cornwall england newspaper
1840 NEWS ARTICLE
JANUARY
3 JANUARY 1840, Friday
St. Goran Penny Clothing Society - The second annual distribution of clothing, &c., of this society, took place at St. Goran Church-town, on Monday se'nnight, when 100 subscribers received bedding, clothing, &c., to the amount of nine shillings each for their subscription of one penny per week. We are happy to perceive this society is improving, both in the amount of donations and number of poor subscribers; many happy faces we saw trudging through the rain with their bundles on their return from the distribution, and no doubt many a prayer was offered for the welfare of those who kindly assisted, whether by their
money or presence, to place so many desirable things within their reach. We spoke in terms of commendation of this society last year, and we still heartily wish it success.
Christmas Bounty - On Christmas Eve, a fine fat bullock was distributed to the poor at Tywardreath, and one guinea to each of twenty-four poor widows, being the annual munificent donation of William Rashleigh, Esq., of Menabilly. On the evening of the same day, a sumptuous repast was provided at the mansion, to which the tradesmen and labourers on the estate, and the cottagers of Polkerris, with their wives and families, sat down and spent the evening in a style which reminded us of days "far by gone."
Truro Quarter Sessions - [A lad called Reynolds, son of a barber, in Old ., was found drunk and wandering in the street; he stated someone had given him some beer.] The father then testified. He was exceedingly sorry, he said, to see his son in such a situation; and he hoped the Bench would deal leniently with him. The policeman who apprehended young Reynolds was then examined, and it did not appear that there was much ground for the charge of disorderly conduct, though the drunkenness was proved. Several gentlemen, however, bore testimony, in the strongest terms, to the good character both of the father and the son; and Mr. Paine, the police inspector, said he had used Mr.
Reynold's shop for two years, and he did not think there was a better boy in the town. The magistrates, upon this, discharged the defendant with a gentle reprimand; and Mr. Bennallack, the Justice's Clerk, kindly remitted the fees. The lad, before he left the bar, was directed by his father to thank their worships, which he did, in a very becoming manner. The behaviour of these people presented an example well worthy of imitation by persons of their station in life; and the kind and considerate manner in which they were treated, not only by the bench, but by every gentleman present, showed that, besides the inestimable value of a good character, there is always something to be gained by a civil and respectful deportment.
John SCHOLL, a boy of 14, was charged with having thrown a stone at a man called HUGO. It appears that the complainant goes by the nickname of Spanker; and the parties being present at a raffle for a horse, the boy observed to Hugo that the winner "had got a pretty little spanker to carry him over the ground." This, of course, produced a quarrel, in which the stone was thrown. Fined 5s. with three weeks to pay it.
Falmouth Quarter Sessions - On Monday last, the Quarter Sessions for the town of Falmouth were held before T. Paynter, Esq., the Recorder, and a full bench of Magistrates. There were but two prisoners, who were out on bail, for assaults on the two town serjeants; one, named PHILPOT, was sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment, and the other, called TOY, to one week. The Mayor, S. Blight, Esq., entertained the Recorder and Town Council to a sumptuous spread at Pearce's Royal Hotel, which did great credit to the worthy host.
The Late Bank Robbery - We understand about �750 of the notes contained in the bank parcel, belonging to the Devon and Cornwall Bank, lost about three weeks since, between Devonport and Liskeard, have been returned to Mr. Webb, at the hotel, Liskeard, accompanied by a note, stating that the parties into whose possession it had fallen, had returned as much as they could afford, and that the authorities at the bank need not be under any apprehension respecting the cheques, as they were burnt. We have been informed that measures have been set on foot, by which it is hoped the whole property will be recovered.
Penzance - Mr. Vinning's concert took place at the Assembly-rooms on Friday evening. The attendance was most respectable, and the performances of Mr. V. and his family drew forth great applause. We were greatly astonished at the powers of his infant daughter; the dearness with which the child (who is only a little more than three years old) sang many popular airs, was truly astonishing, and fully bore out the testimony of M. Thalberg, and other musicians, who had before witnessed her performances. We are told that Mr. Vinning intends giving concerts in Devon and the eastern part of this county, and we hope he will meet with the success his talents deserve.
(from a correspondent)
Mildness of the Season - Though the weather has been unusually wet, it has nevertheless been particularly mild, in consequence of which, the gardens and shrubberies exhibit more of the appearance of spring than winter. Many of the bulbous roots have made their appearance above the surface of the ground, and the over. shrubs are putting forth young shoots, which give perceptible indications of growth. A few days ago, a yellow butterfly was seen flying about, as in summer.
Extraordinary Potatoe - A potatoe was last week dug in a field belonging to John Boase, Esq., of Trenethick, in the parish of Wendron, which weighed 4 � pounds, and measured 12 � inches in length, and 18 � inches in girth.
Adder Shot - On Saturday last, a man by the name of James Phillips shot, at Crantock, an adder two feet long, on a bank near a stream of water.
Fatal accident with Fire Arms - On Friday last, a party of about a dozen young men were out shooting in Lady's Wood, near Truro, and were in pursuit of a woodcock that had just been marked in, the gun of Richard Lanyon, of St. Allen, which was resting on his forearm, cocked, and went off accidentally, and shot a youth named Mark Moore, about 16 years of age, son of Mr. Moore, of Idless, dead upon the spot. The whole of the charge entered the young man's head about the right temple, and came out the other side. An inquest was had on the body the following day, before John Carlyon, Esq., coroner, when a verdict was returned of Homicide by Misadventure. Deodand on the Gun is 1s.
Truro Town Council Meeting - Capt. Kempe read a petition from the men of the police force, upon which it was resolved unanimously that the salary of each policeman should be increased to 14s. per week, and two strong pairs of shoes annually.
Scilly - The fine piece of fresh water, called "The Pond" at Tresco, was drawn, one night last week, when nearly five bushels of eels were caught.
Last week, a lad named Samuel Ellis, about 15 years of age, fell from the mast-head of a vessel now building at St. Mary's, and although severely bruised, not one of his bones were broken, and he is apparently doing well.
The "Goose Dancing", which formerly constituted so [substa]ntial a part of the Christmas revels at Scilly, has de[clin]ed very much of late years, and has now scarcely a [leg] to stand on.
[The transcriber has stayed true to the original; the inclusion or exclusion of the "u" in honor, etc. are all as printed. At this time, usage varied. Spacing of other words is as given, too. jm]
DEATH of DAVIES GILBERT, ESQ. - We have this week the melancholy task of announcing the decease of DAVIES GILBERT, Esq., D.C.L., late President of the Royal Society, which took place on Tuesday, the 24th ult., at his seat, Eastbourne, Sussex. Mr. Gilbert had another seat at Tredrea, in this county, and was Hon. F.R.S.E., F.A.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.A.S., President of the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, Hon. Member of most of the provincial Societies in the Kingdom, and of many on the Continent; he was also many years Member of Parliament for Bodmin, our county town, and was truly known as the Father of British
Science.
He was the only son of the Rev. Edward Giddy, of St. Erth, the
representative of the respectable family of Giddy, of Nan eavallan, by
Catherine, only daughter and heiress of Henry Davies, Esq., of Tredrea, only survivor of the ancient house of Davies through whom he was connected with the noble family of Sandys, and that of Noye, of which the well-known Attorney-General was a member.
When a child, his precocious talents were the theme of the extensive circle with which his father, as chairman of the Quarter Sessions, associated. His preliminary education was conducted at home; and at a very early age he contracted an intimacy, which continued until death, with the Rev. Malachy Hitchens, vicar of St. Hilary, a gentleman of high and well-deserved celebrity as a mathematician and astronomer, and as editor of the Nautical Almanack. This acquaintance, without doubt, materially aided in determining his mind to mathematical pursuits, in which he was afterwards so greatly distinguished. His academic education was received at Pembroke College, Oxford, to the funds of which he has been a liberal donor. We are at this moment unable to give any particulars of his career at the University, as well as many other topics on which we could wish to have enlarged; but we cannot doubt that it was very eminent and remarkable.
The introduction of Mr. Watt's celebrated improvement in the steam-engine into the Cornish mines, and the disputes between that great mechanical philosopher and the late Mr. Jonathan Hornblower, of Penryn, as to the economy and mode of applying the principles of working steam expansively, and which has since been carried to greater extent, and with a more remarkable economy of fuel, in this county than anywhere else, early attracted Mr. Davies Giddy's attention; and the various subjects embraced in its perfect development formed a noble field for the employment of his rare mathematical attainments. The expansive action was employed by Mr. Watts in a single cylinder, but Mr. Hornblower used two. It was, however, far more readily made out in theory than it was acknowledged in practice, that by the use of one cylinder only the same mechanical advantage is obtained, avoiding the additional friction which a second cylinder would entail. The plan of Mr. Hornblower was, after a silence of several years, revived by Mr. Woolf; but it seems by general consent and experience, and by universal practice to be now admitted that Mr. Watt's is the preferable mode.
Mr. Davies Giddy was solicited by the county at large to take an active part in the determination of the duty performed by Mr. Watt's engines, a task for which his genius and inclination peculiarly fitted him; and in conjunction with the late Captain William Jenkin, of Treworgie, he made a survey of all the steam engines then working in Cornwall.
An indifference to the labours of authorship, provided the results of his enquiries were available to the public without appearing in print, prevented the investigations of these important subjects from seeing the light in an authentic form until lately; the first of them appears in the philosophical transactions of the Royal Society in 1827, the second more recently.
One of the most laborious and practically useful works which has
distinguished that rich storehouse of intellectual wealth, the philosophical transactions of the Royal Society, is a paper by Mr. Gilbert on the properties of the catenary curve. This fine example of mathematical enquiry was published whilst the celebrated engineer Telford was preparing his materials for the construction of that stupendous national work, the Menai bridge***; and it affords one of the finest tributes on record, for the labours of the philosopher in his closet, that after the appearance of Mr. Gilbert's memoir*, the engineer caused the suspension chains, which had been prepared and completed, to be again taken in hand and lengthened by about thirty-six feet. The manner in which this magnificent structure has stood,
proves that the principles on which it was constructed are perfectly
accurate, but that its weight is insufficient to withstand the storms to which it is exposed, without a vibratory motion which is injurious to its stability.
One of the most remarkable incidents in Mr. Gilbert's life was his
discovering, patronizing, and encouraging the early struggles of Davy
(afterwards Sir Humphrey) whose introduction to public life, and to other friends who brought him, his genius and ability into notice, was due to his active and unvarying friendship. This is, however, a matter of history, and most of our readers are acquainted with it.
In 1828, Mr. Gilbert was, by acclamation, called to that pre-eminently
honorable station the chair of the Royal Society, to which his profound
learning and scientific researches, no less than his distinguished personal fitness, recommended him beyond every other person as the proper successor of Davy in the chair of Newton. This conspicuous place, at the head of British, and may we say European science, Mr. Gilbert held, for about seven years, with the highest honor to himself, and the greatest utility to that learned body. It is a case almost without parallel, and one of which, as Cornishmen, we are justly proud, that we have furnished two succeeding Presidents of the Royal Society. During his presidency, Mr. Gilbert was a liberal donor to the society's funds, and he extended a large and enlightened patronage to every object worthy of the notice of the illustrious body over which he presided. He resigned the chair in favour of his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, who is now succeeded by the courteous and learned Marquess of Northampton.
In his native County, to which he ever clung with most tenacious affection, in 1814, Mr. Gilbert founded the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall (with a single exception) the oldest Provincial Philosophical Society in England, and continued to preside over it until his decease; conferring on it an importance which it would not have otherwise attained, and extending its utility where, without him, it would have been unknown. To the other philosophical, literary, and charitable institutions of Cornwall, he was equally a liberal and enlightened patron.
The last literary labour of Mr. Gilbert's long , honourable, and useful
life, was editing "The Parochial History of Cornwall," originally commenced by Mr. Hals**, and continued by Mr. Tonkin. This work appeared but a year or two since with copious addenda by the Editor, and Geological notes by Dr. Boase. It contains a vast mass of curious and valuable antiquarian research, and rich disquisitions on many subjects of the highest local interest. Its effect has, however, been impaired by typographical inaccuracies, which the printer's carelessness has overlooked.
The rare talents, abilities, and application of Mr. Davies Giddy, at an
early period of his life, recommended him to the acquaintance of the leading scientific men of the age, and the principal inhabitants of the county; among these was the late Lord de Dunstanville, a nobleman as much distinguished by his discrimination, as by his large and munificent liberality. Through his Lordship's instrumentality, Mr. Giddy was returned to Parliament for the borough of Bodmin in 1807, after having sat as member from Helston; and the distinction thus conferred on him through, what we may not improperly term, extraneous means, was continued from an honorable appreciation of his ability and worth, until the passing of the Reform Bill in 1832; when his advanced age and increasing infirmities rendered him desirous of avoiding the turmoil of public life, and of retiring into the peace and tranquility of his domestic circle.
Whilst in Parliament, there were few members more regular, and assiduous in their attendance, than Mr. Gilbert; he generally, though not uniformly, supported the Conservative side of politics, but he seldom spoke, and was by no means an active partisan. His great learning and habits of business, recommended him to all parties; and he acted as chairman of a committee on the Financial System, in the critical and difficult period when Lord Castleroagh[?] was the ministerial leader in the Commons. The rectification of the national standards of linear dimensions and capacities, which was made a few years since, was undertaken on his motion for a n address to the
crown on the subject.
We have now seen him an illustrious philosopher, a learned historian, and an enlightened legislator; but the most distinguishing (and if we may use the language without charge of affectation) the most endearing character we have yet to mention, - for it would be vain to attempt to describe it, - his conversation; - it was not brilliant, - it was something infinitely beyond and better than mere display, - it was a continued stream of the most profound learning and most exalted philosophy, adapted with exquisite taste to the capacity of his auditory, and enlivened with anecdotes to which the most listless could not but listen and learn.
His manners were most unaffected, child-like, gentle, and natural. As a friend, he was kind, considerate, forbearing, patient and generous; and when the grave was closed over him, not one man, woman, or child, who was honored with his acquaintance, but will feel that he has a friend less in the world; Enemies, he cannot have left a single one.
A Cornishman he was in every good sense of the word;- the mention of a
Cornish custom, of a provincialism familiar in his youth, would make the aged man young again; the scenes of his early years, tales of times long gone, were poured forth in delightful glowing language, the more touching from its hearty, earnest, unaffected, and simple elegance.
Within a few years of 1815, Mr. Davies Giddy was married to Mary, only child and heiress of ___ Gilbert, Esq., of Eastbourne, and took the name of Gilbert, instead of his patronymic of Giddy. This alliance brought a considerable accession of fortune to his already considerable paternal inheritance. By this lady, who survives him, he had several children, but four only are now alive;- a son, John Davies Gilbert, Esq., a daughter, married to John S. Enys, of Enys, in this county, and two other daughters yet unmarried.
Mr. Gilbert's age was, we believe, about 74, and his long, honorable, and honored life, crowned with peace, riches, and distinction, was in the bosom of his family. "QUOT NOTOS, TOY RAB. AMICOS."
*We believe that some of the arithmetical computations in this memoir were made by Mr. John DAVY, of Saint Just.
**The M.S. of Mr. Hals, is, we believe, in the possession of the family of the late Dr. Whitaker, of Ruan Lanyhorne.
[transcriber's notes - *** - The Menai Straits, running between Wales and Anglesey, had to be traversed by travelers to the ferry port of Holyhead, where ships left for Ireland. The straits, due to currents and varying obstructions, were very dangerous. The bridge was started in 1819, and opened 30 Jan, 1826 to 'great fanfare'. For a very interesting, and brief, history, visit http://www.anglesey-history.co.uk/places/bridges. The Bridge was even mentioned in "Through the Looking Glass" - fame, indeed!
