The Merthyr Telegraph and General Advertiser for the Iron Districts of South Wales

MERTHYR POLICE COURT. (Continued from the Fourth Page.) WEDNESDAY.—(Before William Thomas and David Evans, Esqrs.) BEER HOUSE OFFENCE.—Francis Meredith, beer-shop keeper, residing at the "half-way house," Aberdare mountain, was charged by P.O. Meek, with keeping open his house for the sale of beer between three and five o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday week. Meek stated that shortly before he arrived at the house he saw a man make some sort of a signal with his hand, and he immediately afterwards saw sixteen per- sons run from the direction of defendant's house into a cottage at the pine end. They were runing to get in as fast as they could. He went to them and again counted them and found the number the same as before. He then went into the beer- house, the landlady opened the door. There was no vessel on the table, but the table and floor were wet with beer. He asked her why she had had the men in the other house drinking, and she said they ran in from the road, and she could not get them out again. She hoped that he would say nothing about it as she drew them only a pint of beer each, and drew it all before three o'clock. He told her that he would report her, and she said she hoped he would not, and added that he seemed to be very hard upon her house. He told her he was not harder upon her than the rest. He had visited the house only twice, and on the former occasion there were parties there drinking. He asked her if her hus- band was in the next house with the other men, and she replied that he was a long way off. Mrs. Meredith denied that she told the policeman that she had drawn a pint of beer to each of the six- teen men. What she told him was that she closed the house at three o'clock, when five men left. None of the sixteen men were in her house, but she heard a knocking at the door and replied to it by informing the parties that she had stopped tap and could not admit them. She admitted that the floor of the house was wet but not the table. The daughter of the last witness corrobo- rated her mother's evidence, and the case was dismissed. KIOT AMONG COLLIERS—Mr. Simons stated to the Bench that he had an application to make for the issuing of warrants for the apprehension of eight persons. Yesterday morning a large body of people marched down from the mountain to the Forest Colliery belonging to himself. There were not less than 300 of men, boys, and women, and they halloed, hooted, and made the most dis- cordant noises, like the barking of a parcel of hounds. He had that day expected a number of men to join the works, and in the evening similar conduct was repeated. He would now merely call evidence to prove the facts, reserving that portion by which they would be able to trace the motives of this act of outrage to a future occasion from prudential motives. Thomas Jones said that he was foreman at the Forest Colliery, Mountain Ash. Yesterday morning a large body of men, women, and boys came down from Mountain Ash and lingered about the colliery. He expected some men to join the work, but did not know the day they would arrive. He asked the police officer, who followed the men, what they meant. In the evening he saw another body of men come down. They stood a long time opposite the house of James Watkins, about 200 yards from the colliery, kicking up a terrible row, and making a noise similar to the barking of a large number of hounds. He did not hear them say anything about Watkins. Watkins was an ostler at the colliery, and a man was lodging with him who had lately come to work in the colliery. Among the men were Joseph Williams, Robert Williams, Thomas Jones, John Llewellyn, Thomas:David, William Evans, col- liers, and Albert Jones, and Jerry Morgan, car- penters, and William Lewis, collier. These were joining in the tumult, and Jerry Morgan was foremost among them. The boys were the advance guard on the occasion. P.C. Kinsole said that on Tuesday morning he saw a gathering of about 500 men, women, and children, at the railway station, waiting for the first up train. As soon as the train had arrived, they started down towards the Forest Colliery. One man had a cravat tied to a long pole, which he used as a flag. There was another gathering about the station on the arrival of the evening train. They afterwards went down towards the colliery, shouting, and making a great noise, so great that persons could have heard it a couple of miles off. There was a larger number in the evening than in the morning. Among the parties he noticed were Joseph Williams,'Robert Williams, Thomas Jones, William Morgan, John Llewellyn, one of the foremost, Thomas David, William Evans, Albert Jones, carpenter, and William Rees, car- penter. Jerry Morgan was the leader of the boys. Morgan Rees and Wm. Morgan were there at night. Thomas Jones, on being re-called, eaid the men, between fifty and sixty in number, were discharged on their own notice, three weeks ago last Friday. The colliery had not been worked since. The warrants were granted, and the case will be heard on Wednesday next. ASSAULT.