Supplement to the Western Times
Exeter: Saturday 30 August 1862
DIVISIONAL PETTY SESSIONS.
Monday, August 25th. - Present: E. S. DREWE, Esq., in the chair, Rev. J. P. SYDENHAM, Rev. J. HUYSHE, and W. C. GRANT, Esq.
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Henry ROOKLEY, labourer, Kentisbeare, was charged by P.C. SUTTON, with being drunk and threatening to cut and maim him at that village on the 21st. inst. P.C. SUTTON was standing by the post-office on Thursday night when the defendant came across from the Windham Arms with an axe in his hand and said to him, “You have sworn false before the magistrates about me, and now I'll chop off your ear.” holding up the axe as ready for the deed. He repeated the threat several times. The police record showed that this formed about the fifth time he had been before the Bench, once for stealing turnips, and his other offences had been for drunkenness and acts of violence. The P.C. said he was very drunk. Defendant pleaded that he knew nothing at all about it. “But how drunk,” said Mr. HUYSHE, “you must have been then that you don't actually know what happened? “No, Sir,” said defendant, “I do not; and if it wasn't for the drink it would never have happened.” Mr. HUYSHE: That is just what the Chairman has been saying, that almost all the crime we have to deal with is occasioned by drink. Don't get drunk any more: don't let it happen again.
The Chairman said the bench would commit him to prison for 7 days to reflict upon it.
James ROOKLEY the younger, a lad of about 14 years of age, nephew to the last prisoner, was charged with stealing a quality of faggot wood, value 2d, the good and chattels of Mr. William LEACH of Kentisbeare. The boy pleaded “guilty.” Prosecutor caught him in the act. On being asked by the Bench who told him to do it, he said his mother had ordered him to go and get some sticks. The Chairman said his mother ought to be standing there instead of him. The boy's mother, being present, was reprimanded for not bringing up her son better. She did not send him to steal wood, she said.
The bench first of all proposed to send the boy to prison for one day and ordered him to be flogged and come back again. “A good wholesome flogging” would do him good. His mother intreated that the imprisonment and flogging might not be; and the Bench commutted it to a fine of 7s 6d, with a fortnight to pay it in.