Sarah
Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper
Articles
Taunton
Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 03 Jan 1900
Page 6
Column 5
BRIDGWATER.
<section not transcribed>
COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
THURSDAY. - Before Mr. G. D. WARRY Q.C. (in the chair), Mr. A. G. EVERED, Mr. W. L. WINTERBOTHAM, and Mr. J. G. HEUNIKER.
LIGHTS ON VEHICLES. - Joseph Edward TIDBALL, of Wedmore, was summoned for driving a vehicle without lights at Ashcott on the 8th inst., at six o'clock at night. - He pleaded guilty. - P.C. GOODLAND stated the facts, and defendant explained that he was driving a borrowed trap to oblige a friend. - The Chairman remarked that this was a very salutary by-law, and these excuses could not be accepted. Defendant must be fined 5s and costs.
OCCASIONAL LICENSE. - Mr. WILKINS, of the White House, Pawlett, applied for an occasional license to sell in the “pound” at Pawlett on the occasion of a coursing meeting on the 9th January, which the Bench granted till 5 p.m.
NOT SECURELY FENCED. - George HABBERFIELD, farmer, of North Petherton, pleaded guilty to permitting a chaff-cutting machine to be worked without the fly-wheel being kept securely fenced. - P.C. POPE stated the facts, and defendant was fined £2 and costs.
FIGHTABLE POACHERS. - Samuel PAYNE, of Over Stowey, and Frederick VILLIS, of Nether Stowey, labourers, were summoned for trespassing on land in the possession and occupation of Mr. E. J. STANLEY, M.P., in search of game and conies, on the 20th inst., at Aisholt. - They pleaded not guilty. - Frank WEBBER, keeper, in Mr. STANLEY's employ, stated that he saw the two men at three o'clock in the afternoon setting nets, and when they saw him they ran away. He ran after them, and they became very fightable and threatened him. - Defendants denied being in search of rabbits, and said they were on the highway when WEBBER tackled them. - PAYNE's record was a bad one, and he was fined £2 and costs, in default one month, whilst VILLIS was fined 10s and costs, or 14 days.
A WARNING TO OLD OFFENDERS. - Henry WITCOMBE, labourer, of Shapwick, who did not appear, was summoned for trespassing upon land in the possession and occupation of the Hon. H. B. T. STRANGWAYS, at Shapwick, in pursuit of game and conies, on the 9th December. - Harry BROOKE, keeeper, in the employ of Mr. STRANGWAYS, proved finding the defendant, with another man he could not identify, ferreting in a plantation. He took the ferret, and defendant ran away. - The Bench imposed a fine of £2 and costs. - The Chairman said with regard to these habitual criminals who came there from time to time, that they would consider favourably any application that was made by a solicitor in bringing them to justice. They laid down no hard and fast lines, but if a solicitor did appear in these cases of habitual crime they would consider very favourably the expenses the solicitor might incur in bringing the habitual criminal to justice.
A LUCKY DEFENDANT! - David FOSTER, of North Newton, was summoned for not sending his child to school. - The wife attended, but as no one appeared to prosecute, the Bench dismissed the case, and allowed the woman half-a-crown as her expenses for coming in to attend the Court.