**** a "Catenary Curve" is the shape of a hanging flexible chain or cable (or jump rope!) when supported at its ends and acted upon by a uniform gravitational force (its own weight). The slope of the chain is largest near the points of suspension because this part of the chain has the most weight pulling down on it. Toward the bottom, the slope of the chain decreases because the chain is supporting less weight. (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) jm]
East Cornwall Agricultural Report for December
In [issu]ing our last report for the year ending 1839, we [cannot] refrain from observing that it has been a year (filled) with universal anxiety, and constant disappointment to the agriculturist. The crops, previously to the harvest, presented the finest appearance, and bade fair to be most abundant; so that the hopes and prospects of the farmer were raised to the highest pitch; but those bright anticipations were suddenly blighted. The state of the weather, on which so much of farming operations depends, particularly in the time of harvest, became a source of intense solicitude, and was the cause, eventually, of the ruin of the produce of the fields; and thus the brightest prospects to which the farmer had looked forward for many years, were changed for the most harassing perplexity, and intense anxiety. Never do we recollect, even in the year 1816, such a long-continuance of heavy
rains.
The month of December, under ordinary circumstances, presents but little that is attractive to the eye; the face of nature appears sterile, while the sun withholds its cheering and invigorating power. But the present month has been more than ordinarily unattractive; the unceasingly dense and humid state of the atmosphere has not only produced a dullness and inactivity, but an almost total suspension of out-door labor. The rains have been uncommonly heavy; in low situations the land has been completely flooded, and higher grounds have been so saturated that any kind of work has been attended to with considerable difficulty. The autumn tillage has been protracted to an uncommonly late period, and even those farmers who have succeeded in completing their tillage have done so with considerable difficulty, while many have delayed their work in hope of having a more favorable opportunity of attending to it. It would be well for them if it ended in mere disappointment; but we very much fear that large quantities of
land intended for wheat, will of necessity be occupied with other grain. Indeed, this must now be the case, unless the farmers adopt a spring tillage, the disadvantages of which, in this part of the county, are so fully known that no Cornish farmer would, from choice, adopt it if it could possibly be avoided. Wheat sown in the autumn has many decided advantages over that sown in the spring; the seed thrown off a greater number of shoots; the stalk is, in most cases, more strong and healthy, and the grain more pale; in addition to this, it is more forward, and ready for the sickle two or three weeks earlier. These are indisputable facts to the farmer; and rather than resort to a large spring tillage for his wheat, he would greatly prefer sowing his land with some other grain. We are, therefore, of opinion that the wheat tillage will be considerably less than usual. Another reason we have for this opinion is, that large quantities of land, which had been
newly broken up, and which it was necessary should undergo the process of burning, remains unprepared. The constant rains have wholly prevented the farmer from proceeding with it; and in fact very little burning has been completed.
As it respects the appearance of the young wheat, which is now beginning in many places to cover the ground, it is generally of a healthy hue. The slugs have in some places done injury, although we hope it is not irreparable and that those blades which are thus destroyed will be replaced by new shoots. There is certainly a danger from the constant wetness of the soil of the root decaying, though we do not anticipate any very extensive injury in this respect, except in some low situations, which are constantly covered with water.
Larger quantities of grain have been brought to the markets this month than in any month since harvest. This may be accounted for partly from the want of straw; for as cattle are now taken indoors they must be provided with fodder and litter, and many a small farmer at this season of the year, much against his inclinations, is obliged, as rent time approaches, to turn all he can into money, to satisfy the demands of his landlord. His disinclination to do so on the present occasion arises from the impression that the grain would greatly improve if permitted to lie over until the spring; consequently that it would fetch a better price. This is particularly applicable to wheat, which still continues very damp. Most of the samples which have been marketed, and which have come under our observation, have been of a very ordinary quality, and the remark is also equally applicable to barley and oats, the former being not only damp, but very much stained, and the latter very soft and light. However, a fair proportion has been sold, and at a shade or two lower than last year.
The demand for fat cattle has been rather more brisk this month than the last, but not so much so as to cause any advance in the price. Some of our Christmas markets have been well supplied with meat of very superior quality, particularly the market of Launceston, which has long been celebrated for the excellence of its beef.
Store cattle are looking much better since they were housed, previously to which, owing to the constant rains, they were remarkably thin and low, and diseases among them were beginning to be very prevalent.
The wool trade is any thing but cheering to the farmers. There is but
little disposition with either buyers or sellers to transact business, and consequently there is little or nothing doing. - December 31st, 1839.
John MASTERS, aged 24, was charged with having stolen on the 31st of August, at Stokeclimsland, two fagots and a fagot stick, from Richard DINGLE, a labourer. The prosecutor stated that he missed these faggots from a rick adjoining his house, and went on the 1st of September to prisoner's house, but could not get admittance. He looked in at the window, and saw two wet faggots, which he believed to be his, but could not swear to it. William GUMM, constable, tracked steps matching with a pair of boots found in prisoner's chimney, from his house to prosecutor's wood-rick, and back. Both witnesses, however, failed to prove the identity of the faggots, as they had been cut up by prisoner, and afterwards had been kept in a cellar to which the constable's servant had access. Wm. CRABB, constable of Callington, who apprehended the prisoner in Jersey, on the 25th of November, proved his having confessed the theft. Verdict - Guilty.
John MASTERS, the same prisoner, was also charged with stealing three table cloths, and various other articles of linen, from Sir W. P. CALL, Bart. The case was fully proved by the evidence of Mrs. Mary SLEEMAN, laundress, Mrs. Anna MARSHALL, housekeeper, and John MANNING, gamekeeper, at Whiteford; by Henry BULLEN, constable of Callington; by Sampson MASTERS, the prisoner's father, and Mary Ann, his youngest sister; and by W. HENWOOD, a tailor of Callington. The father stated that he was sent for by the prosecutor in the previous case, to go to his son's house; when there he found part of the linen, which he believed to be Sir William CALL's, and therefore thought it his duty to take it to Whiteford. His son and he had always been on good terms and willing to do any good for each other. The prisoner confessed to
Henwood that he had taken the linen; but said that he should not have done it but for his father, "who was an old rogue, and ought to have been hung years ago." The father, it should be observed, confessed on
cross-examination, that he had been convicted and imprisoned, about 25 years ago, for receiving stolen goods. Verdict, Guilty.
Samuel CONGDON, a mason and lath maker, was charged with stealing two pieces of Norway balk, from Mr. John HICKS, merchant, of Fowey. [The wood was on a raft above Bodinnick ferry. Prisoner had a shop 6-7 feet from the river at high tide. Mr. William HICKS, prosecutor's brother, proved the location of the raft. Pieces had not been sold. John PEARNE, constable, produced marked and numbered pieces of wood, which were proved by Mr. T. STRIBLEY, landing waiter of the Customs.]
Prisoner stated in his defense, that the shop spoken of was a place he had not been in for weeks together. The place was not locked, and was a thoroughfare for every one. People had come there for years and put in things without his knowledge. Corroborated by PEARNE. Verdict - Not Guilty.
John LANDER was charged with stealing a silver watch from Joseph POLLARD, of Perranzabuloe. The prosecutor, a miner, on the morning of the 16th December, had, on going to work, hung up his watch in his kitchen. A few hours afterwards, prisoner came loitering about the house, there being no one constantly in the kitchen but Eliza Jane POLLARD, a little girl of about ten years of age. The prisoner looked about the house, went down into the parlour, said the clock was not right, and then looked to the watch. The little girl happening to go into the wood-cupboard, prisoner shut the door of it, placing the cradle against it; and when the little girl, after some difficulty, got out, the prisoner was gone. On her father's coming home, he missed the watch. Stephen SOBEY, who lodged with the prisoner, proved that after many strong denials of having seen the watch, he told Sobey if he
would not say anything about it, he would show him where it was. He then took it from the under-roof of an outhouse. Verdict, Guilty. Mr. John BATE, constable of Blisland, where the prisoner had formerly lived, was called to speak to his character, and deposed that he had never before heard anything against him.
James BAWDEN, 47, was charged with stealing two bags from Messrs. C. and J. HARVEY, of Gwennap. James UREN, constable of Redruth, searched the prisoner's house on the 11th of November, and found a great many flour sacks - some under the bed, and some on it; some under straw, some on the stairs, and some in the cradle. There were bags in every corner of the house - nothing but bags and children. (laughter) He took nine bags, four of which were marked "C. and J. HARVEY, St. Day". The next day, prisoner asked witness what was to be done? Witness said, "How came you with so many bags - a poor man like you?" Prisoner said, stammering, he had got one, full of bread, from JACKA, the baker, who had neglected to call for it; and told a similar tale about the rest. On the 18th, witness again went to prisoner's house, and took him into custody. The bags had then been removed. Edmund WHITBURN, constable of Gwennap, proved that the prisoner had said he thought no harm of having the bags, and that being an 'unlettered' man, he did not know where he had them. (laughter) Mr. W. PEEL (or PAUL) proved the prisoner's examination before the Rev. T. PHILLPOTTS, in which prisoner stated that the bags found in his house had been accumulating for sixteen years, having been left by persons who neglected to call for them. He had given notice some months ago that if any person owned
them, he might have them. He had ten children, only one being able to work, and the tenth was at his mother's breast. Thomas JACKA, baker, stated that he had never sold prisoner or his wife any bag of flour. Mr. James HARVEY made a similar statement; but admitted on cross-examination that his clerks might have done so.
Mr. Bennallack addressed the jury for the prisoner; and agreeably relieved his analysis of evidence with some very humorous remarks. He complimented Mr. Uren, the constable; observing that no man was fitter for his office, as he had twice crossed the Atlantic and looked closely into the manners of the Americans! There were imperative reasons he said - which he hoped would find an opening in the heads of the jury - that this man was not guilty; and that they should send him home to his wife, his ten children, and his bags! - Not Guilty.
Mary SANDOW, 64, was charged with stealing a breast of mutton from William PARSONS, of St. Ives. The case was clearly proved by the prosecutor, his wife, and his servant, Jane ARTHUR. The prisoner had no defence, but 'trusted that as she was aged, she should find compassion and forgiveness with the Grand Jury here and hereafter."
The court then rose.
Elizabeth SMITH, 26, a married woman, was charged with having stolen from William DINGLE, three sovereigns and other money. The prosecutor was a mason of Lezant, and was in Launceston on the 23rd December, having three sovereigns in this pocket. He met with the prisoner, who was about the town with a man called LANDER. They all went to several inns; and at the Dolphin, W. TICKETT, who saw that Dingle was in liquor, and in bad company, told him he had better go home. A constable also saw what money he had; and another constable took the precaution to mark the sovereigns. Dingle afterwards went to Smith's house, and after taking supper there, remained in her company until nearly two in the morning. The next day, the prisoner went to the Exeter Inn, bought a noggin of gin, and changed a sovereign, which the landlady put in the till; but afterwards gave it to the constable, who now produced it in court, proving that it was one of those which he had
marked. In cross-examination, admissions were made which warranted a
reasonable presumption that the money had been given by Dingle to the
prisoner; and the jury consequently returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
The CHAIRMAN severely reprimanded the prosecutor for his disgraceful
conduct, particularly as having a wife and family; and ordered that he
should not be allowed a farthing of his expenses.
Elizabeth WHITE, 14, and Sarah HENTON, 12, were charged with stealing a
quantity of salt pilchards, the property of Richard TREVETHEN, of Rame. Susannah Trevethen, wife of the prosecutor, who lived at Cawsand, stated that she salted 1,000 pilchards in the beginning of October, of which her family consumed 400 by the 23rd of that month, when she missed all the rest. Elizabeth White was in her service, and had access to the pilchards. Eliza WEBBER and Mary Ann WEBBER proved the having bought about 200 salt pilchards of the two prisoners. Samuel SANDERS, constable, proved an implied admission on the part of the prisoners. For the defence, it was shown that it was a very common practice for girls of the prisoners' ages to sell fish; and also that there was in this case no proof of the identity of
the fish. Not Guilty.
Samuel CUNDY [also spelled CUDDY], 21, Thomas ALLEN, 30, and Jas. GEACH, 29, were charged with breaking into the dwelling-house of John WEARY, of St. Austell, and stealing therefrom three sovereigns, half a sovereign, about �1 in silver, and some pence. Mr. Coode conducted the prosecution, Mr. John defended Cundy, and Mr. Bennallack the other two prisoners.
John WEARY, prosecutor, stated that he lived at Tregonissey, in St. Austell. On the 19th of November, he and his wife left the house about two o'clock, to attend a funeral, leaving in a chest up stairs three sovereigns, two half-sovereigns, and about 40s. in silver, including half-crowns, a fourpenny-piece, and a new sixpence. Gearch lived in Tregonissey; Allen and Cundy about half a mile off. Almost all the village attended the funeral; and just as witness got to church, he heard that his house had been broke open. He returned home about half-past four, when he found the door broken in with an iron bar, and his two boxes wrenched open, and all the money gone. Cross-examined by Mr. John - Geach and Allen were apprehended on the same evening; Cundy not till the 9th of December. Witness suspected Cundy from his being flush with money. Witness had never had but this one four-penny piece in his life.
Mary Weary, wife of prosecutor, corroborated his evidence. She was the last to leave the house, and locked the door securely.
William ROUSE, a boy nine years old, on the day of the funeral, saw Allen and Geach go in at Weary's gate. Allen said "Come on, let's go in here, Geach." Both of them went in. They went round the corner of the house, and witness lost sight of them. This was about three o'clock.
Matthew ROBERTS, constable, examined the prosecutor's premises on the 19th November. He found footsteps in the garden, one of which he measured. He went in the same evening to Geach's house, and measured his shoe. He then went to Allen, and found that his shoe corresponded with the measure of the track. He took Allen to Weary's garden, and desired him to make another track which corresponded also with the tracks previously discovered there. Witness took both prisoners into custody.
Richard ALLEN, a brother of prisoner Allen, lived at Wrestling Down, about three-quarters of a mile from Tregonissey. He attended the funeral, and was very late. In going, he had to pass Weary's house, and he saw the prisoner Cundy jump over the garden hedge. There was no public road there. Witness overtook Cuddy while he was cleaning his shoes in the grass. This was a trifle after three. Cross-examined: Witness had no suspicion of Cundy till the 9th of December, after he had been taken up. Had no suspicion from seeing him jump over the hedge. Cundy attended the funeral, and had his best coat on.
Joseph WEARY, son of prosecutor, knew Cundy from a boy. He had been away for twelve months in Wales. In Sept. last, witness asked him how he got on in Wales, and he replied that he had saved about �6, but having been ill eight weeks, he had spent all except enough for one week.
Several other witnesses were examined, after which Mr. John addressed the jury for Cundy; when Mr. Bennallack called Samuel ORCHARD to prove an alibi for his clients. This failed, but still the jury, after a careful summing up of the evidence by the Chairman, acquitted all the prisoners.
The remainder of the business for Wednesday before this Court shall appear next week, when we shall complete our report of the Sessions.
Richard CHEGWIN was charged with having stolen a poll pick, the property of Mr. Benjamin DAVEY, of the parish of Kea. The prosecutor was working in a quarry in Nancevallan Wood, in March last, and left the pick in questions in the quarry on a Saturday evening. On going there on Monday morning, it was gone. He next saw it in a smith's shop, and on being told who brought it there, he went with William COUCH, a constable, of Truro, to Bosvigo-lane, where the prisoner was working with the pick. He (prosecutor) owned it, and prisoner said he bought it of John PARSONS. The constable, Couch, produced the pick, which Davey identified as the one which he had lost. Guilty.
John STROUT was charged with stealing one sheaf of reed,the property of
William PHILP. The prisoner had been in Mr. Philp's employ for some time; and, on different occasions, the prosecutor had found his reed missing. In consequence of information received, he went to the prisoner's house, and there saw a bundle of straw or reed, and the prisoner sitting by a fire. Charged prisoner with stealing his reed, and he said if he would say nothing about it, he would take it back again to the place he took it from. Guilty. Recommended to mercy.