—Maria Thomas preferred a com- plaint against John Williams, and Jane Wil- liams, his wife, for an aggravated assault upon her. They had been served with summonses to appear, but they had absconded. Warrants were accordingly granted for their apprehension. ASSAULTING THE PoLlCE.—A disgustingly filthy looking individual, named John Davies, boatman, was charged with assaulting the police under the following circumstances :—P.C. Gil- ding said, that about one o'clock on Tuesday morning he was on duty in Dynevor Street, when he found the prisoner sleeping by the brick kilns. His eoat and waiscoat were on fire. He went to awake him, but not being able to make him understand anything, he and P.C. Dunlop, who came along at the time, rolled him over to extinguish the fire, and arouse him. The prisoner then bogan to kick. He told him that his clothes were burning, but as he would not leave the spot he told him that he must lock him up. He persisted in stopping where he was, and witness then took hold of him to put out the fire, his clothes being still burning, and to take him away. Prisoner then drew his knife, and threatened them, but they shut the knife, and were about leading him away, when he threw. himself down again on the ground, and drew his knife, saying, that he would cut them to pieces before they should lock him up. It was with great difficulty that they now rescued the knife from him, as he aimed to cut them, and kicked, and fought as violently as he could. They at length got him to the station, with great exertion, but he was violent all the way there. P.C. Dunlop having given corroborative evidence, the Bench asked prisoner where came from ? He re- plied, Nowhere." He was then asked why hehad behaved in this manner to the police, as de- scribed by them. Prisoner replied, the police made themselves to officious too please him. Dir. Thomas: That's very likely. No doubt you would like it a great deal better if there were no police. Supt. Wrenn stated that he had no doubt but that the police had been the means of saving his life. The prisoner was fined £ 6 and saving his life. The prisoner wa.3 fined 26 and costs, and in default be committed for 2 months' hard labour. ASSAULT. — David Edwards, Ann Parry, Watkin JRichetrds, and Ilenry Parry, were charged with assaulting William Morgan. The case when called for was adjourned, as Mr. Frank James, who was engaged for the complainant, was not able to attend. Mr. Simons, who appeared for the defendants, was however per- mitted to call one witness, as he was the mate of a vessel, lying at Swansea, and he would have to sail with his vessel on Friday. Henry Kreugher, a native of Prussia, was then called. He said that his wife was living in Merthyr. He returned home on Monday night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, but he had not been in-doors more than 5 minutes, before he heard some one groaning. He went out into his garden, and looked ovet the wall, when when he saw David Edwards on his back in Wm. Morgan's garden, and vVm. Morgan kneeling upon his stomach with both knees, twisting his neckerchief with his left hand, as though he were trying to choke him. Morgan's wife was stand- ing over them with a large lump of coal in one hand, and a lighted candle in the other. They were about a couple of yards from where he stood, and the wall was about four feet high. Edwards groaned and halloed, and after about five minutes, Watkin Richards and Henry Parry came running into the garden, and separated the parties, and he then also saw Mrs. Parry stand against her wall with a stone. By this time a large number of persons had been attracted to the spot by the groans and cries of Edwards. He could not understand what he said, as Le called out in Welsh. Mr. Simons trusted the Bench would not forget the straightforward manner in which the witness had given his evidence. MERTHYR BOARD OF HEALTH. THE usual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held on Thursday last. Present—Messrs. R. T. Crawshay, (in the chair), R. Purchase, David Bosser, L. Lewis, L. Morgan, and John Jones. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed, and the clerk read the report of the surveyor, which was as follows:- SURVEYOR'S REPORT. Merthyr Tydfil, Sept. 4,1850. