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Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 02 Dec 1925
Page 5 Column 1
WELLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS
CARTER'S DISPOSAL OF WOOD
PREVIOUS WARNING UNHEEDED.
BICYCLE THIEF GOES TO PRISON.
TAUNTON CONSTABLE'S QUICK CAPTURE
FRIDAY. - Before Messrs. John POPE (in the chair), J. R. MILLER, S. H. SPARKES, E. M. WALKER, H. T. PASSMORE, C. EDBROOKE, and Miss A. P. FOX.
INSUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATED.
Frederick PAYNE, of Red Ball, Culmstock, hauling contractor, was summoned for failing to sufficiently illuminate the identification plate of a steam lorry at West Buckland on 17th October. - P.C. PENNY, who proved the case, said defendant had a very good light, which, however, was tied on, and it did not illuminate the plate. The numbers were not distinguishable a couple of yards away. - Superintendent CHAPMAN said that although there were nine previous convictions against PAYNE prior to 1921, none was for a similar offence. - Fined 7s 6d.
MOVED SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR.
Herbert Charles HUNT, 5, Bovet-street, Wellington, tailor's cutter, who did not appear, was summoned for leaving an unlighted motor-car on the highway on Waterloo-road on 20th November. - P.C. FORWARD, proving the case, said the night was dark and foggy. Witness obtained the assistance of two other constables to remove the car off the highway. The vehicle did not belong to the defendant, who, failing to find the owner, removed it from a private road into the public highway, in order to pass himself. He did not move it back again. - Fined 7s 6d.
LEFT LICENSE AT HOME.
Sydney GLENFIELD, of The Garage, Willand, Cullompton, owner of the car concerned in the last case, was summoned for failing to produce his driving license. - P.C. FORWARD said defendant merely left the license at home, as he had since produced it, and it expired in May next year. - Fined 5s.
WARNING UNAVAILING.
CARTER FINED FOR STEALING FIREWOOD.
Robert WYATT, of Milverton, timber haulier, denied stealing a quantity of firewood between 26th October and 6th November at Bradford-on-Tone, the property of Francis HEMBROW, farmer.
Mr. HEMBROW stated that defendant was engaged to haul timber, which was being felled on his (witness's) land, for Mr. FOURACRE, the purchaser. If defendant had taken away any “tops,” including the produced, he had done so without consent. Mr. HEMBROW added that he did not wish to press the case. He understood defendant bore a good character.
Mrs. LEE, residing at Hillcommon, Oake, said defendant saw her on Wednesday afternoon, November 4th. He brought four lengths of timber, similar to that in Court, and witness gave him sixpence for a “packet of fags.” Witness had previously bought wood from the same man, but not for a long time. Defendant told her he had a privilege, which entitled him to a “few sticks.” Witness knew that Mr. LOCKYEAR one of Supt. CHAPMAN's witnesses, was ill and unable to appear. He had a quantity of wood in his washhouse, similar to that in Court.
P.C. PENNY stated that on October 23th he saw defendant in charge of a timber waggon load of trees. A considerable quantity of logs was on the top of the timber. He again saw defendant on November 4th, when there was a similar quantity of firewood on the top of the load. In consequence of seeing this, witness saw Mr. HEMBROW. Subsequently witness again saw defendant with another load. After defendant had passed witness changed into plain clothes and followed him. Defendant stopped outside LOCKYER's house and took the wood on top of the load into his garden. Witness approached defendant, and, having cautioned him, asked where he had obtained the wood he had left in the garden. He replied, “Mr. HEMBROW's. I've got to take all the timber that's any good. Mr. HEMBROW has never told me what timber to take. I let Alby LOCKYER have the sticks. He is not giving me anything for them.” Witness asked what he did with the wood he had on a recent Wednesday? Defendant said he might have thrown one down for LOCKYER to put up the chimney, but afterwards denied this. He said he could not remember what he did with another lot. Witness also interviewed LOCKYER and Mrs. LEE, who lived in adjoining cottages, and took possession of the wood he found there, altogether probably 10 cwts. Defendant told witness that Mr. FOURACRE had never told him either to take the wood or not to take it.
NO PERMISSION TO SELL.
Arthur FOURACRE, of Milverton, timber merchant, the defendant's employer, stated that he had always given WYATT permission to take a limb for his own use. He did not know any wood had been sold. He did not wish that to be done. Defendant did not know but what the tops belonged to him (Mr. FOURACRE). Witness did not buy any wood less than six inches in diameter.
Answering Supt. CHAPMAN, witness said in any case he would not have given defendant permission to sell up to 10 cwts. of wood.
Defendant, in a statement, said he was guilty of taking the sticks, believing they were the property of Mr. FOURACRE. If he had known they were the property of Mr. HEMBROW, he would never have touched them. Mr. FOURACRE had always given him the privilege of having a “stick or two” for his own benefit. He had never told him (WYATT) how to dispose of them.
The Bench, after retirement, decided to convict, and Supt. CHAPMAN said that, although there was no previous conviction against him, about 12 months ago his employers were told of a similar thing, and Mr. FOURACRE was asked to warn defendant. They had tried to help WYATT, added the Superintendent, but it had been of no avail.
A fine of £1 was imposed.
THEFT OF A BICYCLE.
SMART ARREST AT TAUNTON.
A well-spoken man of middle age, Fredk. James JACKSON, of no fixed abode, a clerk, pleaded guilty to stealing a bicycle at Whitehall on the 23rd November.
Thomas TOOZE, of Weydown, Holcombe Rogus, a labourer, stated that on Monday, the 23rd November, he rode his bicycle to Whitehall, leaving it against the garden wall of Mrs. ROWLAND's house. Fifteen minutes later the machine, which he valued at £5, was missing. He communicated with Inspector SHORNEY.
P.C. HANNAM, of Taunton, stated that on Monday evening prisoner approached him in a Taunton street and asked where he could obtain a cheap meal. Witness recommended a restaurant in Bridge-street. Shortly after witness received a description of the stolen bicycle, and proceeded to the restaurant, where he saw JACKSON with a bicycle answering the description of that missing. Prisoner said his address was 31, Castle-street, Exeter; that the bicycle belonged to his brother, and that he was round looking for work. Not being satisfied, however, witness arrested him as the suspected thief. On the way to the Police station prisoner said “There's the bicycle, I took the other side of Wellington, as I am out of work.”
JACKSON told the Bench that the night in question was dark, and he was footsore and weary, having great blisters on his feet. He saw the machine with a lamp burning, and the temptation was too great to resist. He took the bicycle, but meant to leave it in Taunton.
Supt. CHAMPMAN stated that JACKSON was charged at Birmingham in November, 1921, with stealing £1 5s, and fined £10, with the alternative of 41 days' imprisonment.
The Bench retired, and the Chairman then said the magistrates were sorry to see prisoner in his present position. They had no alternative but to fine him £5, or, in default, a month's imprisonment with hard labour.
Answering the Superintendent, JACKSON said he had no chance of getting the money.
He was later removed to prison.