Elizabeth KENT, on bail, was indicted for stealing, in the parish of St. Winnow, a large earthenware bowl, a glass tumbler, an ironing flannel, a mangling cloth, and other articles, the property of Mrs. Eliza BOGER. Morbrun BOGER, a son of the prosecutrix, recollected on the 27th of Oct. last being in his mother's garden, in which there is a small courtlage, and there seeing, between six and seven o'clock, some one stooping down, and hiding away behind a faggot. He approached, and the person ran off. It was a female, and he pursued her. She ran over the steps into the turnpike road, where he overtook her. It was the prisoner. He had desired her to come back that he might see what she had; she replied she had nothing belonging to them. He thought she had, by her running. When laid hold of, she resisted, and he heard something rattling under her cloak. He detained her until his brother came up, when she let fall a bundle, containing the earthenware bowl, and other articles described in the indictment. His brother took the things; they were marked R.B., being the initials of his late father's name. His mother had a bowl similar to the one found in the bundle, which was broken in the fall, and he had seen it in the morning of the same day.
Edmund BURGER, brother to the last witness, corroborated the above evidence, and detained the bundle until handed over to the constable, Benjamin THOMAS, who produced it, containing the articles in question, which were immediately identified by the last witness. Guilty. Recommended to the mercy of the court by the prosecutrix.
Johanna PENNY and Thomas BUNNY were indicted for stealing at Liskeard, two bottles of porter, and a quantity of bacon, the property of John HAYNE. The prisoners had been in the employ of the prosecutor, the female as a servant in the house, the other as an out-door labourer. Mrs. Hayne had been in London for a few weeks, and on her return found that a great many articles of her property were missing. She searched and found on the female prisoner a pocket, some ribbon, sugar, two pieces of cotton, some tape, and other articles, her property. Prisoner said she had given the other prisoner, Bunny, some bacon twice, but would not have done it if he had not slocked her to do it. It was about five or six pounds of bacon at a time. Mrs. HAYNE afterwards saw the prisoners together. Bunny said he had only received bacon from Penny once. Bunny, in his defence, stated that as he was passing a window of the house, he saw the other prisoner with a bottle
of porter before her, and she, when seen, called him in, and begged him to say nothing about it, and gave him the porter, and likewise the bacon. Both Guilty.
John HOCKING was charged with stealing, at Chacewater, a quantity of
turnips, one sack, and a sack containing a quantity of barley, the property of Mr. William GILL. The prosecutor stated that he is a maltster and farmer, that the prisoner has been in his employ, and was on in December last. He was a weekly servant, and had been allowed access to the malthouse. On the night of the 17th of December, about half-past eight, he met the prisoner in the yard, when he dropped a sack, apparently containing something very heavy. Asking the prisoner what he had, the prisoner replied "I have an empty sack:", but on examining it, the prosecutor found it half full of turnips. Prisoner immediately craved forgiveness, for "he had only taken a few turnips". Prosecutor told him he could not forgive him, for he had had a great many things stolen of late, and had employed him to watch his property; he was, therefore, obliged to make an example of him. He then sent for the constable, and examined the sack, which had his own name on it. On receiving information concerning the barley, he went with the constable
to a loft over one of his stables; and on breaking open a corn bin, of which the prisoner kept the only key, they discovered a sack containing about 16 gallons of barley, which sack he also identified. John SYMONS, constable of Kenwyn, corroborated the general evidence of the prosecutor, further stating that the prisoner, when in his custody, besought him to go to the place where the barley was deposited, and remove it; and if he would intercede with Mr. Gill to let him go, he would give him his watch. He immediately carried the information to the prosecutor, who proceeded as before stated. Mr. Stokes was employed on the part of the prosecution, and Mr. Cornish defended the prisoner. Guilty.
Mary THORN was charged with stealing in the parish of Marhamchurch, one
brass candlestick, the property of James MARTIN. It appears the prosecutor had a stall in the fair of that parish on the 12th of August last, and observed the prisoner handling his candlesticks. In the evening he found one missing. He procured a warrant, and, with a policeman, searched the prisoner's house, and there found two candlesticks, which he identified as his property. The prisoner said she did'nt steal them, but came honestly by them. Cross-examined - Is a Yorkshireman, and keeps a hardware shop in Torrington; does not at present travel in that line; had but one pair of this pattern on his stall, and did not sell a similar candlestick for the day. There were none of a similar trade in the fair. Not Guilty. The same prisoner was charged on another indictment with stealing another candlestick from the same person, at Stratton fair, on the 12th of December. Guilty.
NICHOLAS STONEMAN, stood indicted for stealing in the parish of St. Gluvias, one brass candlestick, the property of Simon TREVENNA. Elizabeth Trevenna is the wife of the prosecutor, who keeps an inn, in St. Gluvias parish. On the 29th of October, the prisoner came to her house, in company with another man, and drank one pint of beer; immediately after they left the house, she found a candlestick missing. John THOMAS, a constable of the parish, went in consequence of information received, to a beer-house kept by Ann HICKS, which is about three-quarters of a mile from prosecutor's house; saw prisoner there, and detained him. Prisoner then said his name was William CARTHEW. Saw him take something from his clothes, and drop a candlestick, which Mr. Trevenna, the prosecutor, took from the floor. Cross-examined by Mr. Bennallack - Went to this beer-shop on official practice; found prosecutor there, and the prisoner; prosecutor gave him the candlestick; he kept it on suspicion of being stolen property, but never saw it with the prisoner. Elizabeth PEARCE was at the house in question at the time, and saw the prisoner take a brass candlestick from his pocket, and put it under the table; the constable took it into his possession. Messrs. John LISLE and Jas. NANCARROW, Captains at Carnbrae mine, had known the prisoner for some years, who is a very good miner; had never heard anything against his character, and should be happy to employ him at any time. Guilty.
Henry BENNY pleaded guilty of stealing at Liskeard, one sovereign and two half-crowns, the property of R. SCANTLEBURY.
James HODGE pleaded guilty of stealing in the parish of Ludgvan, a pair of high shoes and a pair of stockings, the property of Thomas SAMPSON.
Joseph TREMBARTH, pleaded guilty of stealing in the parish of Gwennap, one pair of shoes, the property of James FRANCIS.
Henry JAMES was charged with stealing in the parish of St. Cleer, four
geese, the property of Samuel RABY. The hind of the prosecutor being
called, stated that he lives on Tremarr estate, in the parish of St. Cleer; knows the prisoner; kept a flock of geese belonging to his master, and on the first of December last found some of them missing; this was early in the morning, when it was good light; he discovered some footmarks, and the feathers of geese scattered about, as if there had been a spudder; he called a constable and traced the footmarks through several fields for two or three miles, until they came to the prisoner's house; they saw the prisoner leave his house when they approached it, and retire to some distance; they afterwards compared the foot marks on the paths which they had traced from the field in question with those now made by him in their presence, and they corresponded in every respect. At the house of the prisoner they smelt
goose-fat; his wife was at home; they saw no remains of geese below stairs; they asked to go up stairs; she was unwilling; they, however, went up, and found seven old wings of geese under the bed-tie; found four fresh wings on a wall which had not been cut off many hours; they also found the bodies of two geese, one of which was partly roasted, and the other cut up and salted in a stein, which was under the woman's clothes. There were four geese missing, one of which was a young white gander that he had from Mr. RABY's flock at St. Martins; the wings they found on the wall belonged to this white gander; he knew them by several marks appearing on them, which were made by the other geese beating him very much. Richard HENDER, constable, of St. Cleer, corroborated the above evidence, and further stated that the wife of the prisoner sat upon the goose, which was half roasted, and when
discovered, it was very warm and smoking. The goose was tolerably well
picked, but could see it was a grey one. When he had prisoner in custody, he said, "Dear me, what trouble a man gets into; I wish I had never been born." Guilty.
James GLOVER and Silas GLOVER were indicted for stealing, in the parish of Kilkhampton, two geese, the property of Henry MOUNTJOY. The prisoners were boys, who had sold, about the time those geese were lost, two of a similar kind to Mrs. ROCKRIDGE, who is in the habit of buying weekly an .. number of geese and other poultry, to sell again, for which she gave them 7s.6d. The case not being sufficiently clear, the jury acquitted the prisoners by a verdict of Not Guilty.
Thomas RUTTERS was charged with stealing, in the parish of St. Martins, near Looe, four gallons of potatoes, the property of John HORE. The prosecutor had in the season past planted potatoes, with many other people, in a field in the above parish; but on taking the crop out of the ground, many of them had found their heaps lessening. On the 26th of October he, with others, laid watch, and between the hours of twelve and one, saw the prisoner come into the field, go to his heap, and partly fill his bag, which he had brought with him; being disturbed, he ran off, but was soon retaken, when he said to them, "shake them out of the bag, and say no more about it." Other witnesses corroborated the above, and the prisoner was quickly found Guilty. He had been before convicted of and punished for felony.
John WATERS was indicted for stealing, in the parish of St. Stephens, a
faggot of furze, the property of Isaac GRIGG. It appears the prosecutor had from time to time lost a quantity of furze from his rick; and on this occasion, on the 18th of November last, his son traced some footsteps from the rick to the dwelling of the prisoner, and accused him of the theft. The prisoner afterwards confessed himself as the thief. Guilty.
John BURRY was charged with having stolen, in St. Columb Major, two fowls, the property of James Polkinghorne. Jane HENWOOD is a servant in the house of the prosecutor; she fed the poultry on the night of the 24th of November; she left four fowls in the coop in the yard, after feeding them; about ten o'clock, he took two out, and left the others remaining; these were a light and a dark one; shortly after this, she heard a footstep in the yard, and saw a man through the window; she spoke and he moved off; he fell into a hamper, but when she came out he was gone; she found there one dead fowl, which was quite warm, very near the coop; did not find the other, but saw it the same night in the hand of Mr. BURROW, the constable. Richard BASCOMBE, the ostler at the prosecutor's house, recollects the prisoner working there on the day in question, and seeing him enter the yard in the night, at nearly eleven o'clock; saw him go in the direction to where the fowls were kept; shortly after heard they were missing; he got the constable, and
proceeded to the house of the prisoner, where they discovered the missing fowl concealed in a potato case, near his house, and covered over with some thatch. It was Mr. Polkinghorne's fowl; shewed it to the prisoner, who said he didn't know anything about it. John BURROW, of St. Columb, corroborated the evidence given above, and stated the finding the feathers in the prisoner's pocket, which nearly resembled the fowls stolen, and blood upon his hands when he first took him. Guilty.
10 JANUARY 1840, Friday
[Report related to Cornish Agriculture, presented to the Royal Institution meeting - jm]
...By taking a report made to the Board of Agriculture in 1791 by a Mr.
Fraser of the then state of agriculture in Cornwall, and then casting a
retrospect to an earlier document of Dr. Den. Cox, published about 1691, and to Tonkin's remarks about 40 years earlier, he [Sir Charles Lemon] deduced that the gross produce of the county in articles of food for man was hardly equal to the wants of the inhabitants, but approaching near to an equality in ordinary seasons. Then looking further back to the statements of Camden and Carew, and those of Leland and Norden, it would appear that in those days Cornwall did no more than feed its own scanty population, a population which appears from the best estimate to have been:
in 1585......69,900
1733......105,800
1791......171,000
being an increase of 144 per cent, during the 200 years preceding Fraser's report. Since 1791, the population has increased from 171,000 to 336,000 in 1838, or nearly 95 per cent; and the question is, does the county still produce sufficient food for its inhabitants? That it does so appears from statements laid before Parliament, especially if the growing export of potatoes is borne in mind.
[Note: one problem lay with the type of potato which was planted throughout England and Ireland. It was particularly susceptible to rot caused by damp soil; however, as it was a prolific producer, older and less susceptible types were no longer planted. When the crops failed, due to weather, they failed massively. However, at this point in Cornish history, adequate crops were still being produced. jm]
Tregony - On Wednesday evening last, a mob assembled in the street at Tregony, with bundles of reed and faggots of wood, in order to burn the effigy of Mrs. Rundle, who has been unjustly accused of giving information against Fugler, the person who has been committed to prison for six months, for having been detected with a keg of contraband brandy in his van; but the rabble were soon dispersed and driven out of the town, by one of the constables acting under the orders of the mayor. Our readers will perceive, from our report of the case in our last week's paper, that there is not the slightest ground for the charge made against this honest and industrious person, or her family.
Shipwreck - We regret to announce that the "Falmouth Packet" of Falmouth, a beautiful clipper schooner belonging to W. Glasson, Esq., merchant, of Green Bank, and regularly employed in the fruit trade, has been totally lost at St. Michael's, with all her crew, except the master. Several other vessels were lost at the same time.
The Late Lieut. Thomson - This gentleman, whose melancholy death at Cork we recorded a short time ago, was a native of Penzance, and a brother of Captain H. Thomson, of Lostwithiel, formerly of the Royal Cornwall Militia.
Accidents - On Monday night, as a boat belonging to Mr. W. H. Boase, of Penzance, was trawling, the men on board cast off the trawl in order to clear the Gear pole, when a rope drew two men overboard. William Warren was unfortunately drowned - the other was picked up.
On Friday last, a young man called Roberts was killed at Wheal Friendship Mine, near St. Hillary, by getting entangled with the machinery of the fire engine.
Coroner's Inquest - On Thursday, the 2nd instant, an inquest was held at Delabole Slate Quarry, on the body of a boy called Lane, aged 13, who was crushed to death on Tuesday morning, by the engine bob. While playing with another boy around the engine-house, he was caught by his frock shirt, and could not extricate himself. The injury was in the head and back, which caused instant death. Verdict, accidental death.
St. Columb - The commissioners of the court for the relief of Insolvent Debtors, have issued their commission appointing James Whitefield, of St. Columb, gentleman, to be a commissioner for taking recognisances of bail for the appearance of insolvent debtors, under the recent statutes abolishing imprisonment for debt.
Proposed Chapel of Ease, at Flushing - We understand that exertions have recently been made for the erection of a chapel of ease at the important village of Flushing, which contains a population of nearly 2,000 persons, and is situated at an inconvenient distance from the parish church of Mylor. Lord Clinton has munificently given a piece of ground for the site of the proposed chapel, in addition to a subscription of �100; and an appeal, we believe, will shortly be made to the public for such assistance as may contribute towards the speedy
accomplishment of the projected undertaking.
Astronomy - On Thursday evening, the 26th ult., a scientific and animating lecture on the Elements of Astronomy, was delivered by Mr. John Victor, in his School-room, in Halsetown. The large and respectable audience present on the occasion were highly gratified with the interesting information givenrespecting the solar system, and the doctrine of a plurality of inhabited worlds. At the close of the lecture, the chairman, Mr. Wearne, merchant of St. Ives, rose, and with great nobility and warmth of feeling referred to several important topics mentioned by Mr. Victor.
Whale - One of the trawl boats belonging to Falmouth saw one day last week, just outside the Lizard, a fine Whale, blowing up the water to a tremendous height. This is the second Whale which has been seen by the crew of the same vessel during the last fortnight.
Veryan - Some time of the night between the 24th and 25th ult., the barn belonging to Mrs. Langdon, of Trelogossick, in Veryan, was robbed of about five bushels of oats. The thief, who is yet undiscovered, entered the building by a window, which the person who locked the door in the evening omitted to shut. During the last three months, a great number of other thefts have been committed in this parish and neighbourhood, several farmers having had their potatoes stolen, without any clue to the discovery of the depredators.
Penzance Quarter Sessions - These Sessions were held on Monday last, before the Recorder, Thomas Paynter, Esq., and the Borough Magistrates. After the usual formalities, Jeremiah BARTON, 31, was placed at the bar charged with an assault on a constable in the execution of his duty. It appears that the prisoner had been given in charge for soliciting money with a brief containing signatures suspected to have been forged; and in his efforts to escape, he kicked the constable with great violence. The charge was clearly made out, and on the jury pronouncing a verdict of guilty, the prisoner was sentenced to be imprisoned six months' at hard labor. Grace STEVENS, 15, pleaded guilty to stealing a piece of cotton from the shop of Mr. Tucker, Draper, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Mary SIMS, 26, also pleaded guilty to the charge of having concealed the birth of her female infant, the particulars of which we gave a short time ago, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment at hard labor. The prisoner was in so feeble a state as to be unable to walk without assistance. The court then broke up.