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,—Being requested at the meeting of last Board to furnish an estimate and report on the best method of remedying the evil complained of, and existing at Caepantywyll, I have examined the district, and would pro- pose to construct a pitched path, and pebble-pitched chaunels and grates to the remaining portion of Queen-street, as the surface water flows over the channels, and finds its way into the cellars of the Balance public-house and houses adjoining, chargeable to owners of properties right and left of Queen-street to the extent of the work. The total cost I estimate at 99 10s. The ditch at the bottom of gardens complained of by John Williams, on the property of John Lloyd is in a very offensive state. It will be necessary in this case to wall up and cover a large box gutter in connection with the culvert above these premises, and to form a pitehed channel and grates in front of the cottages, and a six-inch socket pipe drain from the same into the before-mentioned box drain. There is a very nauseous open gullet in this neighbourhood traversing, these properties belonging to Benjamin iBavies and — Griffiths, which, in my opinion, should be attended to. I would recommend pulling down a division wall, and w form a path to these properties which would be double the width of the present pathway. and to construct a covered drain to take off surface water into the channel in Taff-street, or into Chapel- street this would greatly improve the district if carried out. The wall in Tydfil's Well, near the ashes tip, belonging to Samuel Taylor, is broken down to the extent of about eight yards. I should imagine that the tipping of ashes alongside is not the cause of the damage. The cost of repairs will be about £2. The road leading from Jackson's bridge to the canal bridge requires six-inch socket pipes laid to convey the water from Mr. Roach's yard into a drain on the opposite side of the street, and which is at present traversing the surface at this point to the extent of about 20 yards, thereby injuring the same; the road should be afterwards macadamized. North-street, Dowlais, is in a shocking state, and I may add, very dangerous, as the traffic along this street is rather con- siderable. I would suggest the desirability of at once commen- cing its entire renovation. I understand the proprietors and inhabitants are about to petition the interference of the Board of Health, and as I was requested to report on the course of foul water and garbage flowing on the surface channels from two or three slaughter-houses in this locality, I would recommend the Board to defer any alteration of drains; until the whole work is proceeded with. The water spouts which Mr. Crawsbay had fixed near the fish pond on the Brecon-road should have a pipe drain and gratings to convey waste water into a drain near this place, as I find that the water let off by mischievous passers by and children is injuring the new footway and road surface, also wasting a con- siderable quantity of water. I would also recommend a better provision being made for letting it off, the present levers being a partial obstruction to the pathway. > j I have to complain about the want of spouts, or troughs, and rain pipes to new buildings, as well as old, in a multitude of cases, the eaves water in wet weather trickles on the heads, &c., of passengers, and is also very injurious to the pitched pavements and gravel footpaths. I nave plans of buildings from the following parties:— Morgan Howells, for two houses in Alma-street, Dowlais; Thomas Watkins, for two houses in Alma*street, Dowlais; Henry Davies, for one house, hi Alma-street, Dowlais; Edward Brigden, for one house in Pantysgallog-road, Dowlais John and William Llewellyn, for two houses in Pantysgallog-road, Dow. lais'; Margaret Jones, for two houses in Mary Ann-street, Dowlais; Joseph Jones, for alteration of house 111 Bryn Sion- street, Dowlais; Ebenezer Lewis, for alteration of house opposite the Market, Dowlais; for School House at Penwern, Dowlais. To none of these do I see any objection to their erection. I am, &c., J. W. HABRISON. It was ordered that notice be served upon the owners of property in Queen-street, Caepant- ywyll, to construct a pitched path and pebble, pitched channels and gratings, for the surface water which overflows the present channels, and finds its way into the cellars of the Balance public-house and the adjoining houses, the cost of which will be about zC9 10s., and that the surveyor report to the Board the feeling of #ie parties on the subject at the next meeting. It was also ordered that the ditch at the bot- tom of the gardens complained of by John Williams, be covered in by John Lloyd, through whose property it runs, and that the sewer be constructed as to receive the water