The Western Times Thursday 09 Apr 1885 Page 3
COUNTY QUARTER SESSIONS
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CANN v. HITCHCOCK. - This was an appeal against a magistrates' order in bastardy at Southmolton. Hon. Bernard COLERIDGE appeared for the appellant; Mr. Molesworth St. AUBYN M.P., and Mr. de COURCY HAMILTON for the respondent. - It appeared that the magistrates made an order of 2s 6d a weeks against Walter CANN, a farmer residing at Thelbridge, towards the support of the illegitimate child of Rhonda HITCHCOCK, who was a domestic servant in his employ. On two occasions he had given the girl's mother a sovereign for the support of the child before its birth. He at last refused to do so any more, and proceedings were taken against him with the result above named. - Rhoda HITCHCOCK, in the course of her evidence, said that her mother called in a woman named BENNETT for the purpose of “trying the cards” in order to find out who was the father of the child. In cross-examination witness admitted that she had told the “wise woman” who the father was previous to the phophecy – (laughter). - Hon. B. COLLERIDGE referred to the evidence given by the respondent when before the magistrates and the statement she had made that day. He would bring before the Court witnesses who would show how incredible her evidence was. - He called the appellant, Walter CANN, who swore that he had never been intimate with the respondent. - Elizabeth STEVENS, a servant in the employ of Mr. CANN, stated that on the 10th May last (the date in question) Rhoda HITCHCOCK came to her master's house – she having left his employ two years previously – to get some oats. Mr. CANN left the house to get the oats from a linhay close-by. Soon after HITCHCOCK left the house to see if the oats were ready. She was absent from the house only two or three minutes. - Mrs. CANN, wife of the appellant, saw HITCHCOCK leave the farm, and she was not away more than a minute. On one occasion when HITCHCOCK was staying with them she was out all night with a man. - Albert CHAPPLE, a labourer working for Mr. CANN, said that on the 10th May he locked the barn where Rhoda HITCHCOCK alleged that she met CANN, early in the evening. They did not keep oats in that barn. - Mr. ARSCOTT, a dairyman, of Cruwys Morchard, said he had known the barn to which the respondent had sworn that day, and had never seen oats or corn in it. It contained potatoes and manure a few days before the 10th May. - A young man named ROOKLEY, in the employ of Mr. CANN, said that on one evening after an entertainment at Witheridge he walked home with Rhoda HITCHCOCK, and on the way irregularities occurred. - Hon. B. COLERIDGE, on behalf of the applicant, commented on the very contradictory evidence of Rhoda HITCHCOCK, who had so many lovers that she had to call in the aid of a wise woman to shuffle the cards to discover the man on whom the paternity should be foisted. The girl very naturally fixed upon the person whom she knew to be the best off. - Mr. HAMILTON contended that the evidence that had been brought before them that day was not strong enough to warrant the Court overriding the decision of the magistrates in Quarter Sessions. - The Magistrates confirmed the order with costs.
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