William LOCKINGTON, 27, was charged with having stolen one hundred yards of ribbon and seven yards of galloons, the property of Mr. James Cooke JAMES, mercer, of Stratton; and Ann LOCKINGTON, 30, was charged with feloniously receiving the same. Mr. Coode stated the case for the prosecution, and called Julia James, an assistant in Mr. James' shop. On the 11th of December, Stratton fair-day, William Lockington came into the shop about a quarter past seven o'clock in the evening and asked for some ribbons. Witness first took out a drawer of white, and then one of coloured. He took a piece of white, and asked for some blue, which witness could not find but was certain she had seen it in the morning. She turned out a third drawer, but could not find it. Her back was, this while, towards the prisoner, and she could not tellwhat he was about. He purchased three yards of white, pink, and violet-coloured ribbons, for which he paid 11 1/2d. Witness continued her search for the blue ribbon, and about ten minutes afterwards
discovered she had lost two other pieces, one of which, a white piece, she had seen in prisoner's hand. She found six or seven pieces wanting
altogether. They were all marked and papered at the end. Next saw them
before the magistrates. Samuel GODDARD, police officer, at Stratton, about seven o'clock in the evening of the 11th of December saw prisoner near the King's Arms. Witness had shortly before been in a room on the ground floor, where he saw the female prisoner sitting down. They were both strangers at Stratton. On witness's leaving the room, the door was closed. He saw the male prisoner enter that room, and he then went out into the street, and looked through a chink in the window shutter. There was a light in the room. The female prisoner took her seat at the fire; and the male prisoner took something out of his pocket twice, that appeared to be rolls of ribbon, which he threw into the female's lap. The male prisoner was then about to leave the room, when witness met him at the door, and told him he must wait a few minutes. Witness then asked him what he had thrown into the woman's lap. He said, it was goods he dealt in. Witness then went to the female, and found rolls of ribbon in her apron, one of which was in the same state as was usual in the shops. He distinctly saw the shop-marks on it. Witness then went to Mr. James's shop, and Mr. James came to the inn, when witness told the male prisoner he must go along with him. He went, and as they were going on, he was fumbling in his pocket, and witness saw him take out something white. Witness took it, and it proved to be three pieces of ribbon. Witness then went to the female and asked for the ribbon the man had thrown into her lap. She handed over a handkerchief containing seven pieces of galloon. The papers had been torn off the ends. The prisoners where placed in the lock-up house, and a man was stationed in a hiding place to listen to their conversation, which furnished strong proof of their guilt, though such a method of obtaining evidence is far from being unobjectionable. After the listener had undergone a sharp cross-examination by Mr. John, Miss James was recalled, and stated that she believed the whole of the ribbons produced were Mr. James's property, because they were of the
same description and colour.
Mr. John addressed the jury for the prisoners, in a very powerful speech. He earnestly denounced the mode in which the evidence had been got up as un-English, and repugnant to the feeling of humanity; and contended that there was and could be no proof of the identity of the articles, or of any theft having been committed by Lockington; while, even supposing him guilty, the woman must be acquitted, as she was, according to Goddard's belief, who must know more about the prisoners than any person in court, the wife of Lockington, and therefore, in demesne, and under the control of her husband.
The Chairman, in summing up, observed that a great deal had been said as to the mode in which STONE's evidence was obtained. [Stone must have been the 'police observer'.] That his mode was frequently adopted in police offices, he had no doubt. He would not advise that such a plan should be commonly resorted to; but at the same time, it was clear that the ends of justice would be often defeated, if some such plan was not resorted to. The innocent need not fear such traps. With regard to Stone's evidence itself, it was certainly singular that he heard nothing but what seriously affected the prisoners, and also that he should entirely forget the Christian name. Verdict, Both Guilty.
Mary TONKIN, 21, was charged with stealing three half-crowns and a
sixpenny-piece, from Elizabeth KEMPE, of Redruth. The prosecutrix, whose husband was at work in the Brazils, lived in Redruth, and the prisoner had lived as servant with a neighbour. On the 15th of November, prisoner came to the house of prosecutrix, about seven o'clock in the evening, and said she had seven miles to go. Mrs. TONKIN, having no husband at home, gave her supper and asked her to sleep there. The prisoner did so; and the following day, in the absence of Mrs. Tonkin, she broke up the simple of a chest, and stole three half-crowns and a sixpence. On the Sunday following, Mrs. Tonkin and a brother-in-law went to Wendron, where they found prisoner, who acknowledged having taken the money, and gave it up in a bag, whichalso
belonged to prosecutrix. Verdict, Guilty. Three months' hard labor.
Martha FOWLES, [or Fowler]28, was charged with stealing a cake, 17 potatoes, some pork and mutton, and some slices of dressed meat, the property of Mr. William Spencer SPAWFORTH, of Carbeel House, in Antony; and Elizabeth LOCKE, 25, was charged with receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. SPAWFORTH stated that Martha Fowles was his cook. On the 23rd of November, he gave Martha CLATWORTHY, another servant, directions to watch at the nursery window. While there, she saw the cook's sister, Elizabeth Locke, go into the house with a basket. She then rang a bell, and witness ran out and overtook Elizabeth Locke, and found the bread, potatoes, and meat in her basket. Locke said it was only a parcel of scraps which no gentleman would notice. Fowles, the prisoner, was present when the basket was examined. After being cautioned, she said she had put the things in her basket, but her sister knew not what was in it. The constable, who proved this confession, gave both prisoners a good character for their previous conduct. Verdict, Martha Fowles, Guilty. Elizabeth Locke, Not Guilty.
The prisoners were both young married women, and decent and respectable in their deportment. Martha Fowles hoped the court would be merciful, in consideration of her dear children. She went to Mr. Spawforth's to assist him till he had a servant, and was not hired as a servant herself, and she had served him faithfully in life and in death. She did not think of stealing when she gave away these scraps. Twelve months' hard labour.
Jane DREBLE, 22, was charged with stealing a gold pin, a gold ear drop, and other articles, from Malachi Deeble, of Tywardreath. The articles were stolen from the shivets of prosecutor's chest, and found on prisoner's person in a lodging-house, in St. Austell. Verdict, Guilty. One month's hard labour.
Jane BETTY, 42, was charged with stealing three-penny worth of furze, the property of Robert RICHARDS, a shoemaker, of Ladock. Verdict, Guilty. Two weeks' hard labour.
Maria MARSHALL was charged with stealing, at Bodmin, four hats, one basket, one braided collar, one copper kettle, one copper fountain, and two caps, the property of Mrs. Maria DENNIS. It appeared from the evidence of the prosecutrix, that she keeps a shop in Bodmin, and has lately employed the prisoner occasionally as a charwoman. In cleaning her house, the prisoner has had occasion to be in the room where her new hats are kept. There are several dozens of hats kept there. Prisoner worked at her house on the 24thof December. On that evening, in consequence of some information, she, with a constable named BRAY, searched prisoner's house, and found there four hats, two caps, one braided collar, and one basket, all of which she knew to be her property. The private marks on the hats were torn off. She was afterwards shown a copper fountain and kettle, both her property also. Edw. HENDER keeps an ironmonger's shop, in Bodmin; prisoner brought the fountain to his shop, for which he gave her the value of old copper. John POPHAM, constable of Bodmin, searched the prisoner's house on the 26th of December, and found a copper kettle, which he produced, and was identified by the prosecutrix as her property. Guilty.
Fanny MARTIN was charged with stealing, at Redruth, from the person of
Daniel BURGEN, a dock bag, containing four sovereigns and a half in gold, and eleven shillings in silver, his property. It appears the prosecutor was in Redruth on the evening of the 13th of December, and went with the prisoner to a public house, where they drank together five pints of beer; remained about an hour and half, and whilst there took out his money, counted it, and found it all right, in the prisoner's presence. They left the house together, and proceeded down the street, when the prosecutor felt the prisoner's hand in his pocket, from which she took the bag containing the money, and made off. He pursued, but soon missed her. Being a stranger in the place, and being then rather late, did not procure a constable that night. On the following day, he described the person of the prisoner to the constable, who, after some difficulty, apprehended her. He was not present when she was taken by the constable, but recognized her as the person who took his money the night before immediately as the constable brought her before him. Honor WICKETT keeps a public house at Redruth. Prosecutor called there on the 13th of the last month, about ten at night, and called for some beer. She refused drawing, being past the time; he left, and very shortly afterwards, the prisoner came in, and had half a pint of spirit to carry out with her, for which she paid by changing a sovereign, taking it from a small dark bag. She had more money in the bag; she heard it rattle. LAUNDER, a constable of Redruth, stated that when he took the prisoner, she tried to escape, and offered him a sovereign then, and the rest of the money stolen in five weeks after, if he would go to Elizabeth SCORVIN's house with her; he went, and there were several persons in the house who attempted
to rescue the prisoner. However, he sent for assistance, and secured her. Prisoner afterwards said she never saw the man or his money, and had never a sovereign in her possession for the last three years. Guilty. Prosecutor Bergen's expenses not allowed, with a reprimand from the chairman for getting into such company.
CORNWALL EPIPHANY SESSIONS (continued from Jan. 3)
Jane WATTS, 64, was charged with stealing potatoes from the Guardians of the St. Austell Union. The prisoner, an inhabitant of the workhouse, was employed on the 13th of December in washing potatoes, and was proved by the governor, Mr. EVELYN, and by another inmate, to have placed 13 potatoes under her bed, and seven in her pocket. She made no defense; but stated that she was a poor widow, with six children, and had been in a starving condition for several weeks. Guilty. A certificate of a former conviction for felony was produced.
Maria MARSHALL, 38, was charged with stealing a sack from Mary GROSE. The prosecutrix occupied a small farm in Lanivet; and on the 9th of November brought in a sack of wheat for sale to Bodmin market. It was not sold; and, as usual in such cases, was lodged in the Town-chamber, whence it was missed on the 23rd. William BRAY, constable, produced a sack which he found in prisoner's house, between the sacking and the bed-tye. The sack was identified by Mrs. Grose and her son. Guilty.
Peter LAURENCE, 26, was charged with stealing two sheaves of reed from Mr. James PAUL, of Camborne. Thomas MOYENS, prosecutor's servant, proved the theft. It was also proved that the prisoner had voluntarily confessed his taking the reed to Mr. Paul. Guilty.
John NEGERS, 24, was charged with stealing on the 18th of October, at Carn Brea mine in Illogen, 2,000 lbs. of copper ore, of the value of �5, the property of Joseph LYLE, Esq., and others.
Mr. Coode stated the case. The prisoner was a miner, and was indicted under a recent act of Parliament, directed against the offence of kitting. The mines in this county were worked by tribute; that is, a portion of ground was set to a number of miners, at so much in the pound on the ore raised. Tributers were thus, of course, interested in the quantity and quality of ore. The term Kitting meant when one set of tributers improperly took what belonged to other tributers, whereby they might get an undue payment of money. Now it was decided at Launceston in 1835, in the case of the King v. Webb, that the removing of ores from one pile to another, on the same mine, did not constitute larceny, inasmuch as both piles remained in possession of the proprietors. They must all be aware of the importance of mining
speculation to this county, and of the necessity of affording them every protection; because, if mines were not worked on honest and fair terms, speculation would go down, and this would be an injury to the whole community. [The Legislature thought proper to change the law, so that now every person 'with intent to defraud the proprietors, adventurers, or workmen' so offending shall be deemed guilty of larceny.] Mr. Coode stated the case, and afterwards called the following witnesses - Capt. James NANCARROW, of Carn Brea, Capt. John LEAN, of Trevascus; Capt. Wm. PAUL, of Tin Croft; and Capt. John LYLE, agent for Carn Brea. Their evidence was taken for three hours, [when the defense raised an objection to the indictment.] The Bench, after hearing arguments from both sides, decided that the indictment was bad, and the prisoner must be acquitted. Verdict accordingly. [however, if you read on, a new indictment must have been procured, for Mr.
Negers stood trial for the same offense the next day. jm]
Anthony PRIOR, 22, was charged with stealing a gelding value �10, the
property of Mr. John ROGERS, of Warleggan. The prosecutor was a farmer, and in November he had a bay gelding, five years old, with black legs, a long tail, and a china or ring eye. On the morning of the 21st of November, he missed it from his field, where he had seen it about eight o'clock on the preceding evening. He sent his servant about, and made inquiries, and had the horse advertised in bills. On the 15th of December it was brought to him by George CLEMENS. Prisoner was a wheelwright, one of Helston, and had been to and fro at Warleggan, at work through the summer. William MASTERS, a lad in the service of the prosecutor, put the horse in the field on the
evening before it was missed. On that morning, he went to look for it and traced the footsteps through six fields, at the back of the estate, leading to the great road to Truro, by a long way round Rogers's farm. There was a much nearer way to the road. Richard HENWOOD, a labourer of Bodmin, on the morning of the 21st of November, was at the Victoria Inn, in Roche, about half-past six. When witness went to feed his horse, he felt a man in the manger of the next stall, who was the prisoner, as he found afterwards. In another stall there was a horse, which the man said was his. Witness had before seen a man and horse pass through Bodmin turnpike, which he believed to be the same. The pony was the same as he had since seen in possession of constable. Nicholas STRICK, landlord of the Victoria, recollected a man coming to his house early on the morning of the 21st of November. He said he had come from Bodmin, but did not say how he had come. Witness went into the stable, and found a bay pony. There was no saddle or bridle. Witness said he could not borrow any. In about half an hour, he left, taking the pony, and saying first he was going to Truro, and then that he was going to St. Columb. Richard HAWKE, of Belovely, in Roche, saw a man on horseback pass on the Turnpike-road to Truro about eight o'clock. Witness followed him about 50 yards. Near the nine mile stone, the man got off, and left the pony on the moors. Witness examined the pony very particularly. .WOODMAN, a publican in Warleggan, went in search of Rogers's pony, which was advertised in handbills, and also in the Cornwall papers. Witness got the prisoner apprehended at Helston, and told him what he was charged with. He at first denied it, but afterwards said he did do it, and that he had left the pony on the moors, and had never seen it since. Wm. CHAPPEL, constable of Helston, apprehended the prisoner at his mother's on the 9th of December.
Prisoner afterwards was crying, and in much distress, and said he had
taken the pony to take him a few miles toward home; and turned him loose on the common. Witness took prisoner to Bodmin, and in passing over the common near the nine mile stone, prisoner pointed out the spot where he let the pony go. The pony was brought to the door of the Hall, and examined by the prosecutor and the witnesses, all of whom spoke clearly as to its identity.
Mr. Bennallack, for the prisoner, submitted that there was no proof nor any ground for presuming, that the pony had been taken feloniously, though no doubt it had been taken wrongfully. Verdict, Not Guilty.
John ROWE, 13, was charged with stealing a quantity of lead, from Mr.
William BART, of Launceston. Richard BART, prosecutor, had superintended his father's buildings in Launceston, and saw some lead smelted for the purpose of fixing the iron railings. He turned it out of the kettle in which it was melted and put it under the stairs. Thomas PESHERWOOD, a smith, was employed by Mr. Bart in fixing the iron work. He melted some lead in a kettle in the presence of Mr. Richard Bart. (The lead and kettle were here produced, and found to fit each other.) There was part of a ring on the top, by which witness knew it. John HOSKIN, a lad, some days before the 22nd of November, met the prisoner coming in the direction from Mr. Bart's buildings. He had what appeared to be lead, in a white cloth, and told witness if he should sell it, he should have part of the money. Prisoner then hid it away in a hedge. Cross-examined by Mr. Morgan. Did not see what was in the cloth. It was heavy, and square. Nathl. BROAD, another boy, was asked by prisoner, in November, to sell a piece of lead. Witness took it to Mr. CASTINE's in the evening, and sold it for 1s. and a
halfpenny, which he gave to Rowe, and Rowe gave him back 3d. Witness did not know the weight. Cross-examined - witness had gone away once to Plymouth without his father's consent, and took away his best clothes which he left at Plymouth in pawn. Henry ANGWIN, constable, produced the lead. The weight was 26 � pounds. One shilling and a halfpenny was certainly not a proper price for it. Wm. CASTINE, ironmonger, purchased the lead of Broad. Cross-examined: gave 2s. 2 1/2d. for it. Weighed it in Broad's presence, and told him the weight and price, and asked him if he got it honestly. Broad said that he did. Re-examined by Mr. Gurney - did not now recollect that he said before the magistrates he did not know what the weight was.