from the cottages by means of five-inch socket pipes. Also ordered that another filthy gutter in this neighbourhood, and running through the pro- perties of Benjamin Davies and Griffiths be covered over, the division wall to be pulled down to widen the path, and the sewer to be con- structed in such manner that the surface water be taken into the sewer in Chapel-street or in Taff-street, the work to be done by the owners of the property. With regard to the eight yards of wall which had been broken down near the ash tips, at Tydfil's Well, belonging to Mr. Samuel Taylor, it was ordered that Mr. Lewis and Mr. Rosser inspect the same, in order to determine whether the expense of rebuilding the wall ought to be defrayed by the Board. It was also ordered that the surveyor lay down socket pipes to convey the water from Mr. Roach's yard into a drain on the opposite side of the road leading from Jackson's Bridge, the surveyor being of opinion that the work should be done by the Board. The Board were opposed to carrying out the private improvements in North-street, Dowlais, but it having been stated that the parties were willing to do the work themselves, it was ordered that the surveyor ascertain and report to the next meeting the names of all who are willing volun- tarily to carry out the necessary improvements, and pay for them themselves. The surveyor stated that the overflow of the waste water at the water spouts fixed by Mr Crawshay from the fish ponds on the Brecon-roa' for the use of the inhabitants, destroyed the sur. face of the roads. Mr. Crawshay said that the water there was a great boon to the inhabitants and the surveyor was ordered to lay down a water channel and gratings to carry off the water wasted on the ground. It was also ordered that in reference to the drippings of the water from the eaves of houses upon the passengers in wet weather, that owners of houses have notice that water shutes and rain pipes be fixed to all houses not at present pro- vided with them. Important to Gas Companies. Mr. Purchase called the attention of the Board to the circumstance of their having given per- mission to the Dowlais Gas Company to break up the roads for the purpose of laying down gas pipes, whereas it appeared' from a' late decision that the Board had no power to grant such per- mission, nor the trustees of a turnpike road, and referred to a report of a decision lately given in reference,to the Willenhall Water Works Com- pany, and the trustees of the Wolverhampton district roads, showing that the roads could not be broken up without the consent of par- liament to do so. It was consequently ordered that the permission given to the Dowlais Gas Company be withdrawn, and that the Merthyr Company have notice not to breakup any more of the roads for the purpose of laying down pipes. The clerk, however, was ordered to make further enquiries into the matter. MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS. That the clerk write to Mr. Hill in reference to the dilapidated wall on the tramroad-side, at Pontmorlais, and that notice be given to Mr. Roach's coachman to keep the wheels of the omnibus out of the channelling when stopping opposite the Bush. The surveyor stated that the new plans sent him by Mr. Ritson for the construction of Troed- yrhiw -%ridge were defective, it was ordered tftat tJaeCqterk go to Neath to see that gentleman to ascerra^ if satisfactory specifications cannot be obtained from him. That the minister of Bethel Chapel be written to respecting the closing of the burial ground, and that the Secretary of State be also written to for an order for its being closed. Several bills were ordered to be paid, including Mr. Gant's claim of £112 10s. 2d. Mr. Thomas Davies jE64 Is. and Messrs. Mayling, Williams, and Collrhoyd £ 18 Is. Id. Mr. Lewis called the attention to the fact of there being no sewers to take away the waste water from the houses in Church-street, and Thomas-street, Thomas-town; At present the waste water of the houses ran into the privies, and these when full, overflowed into the channel of the street, opposite the Welsh Wesleyan Chapel, creating.one of the greatest nuisances in Merthyr. It was consequently ordered that the owners be served with notices to construct sewers. A general district rate of 6d. in the pound, and a highway rate .of 6d. in.the pound were signed. It having been stated that Mr. Scott had not complied with the order of the Board to live in Merthyr, it was ordered that a month's notice be given him, to leave the service of the Board, as Inspector of nuisances. Messrs. Lewis, Rosser, Bryant, Jones, James, and W. Evans, were appointed a finance committee to examine all accounts before paid. Any two to form a quorum. The Board then separated