Woolmer's Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 25 Aug 1860
COLLUMPTON.
PETTY SESSIONS – MONDAY.
Before E. S. DREWE, Esq. (chairman), Rev. J. HUYSHE, Rev. J. T. TUCKER, and W. C. GRANT, Esq.
Jane HOOPER was summoned by Elizabeth MANLEY for an assault, on the 13th ult. - The defendant not appearing, she was fined £1, including costs, or a fortnight's imprisonment.
COMPLAINT AGAINST A CIDER SHOP. - John BOWLES, keeper of a cider shop near Collumpton, was summoned for keeping his house open after the prescribed hours, on the 31st July. - Mr. TOMS, of Tiverton, appeared for the defendant. - P.C. SUTTON stated that on the night in question he was on duty, in company with another officer, on the Honiton-road. About a quarter to twelve, hearing a great noise at the defendant's house, he went towards the premises. On arriving at the hedge which adjoins the defendant's yard, he stopped, and he then observed that there were three men and the landlord in the yard, drinking something from a quart jug. After they had remained some time, one of the men said, “We will have one more,” and the landlord fetched another quart for them. A man, named STRONG, gave the landlord 6d. for the quart. It was then about twenty minutes after twelve. After the men had drank the liquor, STRONG said he would pay for another quart if they would have it; but CANNAFORD said he would not drink any more cider that night, and the men then left. Witness did not speak either to the men or the landlord. The men did not know he was behind the hedge; and they left the house about one o'clock. - P.C. MORTIMORE corroborated this statement. - Mr. TOMS said Mr. STRONG, who occupied a farm in the immediate vicinity, had occasion to engage some men on the 31st July last to cut a field of grass. He took to the field about 40 quarts of cider from his farm, and after the work was finished they all repaired to the defendant's house, where they partook of sundry quarts of cider. He (Mr. TOMS), however, could prove the witnesses that the house was cleared before 10 o'clock, and that the cider which the men were drinking when the officers came up was not purchased of the defendant, but was a portion of the cider which had been supplied by STRONG. - Mr. STRONG, farmer of Plymtree, was called and deposed to the above facts. In answer to the Bench, he stated that he had paid the landlord the sixpence for some cider for which he had not paid during the day. He was sure they all left the house before half-past 12. - Mr. HUYSHE: But the policeman says it struck one by the defendant's clock before you went. - Mr. STRONG: That is a curious clock, it never strikes but one at a time. (Laughter.) - By Mr. HUYSHE: He did not drink any gin that night, no gin and water, nor clear gin; he would not say whether there was any gin in the cider; there might have been some in the cider he brought with him. - The witness after being questioned by Mr. HUYSHE for some time, admitted that there was some gin in the cider he brought with him to the house. - Mr. DREWE said that witness had perjured himself, and he was sorry to say he could not believe a word he had stated. Two other witnesses were called, who corroborated the statement of Mr. TOMS, and the Bench retired to deliberate. On their return into court, after being absent about a quarter of an hour, Mr. DREWE said the Bench were unanimous in the opinion that the defendant was guilty of the offence, and they the reforefined <sic> him 40s., including the expenses.
Mr. Henry WOOD, farmer of Hemyock, was charged by P.C. SALTER, with being drunk on the 9th of August last. The officer stated that great complaints were made of the defendant's conduct, by the inhabitants. The Bench ordered him to be be bound over in the sum of £10; and to find two sureties of £5 each, to be of good behaviour for six months.
STEALING FURZE. - John ROOKLEY was summoned by P.C. 286, for stealing a quantity of furze on Downlands Estate, the property of the Rev. J. T. MARKER, of Uffculme. From information received from Mr. MARKER, the officer went to the plantation, where he saw the defendant tie a quantity of wood into a bundle, and take it towards his home. Witness followed and took the wood from him. The prisoner now said he did not think he was doing any harm, as the wood was lying by the side of the road. The prisoner had been convicted at Shepton Mallet, Dartmouth, and Bristol of various robberies, and the Bench accordingly sentenced him to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labour.