Mr. Gurney read the examination, in which Mr. Castine stated that he did not know how many pounds it was, nor what he gave for it. The witness explained that he had said before the magistrates that he had no distinct recollection who brought him the round piece, and the reason was that the boy Broad had not then come into the room. Verdict, Not Guilty.
The Chairman, having, in summing up, strongly observed on Mr. Castine's
testimony, now addressed him as follows: - This court is aware that you have been held to bail to answer any charge that may be preferred against you; but the advocate, in the exercise of his discretion, has sent home the witness who must have appeared in any case against you, and, in consequence, the prosecution is abandoned. It is, however, the request of the Bench, that I caution you. You acted very wrongly in buying lead of two young people at such an hour. It is persons who purchase property in the way you have done who induce others to steal, and are, in many instances, much worse than the thieves themselves.
Mr. Castine said that at the time he bought the lead, he was not aware he was doing wrong. But on mature consideration he saw he had done so, and he would, for the future, observe more caution.
Rev. C. LYNE - You certainly ought to have asked the prisoner where he got it.
Nicholas PASCOE was found guilty of stealing from a lockup coal-yard,
belonging to Lewis DAUBUZ, ESQ., some honey, the property of William
COLLINS. Six months' imprisonment at hard labour.
Andrew GILES, 21, and Mathew CRAP, 18, were charged with having stopped
Philip HARRIS, in a field in Saint Dennis, on the night of the 16th of
December, and abetted another man, name unknown, in robbing the said Philip Harris of two half crowns. The prosecutor stated that he was a labourer, of Higher Quarter, St. Austell, and on Sunday, the 16th of December, he went to see his sweetheart, Elizabeth BROKENSHIR. They went to chapel together, and about eight o'clock returned to her father's house in St. Dennis, with Francis HOOPER and Mary BROKENSHIR, who were also courting. Witness remained at the house till about twelve o'clock. In returning homeward, as he was getting over a stile, three men came out of the hedge-grip; and two of them, turning away their faces, held his collar, while the other demanded his money or his life, and took from his pocket two half crowns. He did not know either of the men who held his collar. They were about the size of the
prisoners. He had seen Giles and Crapp at the chapel, and afterwards.
Cross-examined: Giles was formerly a follower of Eliz. Brokenshir, and
Crapp of Mary Brokenshir. When they came out of chapel, prisoners followed them closely to the house. Giles spoke to Elizabeth, and laid hold of her, which witness did not like. There were two houses at the bottom of the field, in which the assault took place. Witness did not go for a warrant till a week afterwards.
Mary Brokenshir saw two men like the prisoners near her father's house, but could not swear to them. Verdict, Not Guilty.
Jane RIDDLE was charged with stealing, in the parish of Redruth, a fish, called a hake, the property of Matthew LANDER. It appears that on the 25th of October last, the prosecutor's wife purchased the hake at the market, cleaned it, and hung it outside her door against the wall. In the evening, the prisoner, who lived near her house, called to borrow a needle, which was refused her. Prosecutrix had seen the fish but a few minutes before this, but immediately afterwards found it gone from where she had hung it. Suspecting the prisoner of the theft, she sent for her husband, who proceeded to the prisoner's house, where he found a hake fish, and on shewing it to his wife, she said it was the same she had hung against her wall. She compared the back-bone which she had taken out in cleaning, and it exactly fitted the place. Prisoner said she had found the fish in the road, a little way from the prisoner's house; if it was their fish, they were welcome to it. This was also her defense at the trial. Not Guilty.
John PENWARDEN, Robert ELLIS, and John JAMES were charged with stealing
three ducks, in the parish of Lanscells, the property of Reuben HAYMAN. The prosecutor stated that he is a farmer, living in the parish of Lanscells. On the 30th of October, had twelve ducks; on the 7th of November, seven of them were missing. In consequence, he applied to Margaret JONES, who is in the habit of buying poultry, and she informed him that she had bought two ducks of a youth, and these ducks very much resembled those of his flock. The prisoner James, who was his servant-boy, confessed he had assisted the other prisoners in catching two ducks from the flock. Margaret Jones is a regrater, and in the habit of purchasing great quantities of poultry for the purpose of selling again. As she was returning from Stratton, on the 5th of November, when near a place called Redpost, she bought three ducks of a lad about 16 or 17 years old. This was on Tuesday. On the Thursday following, she shewed them to the prosecutor. Samuel GODDARD, constable of Stratton, was applied to on the 8th of November and went in pursuit of the prisoners; he found John James in one of Mr. Hayman's fields, and asked him if he knew anything about the ducks? He at first hesitated, but afterwards admitted his assisting the other prisoners in catching the two ducks, which they carried away; he received 1s. as his share of what they produced; he had the shilling of Penwarden. Afterwards apprehended Ellis and Penwarden, both of whom said they knew all about it. On the road to the magistrate's, James said (pointing to a house which they were passing at the time) there'sa man living there that ought to be served worse than us; we should'nt have done this if he hadn't persuaded us to this and other rogueries towards our master. The other prisoner said yes. The Chairman asking them what they had to say for themselves, Penwarden replied he had nothing to do with it;
James said when he said what he did to the constable, he was hurried, and did not know what he was saying of. All Guilty.
Jane THOMAS was charged with having stolen one silver spoon, the property of William George SHERINGHAM, of Truro. The facts of this case were very easily proved. The prisoner, who is a young girl, had been but comparatively a few hours in the prosecutor's employ as a servant when the spoon in question was missed; and on enquiry being made, she admitted having taken it to Mr. TRUSCOTT's shop, and sold it for 1s. 7d., after breaking off the top of it on which were engraved the initials of Mr. and Mrs. Sheringham's names, and throwing it into the mill pond. The spoon was produced, which Miss Truscott identified as having purchased to the best of her belief of the prisoner. Guilty, but strongly recommended to mercy by the jury on account of her age.
Susan BENNY was charged with having broken and entered the out-house of
James CHARLES, in the parish of Mawgan, and stolen therefrom a quantity of barley, his property. John WOODWARD, who is a servant to the prosecutor, stated that his master from time to time lost barley from his barn, and desired him to lay watch for the offender. He accordingly did, and in the night of the 30th of October, saw the prisoner go into the barn, take her apron full of barley fromt heheat, which was near the door, and leave the barn. She unlocked the door on going in, and locked it on leaving, with a key which she brought with her. She went smartly on towards her house, which is very near the barn. He said to her, "helloa, bring back the barley". She made no reply, but proceeded to her house, and shut the door. He immediately informed his master, and about four o'clock next morning went with him and a constable to the house of the prisoner, where they found some
barley exactly corresponding with that of the heap in the barn. The
prosecutor swore that the samples exactly corresponded, as did the constable also. A sample of each was shown to the jury, who agreed that they did not in any way correspond. The prisoner, in her defense, stated that she knew nothing at all about taking the barley; was not near the barn on the night in question; that the key of her house did [fit] the lock on the barn door, and that Woodward and his master had frequently borrowed it of her to unlock it. The barley found in her house she had picked from the prosecutor's field, after the currying of the corn, in company with some other poor people, by his (the prosecutor's) permission. She further stated there had been for some time a misunderstanding between her and Woodward, and he had done this in revenge towards her. Not Guilty.
Frederick STEFFEN was charged with having stolen from an orchard belonging to William MAUNDER, of the parish of St. Dominic, thirty apples, his property. The prosecutor saw the prisoner take the apples from under one of his trees in the orchard; on making his appearance, prisoner made off, and he pursued him through some gardens, and another orchard, til he saw him enter a millhouse, where he caught him. Prisoner there took from his pocket 21 apples, which the prosecutor claimed as his property. They were subsequently carried before a magistrate, ever since which time he has had them sealed down in a basket in his possession, by direction of the magistrate. Guilty, but recommended to the mercy of the Court by the Jury.
Benjamin MICHELL was charged with stealing in the borough of Truro, one hat, the property of Robert SANDERS. On the 21st of December, the prosecutor with John RAPSON and Thomas LAVIN, bought each a hat in Mrs. BUCKINGHAM's shop, in Truro, and left them there until the evening to fetch them. The name of each was written on his hat. Rapson and Lavin, in the evening, called for their hats, accompanied by the prisoner, and left Robert Sanders's still in the shop. About five minutes after this, according to Mrs. Buckingham's evidence, a person called for Robert Sanders's hat, calling himself by that name. She has now every reason to believe the prisoner to be that person. Rapson and Lavin state the prisoner to have left them outside the shop door. John LAMPIER recollects being at Catherine WILLIAMS's house, in the evening of the 21st, and the prisoner came in, bringing with him a new hat under his arm; he enquired if Williams was in, and on being informed that he was not, he said "Kattern, I want you a minute"; she could not, however, attend to him just then. He enquired if she had a clean cloth in the house, and then opened the door and put the hat in the coal-house. A boy called WATERS afterwards came in, and removed the hat from there, and carried it upstairs. Prisoner said, when he put it into the coal-house, it belonged to John WILLIAMS, the brother of Catherine. It appears that the house in Truro has been for a long time notoriously bad. Guilty, but recommended to mercy. One month's imprisonment at hard labour.
Elizabeth BAMFIELD was indicted for stealing, and Stephen RALPH for
receiving, some articles of wearing apparel, the property of Mr. HARLOW, of Hayle. The prisoner Ralph and his family had shewn some kindness to
Bamfield whilst out of service, in return for which, shortly after she
entered the service of the prosecutor, she sent them these articles the
property of her master, which were found on the person of the prisoner
Ralph, by a constable and Mr. Barlow. When found on him, he said he had had the drawers 12 months, and bought the handkerchief at Mr. MUDGE's shop. Mr. W. R. JOHNS, of Marazion, stated that he has known the prisoner Ralph for the last 20 years, and he always bore the character of a quiet and honest man. Mr. W. TIPPETT, also bore testimony to his character. Guilty. Bamfield three months' imprisonment at hard labour, Ralph two months' imprisonment at hard labour.
William COCK was charged with having stolen a quantity of potatoes, the
property of Francis CLEAVE. The prisoner lives in a neighbourhood from
which vast amounts of potatoes have been stolen, and has lately sold many more than he is supposed to have grown. The prosecutor's potatoes were stolen from a cave adjacent to the prisoner's dwelling, and as he has been an old offender, suspicion naturally fell on him; but in this case, the evidence not being sufficiently clear, he was acquitted.
Aaron MASTERS, 41, was charged with stealing a cow from John MAIN, of St. Columb. The prosecutor stated that he was a labourer, at St. Columb, and on the last day of May he lost a smallish red cow. Witness had put out handbills, and advertised the cow; and five months after prisoner told him there was a little red cow down west, which was stolen from St. Columb stop-gate on the Wadebridge road, and added a long story about his having [.]e man who had stolen the cow, who said he had bartered her in Helston, and that she had been bought and sold many times. Prisoner would not tell witness the name of the man, nor where the cow was. Witness went the next morning to Truro with prisoner, who told him that the man who stole the cow had been threatened with distraint by his landlord, and in order to cheat him, had sold the cow to a brother-in-law for �7. 16s.; but the landlord had
taken her off the brother-in-law's premises, and sold her at a survey,
buying her in himself. Witness went on to Redruth, and prisoner followed him. The next day they went to look for the cow to Mr. Tregonning's; and after that, witness went with constable to Mr. MORCOM's. Masters did not go there. Tregoning had sold the cow to Morcom. Witness saw the cow at Morcom's in Gwennap, and knew her to be his property by several marks.
Catherine BRAY, wife of Thomas BRAY, of Gwennap, sworn. This witness had been indicted as a principal in this case, but was admitted as an approver, or Queen's witness. She stated that in June, Masters and his wife came to her house, on a Thursday, about eleven at night, and asked if she would go to Master's sisters for a cow. She went with them to St. Columb stop gate, and saw three cows. Masters said he would take one of them, which he did and drove it on. This was after ten o'clock at night. They got back to Blackwater early in the morning. Prisoner went away to Consols mine; and witness and Masters's wife drove home the cow. Masters always told them the cow was his sisters. Witness and her husband, by agreement, had the cow one week, and Masters the following; week by week. The cow was taken from witness's house by Mr. Tregoning, for rent.
Mary Masters, the prisoner's daughter, recollected the cow being brought to her father's house. It was kept sometimes by her father, and sometimes by Thomas Bray. This witness exhibited great emotion while giving evidence against her father, who also shed tears; and the advocates examined her as briefly as possible, and in the most kind and considerate manner.
William TREGONING, as agent for his mother, seized the cow for rent due from Bray, and bought her in himself. He afterwards sold her to Mr. Morcom, of Mabe.
James UREN, constable, apprehended prisoner, at Redruth. Prisoner said to him "Dear, dear, what a bad job I have done. Mine is ten times as bad a job as Bray's. I shall never see this country any more. I think I shall be transported." Verdict, Guilty.
Thomas BRAY, 41, was charged with feloniously receiving the cow stolen by the prisoner in the preceding case. The case was clearly proved. It appeared that the prisoner told his wife at first that she should not go to St. Columb, nor bring any cow to his premises. She went, however, and brought back the cow, and by telling her husband that Masters said he got the cow from his sister's, and that they should come to no harm, she persuaded him to receive it. Prisoner said, in his defense, that he was to pay Masters �3.5s for his part of the cow, and had paid him �1.3s towards it. Verdict, Guilty. Six months' hard labour.
John WARREN was charged with stealing a pair of shoes, the property of John THOMAS, of Camborne. James NICHOLLS, who was the principal witness, said on Sunday evening, the 17th of November, he was standing near his master's house, when the prisoner came forth, and asked him to give him a pair of shoes. He replied he could not, as they were his masters, and not his own. His master was gone to the chapel. Prisoner said, "Well, Jem, if thee dosn't, I'll go and take them." He went away, and witness followed him over the garden hedge, and into his master's shop, through the window. He first tried on one pair, which did not fit; he then took another pair, saying "I bent afreard of thy telling at all," and walked off. Next morning, he acquainted his master, and prisoner was apprehended. The prisoner, in his defence, stated the witness Nicholls was very intimate with him, and gave him the shoes. Guilty. Two months imprisonment at hard labor.
SCOTCH TEA DEALERS - Wm. MCGUFFIN, 21, was charged with embezzling money from his master, John MILROY, a tea-dealer of Callington. The parties were both Scotchmen; and the trial excited considerable interest, on account of the facts elicited as to the mode in which they carry on their trade in this country.
