of a dispute as to the legality of his paying the Clewer portion of the Borough Rates out of the general Parish Fund - one part of the parish being within the Borough, and the other part in the County.

Several matters of mere routine were then gone through, and the Court adjourned.

Berks County Sessions

On Tuesday these Sessions commenced before Robert Palmer, Esq, M.P., and a Bench of Magistrates. The calendar contained a list of forty-five prisoners.

James Aldridge, aged 18, for stealing on the 24th of June a calf skin, the property of Charles Fyshe Palmer, Esq., at Wokingham, was sentenced to one months hard labour.

Charles Alexander, aged 14, Thomas Alexander, aged 13, Daniel Shuttle, aged 13, and Edward Johnson, aged 15, were convicted of stealing a great coat, the property of George Ballard, of Thatcham, and sentenced to one weeks imprisonment each, the two former to have an addition of twelve lashes.

Elijah Castle, aged 19, was sentenced to two months hard labour for stealing a Muscovy duck and drake, the property of James Wiltshire, at East Hendred.

James Cox, aged 35, for stealing, on the 27th October, at Chelsey, a quantity of peas and beans, the property of Joshua Cope, was sentenced to six months hard labour.

William Fisher, aged 21, for stealing on the 12th November, at Lamborne Woodlands, a pair of trousers, a pair of shoes, and a silver watch, the property of Thomas Fisher, was sentenced to twelve months hard labour.

Thomas Fisher, aged 21, and Francis Fisher, aged 28, were convicted of stealing, on the 5th of November, at Chaddleworth, five cwt of cast iron, the property of William Pocock Millett, and sentenced to twelve months hard labour.

James Hambleton, aged 22, for stealing on the 31st ult at Earley, a turkey and three fowls, the property of Joseph Goddard, was sentenced to three months hard labour.

Alfred Heavens, aged 26, for stealing, on the 15th December, at Little Coxwell, a hammer, the property of the surveyors of the highways, and also a shovel, the property of Wm.Hawkins, was sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment.

Charles Holder, aged 27, and Charles Hozier, aged 17, were convicted of stealing, on the 22nd of November , four metal tea spoons, the property of William Jaques, of Speenhamland, and sentenced each to six months hard labour.

William Johnson, aged 26, was indicted for stealing, on the 5th of November, at Maidenhead, three shillings from the person of Christopher Brown, and also for assaulting Daniel Sexton and Michael Barrett in the execution of their duty. The prisoner was acquitted of the felony, but was convicted of the assaults , and sentenced to two months imprisonment.

John Lander, aged 36, was convicted of having stolen, on the 19th of December, at Faringdon, a piece of beef, the property of Francis Wheeler and Thomas Adams, and sentenced to two months hard labour.

Maria Lawrence, aged 19, for stealing at Shrivenham �1 10s, the property of William Reeves, was sentenced to two months hard labour.

William Millard, aged 55, was indicted for having felonionaly received on the 4th of October, six pan-tiles, the property of Joseph Ford, at Clewer, and was acquitted, but Wm. Dunnatt, aged 13, who had been bailed, was convicted of stealing the pan-tiles, and sentenced to one months hard labour.

William Nicholl, aged 22, and Mary, his wife, aged 24, were indicted for stealing at Maidenhead, a pair of sheets, a blanket, and other articles, the property of Joseph Lloyd, and convicted. They were sentenced each to two months hard labour.

Joseph North, aged 20, and Sarah Simmonds, aged 32[?], were convicted of stealing on the 24th October, at Winkfield, 12 fowls, the property of Rebecca Osman. North was sentenced to six months hard labour, and Simmonds to seven years transportation.

William Oakley, aged 29, for stealing on the 13th of November, at Swallowfield, a duck, the property of Thomas Terry, was sentenced to three months hard labour.

Charles Painter, aged 20, for stealing on the 1st November at Cholsey, a quantity of wood, the property of Thomas Edward Washbourn, was sentenced to three months hard labour.

Ann Richings, aged 21, was sentenced to three months hard labour for stealing on the 8th November, at Shillingford, a cotton bag, a pair of gloves, and other articles, the property of Ann Coster, and John Chillingworth.

Thomas Rivers, aged 20, for stealing at Wargrave, on the 20th December, a spade and a basket, the property of the Guardians of the Wokingham Union, was sentenced to seven days imprisonment.