Mr. Coode stated the case, and called the prosecutor, who said that the
prisoner had been in his employ, to carry round tea for sale, and to receive the money. Witness paid him yearly wages, or rather he was to have so much at the end of his time. It was prisoner's duty to enter his receipts of money in a book. He had particular rounds every day, and was out two nights in a fortnight. On Monday, the 16th of December, he left Callington in the morning, to go to Launceston, and returned on Wednesday night. On Thursday, he left again for Calstock, and ought to have returned the same evening, about eight o'clock. He did not return that night. He had taken all the money with him that he had received for the week. He ought to have left it in the drawer, as usual, taking but a pound's worth of silver to give change. He did not return until he was fetched by a constable on the Saturday. His book and tea-bag were brought to witness on Friday. The book was here produced; and witness referred to an account entered in prisoner's
handwriting, with Miss ROWE of Launceston. Prisoner, on his return, said he handed to the constable �10. 11s. 4 1/2d. of witness's money; and that he had lent �1 to Mrs. TAYLOR of Calstock, and 11s. to Mrs. BAKER, of that place. The warrant expressed �10, and prisoner said he had given up his watch, to make up the difference.Cross-examined by Mr. John: Had lived at Callington about ten years, and had employed several young men. They had all been Scotchmen. By his arrangement he could not employ others.Mr. John - So this tea-dealing is a little Scotch monopoly? You have an association bound by rules. Witness - We have no Act of Parliament. (laughter) we have rules. Mr. J.- I believe you have a rule to deal with no wholesale dealer if he dares to supply any man traveling in your rounds? W. - No, Sir. Mr. J. - What is the resolution you come to with wholesale dealers? W. - I don't exactly understand you. (laughter) Mr. J. - I don't think you do. I want to know about this system of tea dealing. Suppose a Scotchman came down to Callington, and went over your country with tea, and he was to buy tea of a wholesale tea dealer, is it not a rule with you not to deal with the man? W - No, supposing he is an honourable man. (laughter)
Mr. J - Have you a rule among you that you will not deal with any wholesale house that supplies tea to any person interfering with any of your rounds? W - It is one of our rules. Oh, yes. Mr. J. - So this trade then is entirely confined to yourselves; and having districts of country marked out for you, you are not to employ Cornishmen, but confine yourselves to Scotchmen? W - There are others who travel. Mr. J - Yes, Sir; but do they form part of your company? W - Oh, no.
Mr, J - Of course, you would not introduce any but scotchmen among this
Scotch fraternity. (laughter) Witness proceeded. He had a character for this young man before he employed him. Had made an arrangement that he should go into business, but had not made up his mind as to when. There was no contract about this taking place at Christmas, but there was a talk about it. Mr. J - Did you, or did you not, tell him that he was to take your business at Christmas. W - No, Sir; I did not name Christmas. I said it might be after Christmas. I did not say when. Mr. J - Probably it might have been the 26th of December. W - Ah. Probably it might be. (laughter) Mr. J - How much did you give him a year? W - I was to give him �25 per year, or set him in business at the end of his term. Mr. J - I believe that is one of the rules of your society? W - I believe it is. Mr. J - Did he receive his �25 a year? W - Yes, in goods or clothes. The agreement expressed that.
Mr. J - When was the service out? When did he first come to you from
Scotland? Witness - In July, 1836, and was to serve 3 � years. His time would have been out at Christmas, but in June last he went to Okehampton, and that made it null and void. Witness admitted he had enabled prosecutor to go to Okehampton, supplying him with tea to sell on his own account. Prisoner left in witness's hands �10, as a sort of security. Witness had never stated an account to prisoner, and could not exactly say what the balance was, but he believed the prisoner was in his debt now. The account was produced, in witness's hand, written by him in the past week, which was in his favour by �1.12s.10d. Mr. J. asked if the �10 was credited to the prisoner. Witness - Oh, I forgot that. (laughter) I am ready to pay him. That is of no consequence. That was a little c.. of a mistake, I think. (laughter) When he was at Okehampton, I used to let him have his tea at prime cost. No profit.
Mr. J - No, of course, with you Scotchmen. (laughter) Was he not to pay �1,000 if bought of any other person? W - Not at all. He was to buy where he liked. Mr. J. - Suppose he came within 20 miles of you to sell. Was there not a penalty of �1,000 according to your rules?
W - There was something like that. (laughter)Witness did not, on the 21st, the day on which the prisoner was bound over, know of the shilling prisoner had received from Mrs. Rose. Prisoner told him of lending spices to Mr. Baker and Mrs. ..[. part missing..] Witness. - Don't press me too much You should'nt press me. (laughter) I did not recollect myself for the moment.
Mr. Coode, the prosecutor's advocate, here said to the Chairman, "After
this, Sir, I will not take up your time longer on this case." The Bench had previously consulted more than once, as to stopping the case; but were induced to go on, by observations made by Mr. Coode. The jury said they were quite satisfied, and returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The Bench ordered that the prosecutor's expenses should not be allowed.
John NEGERS, 24, was charged with stealing on the 18th of October at Carn Brea Mine, in Illogan, 2000 lbs of copper ore, the property of Joseph LYLE, Esq., and others. This case was heard on Wednesday; but as we have stated in our last page after the evidence had been gone through, an objection to the indictment was raised by Mr. Stokes, which the Court held to be fatal. This morning, the prisoner was again put to the bar, on an amended indictment; and it was agreed to take the Chairman's notes of the former evidence, with liberty to add on each side.
Mr. Coode and Mr. John conducted the prosecution; and Mr. Stokes the
defense.
Capt. James NANCARROW is an agent at Carn Brea. On the 2nd of August, he set a pitch in the 50 fathom level, in Gribble's lode, to the prisoner, for 12s. in the pound. It extended about 12 � fathoms west from the ore-plot. Daw's lode was at the same depth as Gribble's; but it was an adjacent lode. The end of Daw's lode was about 70 fathoms from the plot; and there were men employed there stoping; that is, beating away the ground from the 30 fathom to the 50. It was very much easier to stope than to drive. For the one, they would give about 3s. in the pound - for the other, about 1s. In August they gave from �2 to �5 a fathom for stoping in Daw's lode. There was a cross-cut north and south, from Daw's to Gribble's. The ore was trammed out from the end where the men were stoping, by boys; and it would take them half an hour to go from the ore plot to fill their barrow, and come back; which would afford sufficient time for the prisoner to go in the ore plot from his pitch. There was only one pitch besides on the same level. That was in Cock's branch, and was much farther off from the ore plot than prisoner's pitch. Witness examined this pitch on the last day of
July. Prisoner had only one boy with him. Witness examined it again on the 16th of August, and also on the 24th. Witness knew the whole of NEGER's working. NEGERS drew up to surface what he said he had broken on the 23rd of August. On inspecting the quality, witness was struck with it. He had too much ore and of too good a quality. He [prisoner] had 6 tons 13 cwt. 1 qr. He drew sixty kibbles, and left behind him about fifteen kibbles of "deads". Prisoner was stoping on tribute. He had stoped a piece of ground six feet long, between five and six feet high, and about two feet and half wide. The ore at the end of Daw's lode was of pretty good quality. There was a difference between that and what was found in Negers's. The ore in Gribble's lode would produce only about 6 per cent; that in Daw's lode, about 10 per cent. Witness had no doubt that the ores sent to grass by prisoner were raised by the adventurers in Dawe's lode. Witness had been a miner from his childhood; and he did not believe prisoner could have got a ton of ore out of the space broken by him. If the ground had been all ore, it could not have been so much as prisoner claimed. Attle and all would not have been five tons. Prisoner worked in the same lode in June and July at 11s. tribute, and in those two months raised 2 tons, 17 cwt., 2 qrs. The produce of which was 7 1/4 per cent; and the bal costs �2.1s.14d. The lode then tailed, and the tribute was raised to 12s. Between the 22nd and 23rd of August he raised 6 tons, 13 cwt, 1qr, the produce being 9 �, and the bal costs for raising 6 tons, 13 cwt., 1 qr. from that pitch ought to be more than ten times 7s.9d. The ground was hard, and scarcely a stone could be broken without gunpowder. On the 21st October, witness pointed out the spot worked by prisoner in August to Capt. John LEAN and Capt. PAUL. Cross-examined by Mr. Stokes - Sometimes a lode became suddenly rich; but that had never happened at Gribble's; and it was very improbable that any sudden bunch should have been found there. A tributer was entitled to all
he could break; but not to all he could find. Bal costs depend on the
nature of the ground; but nowhere in Carn Brea could six tons of ore be
raised for 7s.9d. Re-examined. Prisoner worked pretty regularly up to the 16th. There was not much done between that and the 23rd. Dawe's lode was worked by tutworkmen; and in stoping it, they threw their ores down into the 50 fathom level to be tromed out to the plot. Those ores remained in the level, all night, without any person being near them, as the boys only worked by day.
Capt. John LEAN, agent at Trevascus[?], had been a mine agent 14 years, and had been acquainted with mining since he was nine years old. Witness had been requested to go to Carn Brea, which he did on the 21st October; when Capt. Nancarrow showed him a pitch on the 50 fathom level in Gribble's lode. Witness measured a spot where there had been recent workings. It was at the utmost six feet long, five feet four inches high, and two feet nine inches average width. About 10 machine kibbles was all that could be produced from that spot. He also, with Capt. PAUL, examined the quality of that part of the mine, and they could not make it more than six per cent produce. The underground costs for working this spot would be, drawing excepted, �1.12s.2d. The ground was hard granite. It was impossible to have broke six tons 13 cwt one quarter there. The recent working was quite clear to be seen; for the other parts were smoked and very old. Cross-examined: Large lodes were not bunchy. Some lodes were. Re-examined: Bunches seldom fell in, in so short a space as this; and they generally came in with a slide or head. There was no appearance of this in the part in question. There had never been any bunch in the space worked by the prisoner. Upon his oath, witness would declare this.
Capt. Wm. PAUL, managing agent at Tincroft Mine, and a miner from his youth, fully corroborated the preceding testimony.
Capt. John LYLE is an agent at Carn Brea. His brother, Mr. Joseph LYLE, was an adventurer, whom witness had seen on the mine, acting and giving directions. Had seen him take up dividends, and had corresponded with him as adventurer.
Mr. Stokes contended that the proof of the property was insufficient; but the Bench over-ruled the objection.
Mr. Stokes then made objection to the indictment; first, that the parties were not set out with sufficient fullness; and next, that the fraud was not proved so as to be brought within the Act of Victoria. That Act received the royal ascent on the 17th of August. The ores were brought to grass, not by Negers, but by persons employed on the mine, on the 23rd of that month. The witness Nancarrow expressly stated that he did not see the ores underground after the 16th. There was no proof that the ores were severed after the 17th of August; consequently, the Act must be inoperative in the present case.
Mr. COODE combated the first objection by referring to 6 and 7 Geo. 4, in which, with especial regard to like offences with the one under
consideration, it was deemed sufficient to name one and other shareholders or adventurers. As to the second point, there was as much probability that the ores were broken after as before the 17th; and that at least, was a matter for the consideration of the Jury.
The Bench considered that the indictment was good; and Mr. Stokes then
addressed the Jury, alleging that there was nothing but presumptive
evidence, which, of course, in a charge such as that before them, would be received with the greatest caution. There was no proof that the defendant was ever seen going from his pitch; nor that the ore was brought to the underground plot after the 17th of August; nor of the nature of the ores, inasmuch as none had been produced. On the other had, Capt. Nancarrow admitted that he did not examine the pitch after the 16th of August; and the other two captains, that they did not examine all the parts of the pitch. Mr. Stokes then called:
Wm. HILL, a lad 14 years old, who worked with prisoner in July and August. They worked by day. In the beginning of August, they worked at the level part of the pitch. They found ore there - a "brave, large course" and they worked there for about a week, breaking two or three tons of ore. The witness was examined at great length as to the prisoner's workings, but did not satisfactorily make out the quantity claimed by him. He stated, however, that ores from TEAGUE's lode, on the same level as Gribble's, were rolled to the same spot as prisoner's. He also made the important admission that prisoner's ores were rolled out on the day before they were brought to grass, namely, on the 22nd August, thus distinctly proving the removal of the ore after the Act of Parliament. Verdict - GUILTY. Six months' hard
labour.
Mary PAINE and Hannah JORY were charged with stealing three half-crowns, the monies of George OLIVER. The prosecutor in this case was at Truro Fair, on the 19th of November last, when he fell in with the prisoners, whose characters will not bear investigation, and treated them with spirituous drink. Whilst in their company he missed the money above stated. The evidence not being sufficient to establish the felony against either of the prisoners, and differing in many respects from that which the prosecutor gave before the magistrates, they were acquitted with a reprimand from the chairman. The prosecutor's expenses were not allowed him.
Susan SCOBLE was charged with stealing from the person of Paul LANYON, in the borough of Truro, a silk handkerchief, his property. Not Guilty.
Robert HANCOCK was charged with stealing, at St. Austell, a leg of mutton, the property of James COMBE and Eliza PASCOE. The case was far from a good one, and the prisoner was acquitted.
Peter HICK was charged with stealing, in the parish of Lanhydrock, a ram sheep, or the carcass thereof, the property of John COAD. In this case, Mr. Cummins', sen., was Attorney for the prosecutor, and Mr. Bannallack for the defense. William COAD stated that he is a farmer, resided in the parish of Lanhydrock; and on the 24th of December had a flock of sheep in one of his fields, and a ram running with them. By nine o'clock in the morning of the 25th, being Christmas Day, he sent to this field, found the gate wide open, and all the sheep gone. He searched and found all the sheep but the ram he could not find. In one corner of the field, he found, by the marks of the sheep, they had been driven up there; he also found much blood on the spot. In consequence of some suspicion, he obtained a warrant, and searched the prisoner's house, were was found more than 59 lbs weight of mutton, salted in different stages. Prisoner stated at that time he had the mutton of a
butcher, named John KERNICK, of Bodmin, in exchange for a pig. John
KERNICK, who was afterwards examined, denied this in toto, and had no such transaction with him. Walter LITTLETON, a constable of Lanlivery, searched the house with the prosecutor, and corroborated all the statements he made respecting the finding of the meat. William COAD found the skin of the ram, after the commitment of the prisoner, in an old well, not at present in use, about half a mile from the prisoner's house. He swore to the skin on being that of the ram stolen. Messrs. Kernick and Scobey, butchers, knew the meat as ram's mutton by its clamminess, its oily nature, and coarseness of the
grain, which they pointed out to the jury and fitted different portions of it to the skin produced. [...] Verdict - Guilty.
17 JANUARY 1840, Friday
WAR WITH CHINA - Calcutta, Nov. 11 - Intelligence from China, to the 19th of September, was received yesterday. The substance of it is contained in the following reprint of a Singapore Free Press extra, with which a friend has favoured us. It is in the highest degree important.[.]
Hong Kong, Sept. 9 - On the 25th of August, all the British were ordered to quit Macao on a notice of twelve hours, and with the exception of Mr. Beale, who remains as Prussian Consul, and Mr. P. Stewart, who would not quit his wife, suffering from illness, and who had sought shelter in the house of Mr. King, the American merchant, and the friend of Lin, we were all compelled to embark with so much precipitation as scarcely to find time to take along with us our account-books and clothes. A day later, and not one of us could have gone on board the ships, as her Majesty's frigate "Volage" had then anchored at Macao roads. The death of a Chinese in a scuffle at Hong Kong is the cause of this expulsion. Lin had called on Captain Elliot to surrender the homicide; but as nobody knew who he was, he issued orders to the Portugese Government at Macao to drive out the English, although had it been certain who the offender was, he certainly would never have been delivered up.
DIVIDEND DECLARED - William Rabey, Redruth, Cornwall, leather-seller, February 4, at eleven, at Pearce's Hotel, Truro.
Bude - On Monday evening last, being old Christmas day, a subscription tea party, having for its object the promotion of temperance and sociability, was held in a suite of rooms in that commodious and well-known family house, once the favoured summer retreat of the Baronial family of Molesworth, the villa of Bude, built by the late Sir John Arscot, of Tet..t. The party, which consisted of nearly one hundred of the respectable inhabitants of Bude and its vicinity, began to assemble about five o'clock, and soon after six were served with tea and coffee in the large drawing-room fronting the sea, and the other rooms immediately adjoining. An ample provision of the usual accompaniments to this elegant repast had been made under the direction of Miss Browne, assisted by several ladies of the place, whose individual and
united exertions to please were crowned with complete success, as the whole party appeared not only highly gratified, but it may truly be said that cheerfulness and the best feelings pervaded the whole assembly. Refreshments, consisting of twelfth-day cake, fruit, &c, were handed round in great abundance at intervals, during the evening; and a small band of excellent musicians were in attendance, and played a variety of pieces from the most eminent composers, in a style to draw forth the most rapturous applause of the assembled party. The hour of ten, the signal to break up, arrived much too soon for the company, who appeared to be in the full enjoyment of this first attempt at anything like a public coalescence of all sects and parties to spend an evening together in this pleasing and social way; and most, if not all of those present, have expressed their express desire to repeat it, at least annually, if not oftener. On the following evening, several of the aged poor of the place were regaled with what remained of the previous evening's entertainment.
Child Dropping - About six o'clock, on Saturday morning last, as the servant man of S. Moyle, Esq., of Bosvigo, near Truro, was on his way to the stables, he found a bundle lying on the path-way leading through the fields between Bosvigo-lane and the wood, after the gate leading into Bosvigo cottage, and so placed that no one could go in or out at the gate without finding it. On examination, he found the bundle to contain something living, but the light would not admit of his ascertaining what it was, so he instantly ran back to inform his fellow servant of the circumstances, and to procure a light. They opened the bundle, and found it to contain a female infant, apparently about a week or ten days old; it had on two frocks, and two caps, and was wrapt up in a piece of flannel and an old shawl. It is believed that its
unnatural mother could not have placed it there more than a short time
previously to its being found, or it would probably have died from the
severe cold, its feet and face being exposed. Information was immediately sent to the proper officer of the parish, who, after learning the particulars, gave an order for its being received into the union house. The circumstance, we understand, is still involved in mystery.
Accidents - On Wednesday morning last, as Mr. Bray, of Redruth, was coming to Truro with five friends in a phaeton, the horse bolted, and ran with great velocity down Chapel Hill, leading into Truro. The vehicle was upset at the bottom of the hill, and all the parties were thrown out with considerable violence. A young man, named John Trudgeon, was taken up senseless, but he has since recovered; his sister and her companion were also severely bruised. The phaeton was very much shattered.
On Monday last, two sons of Mr. Joseph Drew, post-office, St. Austell, named Joseph and Glanville, accompanied by another lad, named Philip Higman, went out shooting. On their return, the gun was carried by Higman, who was walking by the side of Glanville Drew, when, by some accident, the gun went off, lodging the contents in Drew's thigh. Surgical aid was quickly procured, when it was found that amputation of the limb was absolutely necessary. For this purpose he was conveyed home, the accident having happened near Tregorrick, a mile from the town. The leg was cut off close to the groin, but just as the operation was completed the little fellow died. He was not eleven years of age, but was a lad possessed of abilities beyond those generally bestowed on boys of such years, and was a grandson of the late distinguished Samuel Drew. The feelings of the parents we do not
attempt to describe, and we understand that Higman, who is also very young, feels acutely, although the misfortune was purely accidental, and he is nowise to blame. We do not wish by any means to reflect on the parents in this case; it was an accident, and cannot now be altered in any way, but we feel called on to censure the practice of allowing lads of such tender years to carry firearms. We know the boys, and we know the parents in this case, and are convinced that nothing would be done which would do the children an injury; but boys of such ages of 10, 12, and 14, are too young and thoughtless for such dangerous amusement. Here is another warning, and much as we regret its occurrence, is common with all who know Mr. and Mrs. Drew, and Mr. and Mrs. Higman, we sincerely trust it will not be lost on the survivors, but that in future, guns will only be trusted with persons of more mature years.
Rutabaga Turnip - We have, this week, seen a rutabaga turnip, perfectly sound, which weighs 15 � lbs, and measures 2 feet 8 inches in circumference. This fine vegetable is the produce of a field forming part of the Newham estate, in the parish of Kenwyn, now in the occupation of Capt. Kempe, and was raised from seed procured from Devonshire. The plot of ground in which it grew is supposed to produce the finest turnips in the neighbourhood, and its present valuable crop is highly encouraging to the practice of early tillage and great attention to the young plant. The seed, in this case, was in the ground by the first week of May last, and received no injury from the heavy fall of snow which followed, or from mildew, to which early tillage is generally supposed to be liable.
Truro Police - On Friday last, Elizabeth, wife of H. STEVENS, sawyer, was committed to take her trial at the Assizes, for stealing from the dwelling house of William LANDERYOU, where she and her husband lodged, a bolster, blanket, and sheet. On Tuesday, Henry FLINN, was fined 40s. for suffering a bull-dog on his property, to be at large in the streets, not being muzzled. William BURRIDGE, dealer in hardware, was fined 20s. and costs for assaulting Police constable FITZSIMMONS, in the execution of his duty. William POWELL, landlord of the Unicorn Inn, was summoned for attempting to rescue BURRIDGE from FITZSIMMONS's custody. In the absence of a principal witness, Powell was discharged on payment of 1s. and a caution from the Mayor. Phillip REPPER, miller, of Perranzabuloe, was fined 5s. and costs for furiously riding a horse through the streets of Christmas day. Leonora JENKINS, Ann
PASCOE, and Henry CLARK, were committed for trial at the Assizes, for
stealing, on the 28th of September, a silver watch, the property of William DABB, a miner, of St. Agnes. Mary PAINE, alias Roche Rock, was sentenced to one month's hard labour, for using indecent language, and as a common prostitute. W. STODDEN was committed for one month, in default of sureties for his good behaviour for twelve months. Wm. HUDSON, a sailor, was fined 5s. for being found drunk in the streets on Sunday evening.
Coroner's Inquest - On Wednesday last, an inquest was held at the New Inn, Falmouth, before W. J. G.., Esq., coroner, on the body of Mary Anne KNOWLES, aged 39 years, who gained her livelihood by washing and charing about the town. It appeared from the evidence, that the deceased, who had recently complained of pain in the stomach and palpitation of the heart, was found lying dead on the floor of her room. Her face was much discoloured, and her hand firmly clenched; and the medical men who examined were of opinion that she died in a fit.
Verdict, died by a visitation of God.
Padstow - Last week, an old woman, named Sally Br[eu]er, 80 years of age, in putting something on the fire, ignited her apron, and before assistance could be procured was so burnt that, after lingering a few days, she died.[could be BREWER - large splotch in the middle of the name. jm]
ST. IVES - A life-boat, built here under the superintendence of Mr. Francis Jennings Adams, after a model which he exhibited to the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society in 1838, and for which he obtained their first prize, was launched on Saturday last, for trial, the result of which was most satisfactory. The boat was manned by nine St. Ives pilots, under the command of Mr. Martin, chief officer of the coast guard, being rowed with eight oars, and steered with an oar over each end; and although she is considerably larger and heavier than the six-oared pilot-gigs of that port, she fairly outstripped one, and kept equal pace with the other two of them put out for the purpose of being rowed against her. This was in comparatively smooth water; in a rough sea, in which only she will be wanted, it is expected she would have a
very great advantage over those boats. She floated buoyantly when filled with water, having her own crew and eight or ten other men on board, and would have borne up as many persons more as could have found places in her, which might be reckoned, at least, at 15 or 20. There was the greatest difficulty experienced in attempting to upset her, the weight of the whole crew standing upon the gunwale being insufficient to effect it, and it was only by adding their united strength to their weight that they succeeded in turning her over. When brought with her gunwales perpendicular to each other, while the crew were standing upon the gunwale of the under side, she remained stationary; and the slightest motion of any one of their number towards the middle of the boat tended immediately to bring her back to a right position. It would occupy too much space to give a particular description of the boat at present; suffice it to say that she combines in an admirable manner, the essentials of a good life-boat, namely peculiar stiffness, facility of propulsion and management, great capaciousness and
buoyancy, with strength and lightness of structure. She is, moreover, a handsome boat, and, taken altogether, reflects much credit on the science and skill of the inventor. The pilots have the greatest confidence in her good qualities, and express themselves as perfectly ready and willing to man her in any weather, when the use of such an excellent means of preserving life may, in the course of Providence, become necessary, and no person acquainted with the true courage and humanity of St. Ives boatmen, can doubt their sincerity. The boat has been provided by subscriptions, raised chiefly in the neighbourhood of St. Ives, but to which the Royal Shipwreck Society of London has liberally contributed.
CORNWALL EPIPHANY SESSIONS - continued from last week
FORRABURY appellant, PADSTOW, respondent. - This was an appeal against an order of removal of Jane BLITHE, widow of Richard BLITHE, a seaman, lately drowned. The pauper had married her late husband at Ayr, in Scotland, in May, 1828. In his youth, he had served an apprenticeship for three years with Messrs. Rosevear and Sloggett, of Boscastle, as a sailor. The chief ground of appeal was that he had not resided in Forrabury, so as to gain a settlement. The respondent's principal answer was that, in the course of three years apprenticeship, Blithe must have slept 40 nights on board in port, within the parish of
Forrabury.
[Samuel HASKIN, clerk to Messrs. Rosevear and Sloggett, was attending
witness. There were two vessels, "Lydia" and "Mary", anchored at Boscastle. Traded to Wales for coals and limestone. Also spent time in Padstow port.]
William KESTLE, a sailor at Padstow, had known Blithe. [Remembered he served at Boscastle, on the Mary. Both spent nights sleeping onboard.]
Mr. Sloggett produced pay records, which showed the [Blithe]was not in
harbour at the time of receipt. Said he thought the ship had not been in port 40 days in all.]
Mr. Coode addressed the Bench, alleging that there was insufficient proof of Blithe's having been 40 nights in Boscastle during his apprenticeship, and if he had been so, he could not have secured a settlement, as the vessels lay below the high water mark, beyond which no parish could extend, according to the common law of the land.
The Bench did not think the settlement at Boscastle good, and therefore
allowed the appeal with common costs.
BUDOCK, appellant, PENRYN, respondent.
This was an appeal against an order dated 27 of September for the removal of Elizabeth, wife of John MICHELL, then in prison, and her children.
John MICHELL, the pauper's husband, stated that he, then 18 years old, made a contract with Mr. Robins, a butcher at Stiffney, in the parish of Budock, to serve him twelve months for �4. Witness received his wages half-yearly. At the end of the year, a new bargain was made for �4. 10s. He stayed with Robins for five weeks. Witness's mother lived in Penryn, and .. to buy clothes for him. Had been lent by William Robins to Joseph Robins, who lived in Penryn. They killed [slaughtered animals] together.
John DAVEY, a labourer at Budock, had known Michell for many years.
[Confirmed his testimony.]
Wm. EVANS married Michell's sister in October 1813. Remembered the wreck of the "Queen" transport, in the January after. Michell was at Stiffney, in service, before witness was married, and afterwards, for 15 months.
Sarah HOSKIN, wife of Richard Hoskin and daughter of John JULIFFE, proved Wm. Robins took premises in Truro lane, Penryn, in November, and came there at Christmas, 1814.
Mr. Williams, a solicitor, produced a certificate of Michell's baptism and marriage; and stated that the day previous to that on which the "Queen" transport was wrecked, was a remarkable day, as being the day of general thanksgiving for peace.
The Bench quashed the order.
BASTARDY - The court then proceeded to hear an application by St. Columb Major, for an order against Hart KEY, of St. Breock, for the maintenance of a bastard child. Mr. Coode contended [since there was not a sufficient number of Magistrates to hear the case within the lawful time limit, jurisdiction was 'taken away'.] The Bench decided that the objection was fatal.
A second application was made with reference to another child, which became chargeable on the 18th of Sept., and was the third by the same mother, Ann BREWER, of St. Breock. In this case, the evidence having been fully heard, the order was refused.
As the extra-ordinary length of the calendar has excited considerable
attention, perhaps the following Analysis may be interesting to our readers:
AGES of the PRISONERS
Males.................................Females
Under 10 years..........1 ........... 1
Above 10 under 20 ........14 .........16
... 20....30.......27 .......... 2
....30....40.......7 ........... 5
....40....50.......4 .......... 1
....50....60.......2 ...........0
.....60....70.......0 .......... 2
Not able to write .........7 ............2
Imperfectly...........47 ..........12
Well ..............2........... 1
Stealing Eatables .......12 .............. 8
Stealing Dress.......... 7.................. 6
Stealing Money .......... 7 .................... 5
Stealing Sheep,Cows, Horses.... 5 ................ 1
Stealing Furniture ........2 .................. 3
Stealing Tools.........3 ............. 0
Stealing Fiting?............................ 2 .............. 1
Stealing Miscellaneous Articles.. 11 ........... 3
Cases of Kitting......... 4 ............ 0
Cases of Rioting ........ 4 ............ 0
...... 57 males ......... 27 females
Results of Trials
Found Guilty .................48
Pleaded Guilty ................ 5
Acquitted .................. 25
Bills ignored.................. 3
Admitted Queen's Evidence ........... 1
Not tried on second charges ............ 2 total 81
From the Eastern Division 51
Western Division 27 total 78
3 other??
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - Truro, January 7, 1840 - Sir - the facts annexed are worth a thousand surmises as to the operation of the New Poor Law. The figures are extracted from a Parliamentary document prepared by Lord Eliot in the House of Commons last session..
Amount expended for the five years since the passing of the Poor Law
Amendment Act.
Year........Cornwall.........England and Wales
1835........87,083...........5,728,945
1836........78,089...........4,890,057
1837........73,492...........4,171,093
1838........73,404...........4,217,556
1839........72,800...........4,477,000
�386,770
�23,483,273
Amount expended for the five years preceding the passing of the Act in which returns were made -
1821........111,770..........6,938,445
1821........93,152...........5,736,9x0
1828........101,483..........6,298,.052
1832........101,091..........7,636,978
1833........104,771..........7,045,211
total.......�514,977.........�33,075,527
Gains to Cornwall.....�128,207 (subtracting the amount spent 1835-39, from the amount spent 1821 - 1833) Gain to England and Wales �9,590,232
[The correspondent was trying to demonstrate that since it was a huge savings, the law was a very good thing. My reading of the figures may very well be 'off' as the print wasn't clear. jm]
24 JANUARY 1840, Friday
At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 15th of January, 1840, present
The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.Her Majesty having been pleased to appoint Sir William TRELAWNY, Bart., to be Lord-Lieutenant and Costos Rotalurum of the County of Cornwall, he this day took the Oats appointed to be taken thereupon, instead of the Oaths of
Allegiance and Supremacy.
Sheep Impounded - Impounded in the Manor Pound of Tregorrick, in the Parish of Roche, Three SHEEP. Unless the same are owned before the third day of February next, they will be Sold, to pay the expenses.
Dated January 24, 1840
Mining Education - J. PHILLIPS begs to notice in a few of his Friends, that his SCHOOL is still open at St. IVES, for the reception of Young Men in the study and practice of SURVEYING, &c, &c, his business of late being much increased among the mines. Tuckingmill, January 3, 1840
Mines and Mining Fifty Years Ago [the paper was torn and wrinkled, leading to blanks - this is the best version I could piece together - jm]
The following curious extract from the second volume of "Italy" by "the
author of "Vathek," second letter, eighth page, Falmouth, March 7th, 1787, will no doubt be interesting to many of our readers."Scott came this morning, and took me to see the Consolidated mines, in the
parish of Gwennap. They are situated in a bleak desert, rendered still more doleful by the unhealthy appearance of its inhabitants. At every step, one stumbles upon ladders that lead into utter darkness, or funnels that exhale warm copperous vapours. All around these openings, the ore is piled up in heaps waiting for purchasers. I saw it drawn reeking out of the mine by the [ ..] called a whim, set in motion by. their turn are stimulated by ..over the poor brutes, and flogging them.. This dismal scene of whims. of cinders, extends. for engines, creaking and groaning, and.tall chimneys smoking and flaming. [he then turned attention to the mining offices/adventurers]. These
mystagogues occupy a tolerable house, with fair sash windows, where the
inspectors of the mine hold their meetings and regale upon beef, pudding, and brandy. While I was standing at the door of this habitation, several woeful figures in tattered garments, with pickaxes on their shoulders, crawled out of a dark fissure and repaired to a hovel, which I learnt was a gin shop. There they pass the few hours allotted them above ground, and drink, it is to be hoped, an oblivion to their subterraneous existence. Piety, as well as gin, helps to fill up their leisure moments, and I was told that Wesley, who came apostolising into Cornwall a few years ago, preached on this spot to above seven thousand followers. Since this period, Methodism has made a very rapid progress, and has been of no trifling service in diverting the attention of these sons of darkness from their present condition to the glories of the life to come. However, some people inform me their actual state is not so much to be lamented, and, that, notwithstanding their pale looks and tattered raiment, they are far from being poor or unhealthy. Fortune often throws a considerable sum into their laps when they least expect it, and many a common miner has been known to
gain a hundred pounds in a month or two. Like sailors in the first effusion of prize money, they have no notion of turning their good luck to advantage, but squander the fruits of their toil in the silliest species of extravagance. Their wives are dressed out in tawdry silks, and flaunt away in the ale houses between rows of obedient tiddlers. The money spent down, they sink again into damps and darkness."