William Thomas, aged 28, was convicted for stealing on the 18th Nov., at Buscot, a brass boiler, the property of George Adams, and sentenced to two months hard labour.

Joseph White, aged 22, for stealing at Maidenhead, three sheets, the property of Jane Scott, was sentenced to six months hard labour.

Thomas Willoughby, for stealing a quantity of barley-meal, the property of Isaac Giles, was sentenced to two months hard labour.

James Hazell, aged 41, for stealing, at Cookham, a quantity of barley and a sack, the property of Edward Goddard, was sentenced to eight months hard labour.

Joseph Ireson, aged 25, for stealing on the 4th of December, at Grove, a quantity of peas and a sack, the property of Charles Willoughby, was sentenced to eight months hard labour.

Thomas Rolfe, aged 24, for stealing on the 16th of December, at Tilehurst, a copper coal scuttle, the property of Michael Hanin Hamblin, was sentenced to three months hard labour.

The following prisoners were acquitted :-

William Barnes, aged 14, and Thomas Pearce, aged 17, charged with stealing a quantity of hurdles and stakes, the property of William Laurence, at Beedon.

William Bennett, aged 32, charged with stealing several pieces of sacking, the property of Wm. Cannon, of Hampstead Marshall.

William Bishop[?], aged 24, and William Jones, alias Forty[?], aged 26, charged with stealing a copper boiler, the property of George Butler, Esq., of Woolstone.

Esther Goulding, aged 23, charged with stealing a pair of shoes, the property of John Gillies, of Kingston Lisle.

Joseph Hamblin, aged 18, charged with stealing a spade, the property of the Board of Guardian of the Wokingham Union.

As against the following prisoners, the Grand Jury ignored the bills; viz:-

Thomas Richings, aged 27, charged with stealing a pair of stockings, the property of Robert Jordan, of Longeot.

William Turner, aged 21, charged with stealing a half sovereign and five shillings, the property of William Ferrish.

The whole of the trials terminated on Wednesday forenoon.

A professional gentleman, who had been concerned in the prosecution of a party who had been indicted for assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty, but who had been acquitted of that offence, and found guilty of the minot offence, or as it is termed only the common assault (there being two counts of indictment), applied for the expenses of the prosecution. Mr. Goodlake, one of the Magistrates opposed the application. He observed that if the indictment had only charged the minor offence, the Court had no power to allow the expenses, and here the defendant had only been found guilty of the minor offence. If the expenses were allowed, many persons would, in order to lay ground for being reimbursed their expenses by the county, insert in the indictment the count charging the assault in the execution of the duty of the prosecutor. The application was refused.

Appeals

The Court then proceeded to hear appeals, of which there were seven, several of them were allowed by consent of the respondents, and of the rest the following two only are worthy of notice.

Thomas Pratt, Appellant, the Corporation of St. Johns College Oxford, Respondent
The appeal involved a question very important to the parties concerned. It was an appeal against a conviction for shooting a hare on Bagley Common, but he real question was to the right and title in the property where the alleged trespass was committed. A similar appeal between the same parties had previously taken place, which occupied the attention of the Court for a whole day. Had this case been tried at these Sessions on Wednesday, it would doubtless have prolonged the sitting of the Court for another day, but Mr. Tyrwhitt, for the appellant, after a long discussion , got it postponed until the next Session. It was stated that the appellants witnesses would be 20 in number.

Prior, Appellant, The Mayor of Wallingford, Respondent.

This was an appeal against an order of the Mayor of Wallingford, by which the appellant, Prior, was adjudged to one months imprisonment for neglecting to support his wife, Caroline Prior. Mr.Carrington appeared for the appellant, and Mr.Tyrwhitt, for the respondent.

The short facts of the case are these : - Prior was at the time of the conviction a gardener in the service of Mr.Blackstone, M.P., and the woman he now refused to support was his second wife. By his first wife he had two children. It appeared in evidence that he had behaved in many instances with great violence towards his wife, striking her, and otherwise ill-using her. She had often been heard to cry out murder, and had at times been left so destitute that the neighbours have given her food for herself and the children. Prior had also wished to get rid of her, and told her to go about her business where she liked, or he would sell all the furniture, a threat which he actually put into execution. So constant were these disputes and bickerings, that at length she was compelled to seek relief from the parish.

The Court affirmed the conviction.