"Having passed an hour in collecting minerals, stopping engines with my
finger, and performing all the functions of a diligent young man desirous of information, I turned my back on smoke, flames, and coal-holes with great pleasure."
Audacious Robbery - On Monday, the 6th instant, an old woman of the name of Margaret Mitchell, who occupied a small house in the higher side of Camborne parish, was robbed during a temporary absence, of her chest of clothes, and a small sum of money, which had recently been paid to her from a club, on the decease of a sister. Suspicion fell on some persons residing in the vicinity, and on search being made, one person, a female, was apprehended, and committed to Bodmin, to take her trial at the ensuing assizes.
Serious Accident - On Wednesday last, a lad named Tonkin fell from a scaffold, at the buildings of Mr. Joseph, Market-place, Penzance, and besides sustaining other injuries, fractured his skull. We understand he is not likely to recover.
Penzance - The ship "Tullock Castle," of Hull, Capt. Smith, has been brought into our port in a state of great distress. She left St. Johns, N.H., on the 15th of December, and soon afterwards from the severity of the weather became leaky. The crew kept the pumps constantly attended to day and night, until the 14th instant, when the water got the mastery, and she became waterlogged, in which condition they had no alternative but to keep her running before the wind until Saturday. When near Mousehole Island, they were boarded by one of our most active licensed pilots, who brought her to an anchor in the road, with 19 feet of water in the hold. On Sunday, she was found to be in
a considerably worse state, and on Monday evening, during a gale from SSW, she was obliged to slip and run for the pier, drawing 21 feet water at the time she took the ground, about 70 or 80 fathoms off, but by great exertions our pilots and boatmen, under skilful directions, hove her up in the course of the night, and Tuesday morning, so that her bows being already square with the pier head, the ship and cargo may be considered as saved. Too much credit cannot be given to Capt. Smith, his officers and crew, for the seamanship and ability displayed in so successfully bringing their disabled ship to a port of safety. We understand that some 12 or 15 years ago, this ship, then belonging to London, was in the Jamaican trade, commanded by the late Lieut. Pearce, R.N., a younger brother of our townsman, who, as agent to Lloyds, is now exerting himself in her preservation.
Falmouth - ...The schooner "Gannel," of Falmouth, appears to have suffered most, her stern being broke in, and her windlass torn out; and she was thrown in so far, that her jib-boom went through the side wall of a house. The sloop "Cork Packet," from Cork, is discharging her cargo.
Dreadful Thunder Storm - On Monday morning last, about six o'clock, the neighbourhood of Bude was visited by a most awful storm of thunder and lightning, which did considerable damage to a house about a mile from Stratton, on the Kilk[hampton] Road, belonging to Mr. H. Cornube, of Stratton, and occupied by a labouring man of the name of Hicks. The poor man's pig was struck dead in the sty by the electric fluid, and it was quite a miracle that the inhabitants escaped unhurt, as the house is much shattered, the doors and windows being dashed to atoms. A sheep belonging to Mr. Nicholas Saunders, of the Ship Inn, Stratton, was also killed by the lightning, and we hear, from the severity of the storm, that the damage done has been still more extensive.
Mildness of the Season - As a proof of the mildness of the weather, Mr. Lavin, of St. Clement, saw a butterfly on Monday last, on the wing, apparently enjoying itself as it would on a summer's day.
Truro Police - Capt. Gibson, of the ship "Blessing" of Sunderland, now lying at Malpas, was summoned before the Mayor on Friday last, by a person of the name of Dunn, who complained that his fishing nets had been greatly damaged by an anchor belonging to the ship, to which no buoy was attached. Mr. Stokes, being retained for Captain Gibson, inquired under what law the present complaint had been preferred before the Mayor of Truro, and argued that there was no statute or other law by virtue of which such a proceeding as the present could be instituted. There was no harbour master for the port of Truro, and
there were no regulations for the port approved by the admiralty. He took the preliminary objection to save their Worships time, though he could assure their Worships that Capt. Gibson was in no manner to blame, as a buoy had been attached to the anchor when it was let go. The Mayor and the other Magistrates thought the point raised was an important one, and would direct the attention of the Town-council to it; but at present they considered that Mr. Stokes's objection must prevail, and the summons be dismissed.
31 JANUARY 1840, Friday
[could'nt, pilller, and Roberts's are as shown in the paper.jm]
Stannaries Court
Tuesday, January 28 - The Court, which had hitherto been occupied with small debt cases, none of which were of sufficient importance to warrant their publication, this morning sat to hear cases at
NISI PRIUS
ROUSE v POWNING - This was an action brought by Mr. James Robarts ROUSE, of Truro, to recover from Mr. POWNING, of Wadebridge, �18.19s.5d., the amount due on a bill of exchange, with interest, being the balance of an account for �38.10s.11d. for goods. A verdict was taken by consent of defendant's attorney, Mr. Bennallack.
UGLOW v SYMONS - This was a action by Mr. Wm. Uglow, of Truro, on a promissory note, against Mr. Isaac SYMONS, of Falmouth. The original debt was �18, which the defendant had engaged to pay in nine installments of �2 each. He had paid but one of these installments, and the present action was for �16, the plaintiff waiving interest. The case was undefended. Verdict, �16.
TREGONING v TREVETHAN - This was a claim of payment for the use and occupation of a water course from June to December last, by the adventurers of Great Wheal Prosper mine, the defendant being one of such adventurers. Mr. Paul and Mr. Simmons appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Stokes for the defendant.
[Witnesses proved water was diverted from the leat to the mine, to be used as condensing water. The defense meant to contend that the water was not intentionally used, but had flowed down into the mine because of a fault in the prosecutor's leat. However, Mr. Stokes objected to the form of the summons, which the Court held valid; the prosecutor was then non-suited. jm]
CHAMPIONS v MICHELL - [James CHAMPION, the elder, and James CHAMPION, the younger, tributers at Wheal Budnick. Mr. Wm. Michell was purser of the said mine. This was a "feigned issue, directed by His Honour, out of the Equity side of the Court, where the case had already been heard." The judge at prior Nisi Prius knew nothing of the issues brought forward; this Court felt qualified to decide the matter. The Champions asked for payment of their tribute for four weeks, at 10s. per pound. The mine refused such payment, due to "fraudulent and irregular working."
[James TREVETHAN, worked at Budnick, knew the two Champions; had a pitch there. Thought they had worked the pitch well, "a pretty good month's work for two men." Estimated they broke about three fathoms. Worked six or seven fathoms from their pitch. jm]
[Edward TRELEASE saw the Champions at work regularly. Quality of their ore was same as the rest. Passed the pitch daily on way to his own; visited it three or four times. jm]
[William HOOPER, tut man on the 20th of Dec, 1838, adjoining Champions' pitch. Had seen some tolerably good stones there. Thought they worked "in a workman-like manner." jm]
[William TAYLOR, a lad, employed to roll out the Campions' trade, said he rolled for three days; first two, about eight hours each; third day, for four hours, during which he rolled 30 kibbles. Rolled some work, and some attle, mostly work. jm]
[Mr. Paul "forcibly addressed the jury for the defense", and called Capt. James EVANS, manager of Budnick for five years. He brought a ground plan, and showed the location of the pitch. The two months before, plaintiffs had stoped at tutwork, and raised only about 2 or 3 cwt. of "miserable poor stuff". He thought this would be a blank month for them; instead, the pair raised nearly �500 worth of tin in the course of a month. The north lode [called 'Roberts's bargain', as it was taken by Mr. Roberts in tut, and produced very well for him] was "very rich and hard"; the south, 'soft and poor.' The ore from the north lode was lighter, also. He thought "there was from 1 � to 2 tons of ore in Champions' pile that came from Roberts's bargain." jm]
[Joel CARTER, underground captain at Budnick, examined the pitch previous to the setting, and four times during the month. Corroborated evidence given by Evans. There was a barrow way between Champions and Roberts's bargain, in which no one worked. Never knew a bunch [ie, tin course] to get in and out within a week's work. [The Champions maintained they 'hit a bunch', but it was mined out by the time the contract was over. jm] There was a middle course between the two lodes, for a short distance, common to the miners. jm]
[Edward PENROSE, worked at Budnick as dresser and tributer for three years; had known her for seven. Viewed Champions' pitch before it was set, and "if a man had tribute[there], he could not make wages." After Champions worked, the pitch was poor, but there was more tin than before. No indication of a bunch. Witness asked Champion if the pitch would do at tribute. Champion told him he, witness, could get �20 or 30 at half tribute. Witness took the pitch with two others, and in the following month they raised but two cwt. of Black Tin, and their money was only 19s.3d. for the three, for the month.]
Richard ROBERTS, aged 62, had been a tinner for 40 years. Worked at tut-work in the north lode, about 8 fathoms from Champions' pitch. Champion frequently came into his bargain. Witness broke nearly �500 worth of tin in the month. It might have been 8 or 10 tons. Witness missed ore from time to time; altogether about a ton or two.
[Richard HARRIS, one of above witness's pair, when Champion was in Roberts's bargain, asked Champion what he meant to do, as he had done bad upon tut-work, and had a bad pitch. Champion gave a bit of a smile, and said, "I must live by the windfalls." Both Roberts and Harris confirmed the conversation.]
Thomas WOOLCOCK, 70 years old, was spaller at Budnick, and had been a tinner for 50 years. He spalled Champion's tin. Some of it was very hard grained tin, and some soft and poor. The hard grained was like the stuff from Robert's bargain. It appeared as if it had been broken from the same rock. Champion came to witness while he was spalling, and witness said to him, "Jemmy, if thee art an ould kitter, thee art an ould fool for sending such rocks of tin as these." Champion said he had sent none but what he broke honestly out of his own pitch.
Mr. Gillson addressed the jury in reply; the Vice Warden summed up with great care and perspicuity.
At about a quarter to five, the jury retired; and at six o'clock returned a verdict that the plaintiffs had worked unduly and fraudulently.
[This ended the report; the Champions lost their suit. However, no mention is made of a penalty they paid for kitting � this wasn't a criminal trial. Nor were they forced to give money to Mr. Roberts, whose ore they 'borrowed'. At the Quarter Sessions, other miners had been prosecuted, heavily fined, and sentenced to jail terms in Bodmin for kitting; the Champions were fortunate their trial was held in the Stannaries. jm]
Dreadful Thunder Storms - On Saturday last, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, a farm house called Lovelands, near Holsworthy, belonging to Lord Stanhope, was all but destroyed by lightning, and the farmer, Mr. ASHBY, narrowly escaped with his life, his whiskers and eyebrows being singed. All the windows, and several doors, were completely smashed to atoms, and the building is very seriously damaged. Scarcely a piece of earthenware in the house was left sound, and much of the furniture was shattered to pieces.
On the afternoon of Sunday last, during a violent thunder storm, accompanied by terrific lighting, considerable damage was done at a village called Sparrett Posts, near Boscastle. The house and shop of a blacksmith, called Robert CORY, is almost destroyed; doors, windows, and roofs are broken to pieces; the husband had his whiskers, eye-lashes, and coat burnt; the wife was severely scorched, and struck blind, with little probability of recovering the sight of more than one eye. Their three children were also scorched, but not seriously hurt. A labouring man, in the same village, called COTTON, had two pigs killed which were feeding together in the same stye.
Power of the Electric Fluid - On Sunday evening last, the piller of cut granite, erected on the Mousehole Island, Mount's Bay, by the late James HALSE, Esq., of St. Ives, was struck by lightning, and rent in pieces, with a large portion of the rock near it.
Melancholy and Fatal Accident at Sea - We regret to learn, that on Sunday night, the 15th ult., as the barque "Chilton" was on her voyage from St. Johns, New Brunswick, to Liverpool. She was overtaken by a dreadful hurricane, during which a heavy sea struck her, and washed overboard the mate, Mr. Daniel Gath WHITLEY, who sunk to rise no more, the crew being unable from the foundering state of the vessel and the violence of the storm, to render him the least assistance. Mr. Whitley was the son of the late Daniel Whitley, Esq., of Cornelly
Destructive Fire - On Wednesday morning last, about six o'clock, a most destructive fire broke out at Woodhill, near Liskeard. Mr. Richard HAINE, who occupied that farm, not seeing his servants at breakfast at the usual time, went out and found his wheat mow on fire. The flames raged with great fury and soon reached the barley mow at the end of it, and also a rick of hay and a mow of oats. The fire engine from Liskeard, with a large number of men, was soon on the spot; but after using the utmost exertions only a small quantity of the oats was saved, and that so much damaged as to be worth but little. The mayor and ex-mayor, with other gentlemen from Liskeard, and the borough constables, were promptly in attendance, and remained so a great part of the day; but when our informant left, they had not been able to find out whether the fire had been occasioned by the lightning which was seen at that time, or whether it was the work of an incendiary. The property, we hear, was not insured. [See Feb 21, 1840, for more on this. jm]
Truro Police - On Wednesday last, W.H. STEPHENS and John ARTHUR, two lads, were committed by the Mayor to take their trial at the Assizes, for stealing a watch from the shop of Mr. HAWKEN, grocer, in Boscawen-street, on Saturday evening. The principal evidence was a boy named PILL, who had bought the watch for 5s., and was afterwards, in the course of the evening, told by Stephens that he had stolen it. Pill then took the watch immediately, first to Mr. ROSSITER, watchmaker, and then, from information given by Mr. Rossiter to Mr. Hawken, just as Mr. Hawken and the policemen were talking of the loss.
Indecent Assault - On Wednesday last, a man named RIPPER, of Perranzabuloe Mill, was brought before W. P. Kempe, Esq., charged with an indecent assault upon a child under ten years of age, named Mary Ann HOOPER, daughter of a miner living in the parish of St. Agnes. The defendant was bound over to appear at the next assizes in two sureties of �100 each, and himself �100.
EMIGRATION � AUSTRALIA - Letters and Papers have been received from New South Wales to September 15, Van Dieman's Land to September 28; Port Philip to September 17; South Australia to August 28; Western Australia to October 10; a variety of interesting extracts, Market Prices, Arrival of Ships, Births, Deaths, Marriages, &c, will be given in the SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RECORD, Published on Saturday next, the 1st of February, price Five Pence. Sold by D. Robertson, Glasgow; J. Menzies, Edinburgh; R. Waterston, Leith; and by all Booksellers on order.
Just Published, Second Edition, corrected and enlarged, Price 2s. Information relative to New Zealand, compiled for the Use of Colonists, by John WARD, Esq., Secretary to the New Zealand Company. Contents - Description of New Zealand � Rivers and Harbours � Climate and soil � Natural Productions � The Native Inhabitants � Their Disposition towards British Settlers � Existing States of Intercourse � Objects and Proceedings of the New Zealand Company - Preliminary Sales of town Land � the Surveying Staff � Departure of the First colony � Emigrant Ships and Passengers � Institutions � Public Library � Schools � Clergy � Bank � Progress of Public Opinion; and all the latest Intelligence � With an APPENDIX, containing the Company's Regulations, and the Official Papers issued by Her Majesty's Government.
London: John W. PARKER, West Strand. - Sold by all Booksellers
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