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MEBTHYR POLICE COURT. J

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MEBTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY, AUG. 30.-(Bifore J. C. Fowler and W. Thomas Esqrs.) STEALING SILK AT ABSEDAEE— A rather aged woman named Sarah Charles, the wife of David Charles, collier, residing near Aberaman, was charged with stealing 16 yards of black silk, w rth 3s. 3d. per yard, the property of Mr. Henrv Lewis, draper, of Aberdare. Thomas Scourfield, assistant to Mr. Lewis, said that yesterday morning the prisoner came into their shop at about half-past 11 o'clock and asked to look at some black silk, and he showed her some. Whilst she was examining it he had occasion to leave the shop for a minute or two to make an enquiry for her. On his return she stated that she wanted three yards and a half for her daughter, but before she had it cut off she would go and speak to her daughter about it, and re- turn again and purchase it, ,and she told her little boy who was standing at the door to wait there till she came back. She made no purchase, and after she had gone the boy said he would go out, and as soon as he was outside he ran off. There were several pieces of silks folded in pa- pers. He afterwards went to dinner, and when he returned, in about three quarters of an hour, he proceeded to put back the silks that were still lying on the counter, and in doing so he found that one piece was gone from the lot, and lie immediately acquainted Mr. Lewis of the circumstance. The piece of silk produced by Sergeant Parsons was the piece he missed. Sergt. Parsons stated that he yesterday received information from the last witness that a piece of silk had been stolen from the shop, and he went in search of the prisoner, and he found her at home near Aberaman. As he was going in at the gate he saw the prisoner run out at the back door, and then peep back through the back win- dow to see if he were approaching. He pushed forward through the house and caught the pri- soner just as she was throwing the silk into a coal hole belonging to another house. It was screwed up in her apron. He asked her what the was doing, and took the silk from her. He sold her that she was charged with stealing the same from Mr. Lewis, and she asked who saw me taking it?" He took her to the station- house, and Mr. Lewis came there and identified the property. The prisoner begged he would forgive her, and offered him a sovereign if lie would let her off. Mr. Lewis said the case was now in the hands of Sergt. Parsons, and she then offered him the sovereign to let her off, and to say no more about it. In reply to the usual questions by the Bench, the prisoner said she would plead guilty, and the prosecutor begged to recommend her to the mercy of the court on account of her family. He knew nothing of the prisoner, but she had several daughters in service in Aberdare, who were very respectable young women, and he therefore hoped the Bench would be merciful for their sakes. The prisoner's hus- band stated that he had been twelve months in Aberdare, previous to which he resided at Sir- howv for many years. Sergt. Parsons knew nothing of the prisoner previous to this case, and the court said that they were willing to believe that this was the prisoner's first offence, and consequently would act upon the recommendation of the prosecutor for the sake of her family, and gass a very light sentence upon her. She would e committed for one month's hard labour. VAGRANCY.—A remarkably dirty looking fel- low, who gave his name as Thomas Williams, was charged with vagrancy by P.C. Derbyshire, who found him sleeping in an unoccupied building belonging to the Dowlais Iron Company. The constable had warned him away several times. The prisoner said he was a miner, and that he had not been able to get any work for the last six weeks. The court sentenced him to one month's hard labour, as an idle and disorderly character. CHARGE OF STEALING AGAINST A SERVANT GIRL —Mary Rees, a girl 15 years of age, was charged with stealing two gowns, two pairs of stockings, and a chemise, the property of James Jewell, her master. The prosecutor said that he lived at Caedraw, that he was a miner, mended old shoes, and made lozenges, The prisoner was formerly his servant. She came about six or seven weeks ago, and remained till last Wednesday, when upon getting up in the morning he found she was gone, and that she had taken the shoes he had begun to mend for her, but had not quite finished. The front door was locked, and the key thrown under the door. He then went over to Khymney to the prisoner's mother, and desired her to give back the things, but she refused, and when he came back to Dow- lais he sent the police to take her into custody. The prosecutor's wife was then examined, and corroborated her husband's statement. She said that when she got up on Wednesday morning she missed two frocks, two or three pairs of stockings, a chemise, and some sweets from the window. She saw them safe on Wednesday morning, before she went to the fete. She went with her husband to Rhymney, and asked for the prisoner, and her mother said she knew nothing about her. She then asked for the clothes, and her mother said she should not give them up— she might go to law, she did'nt care about it, for she knew Dr. Thomas very well, and was not afraid of him. She had never given the clothes to the prisoner, nor leave even to take them. [The property was here exhibited to the court, and with the exception of one of the frocks, very few persons would have them for picking up on the road.] Sergt. Ilowlett said that when he took the prisoner into custody and told her the charge, she denied having stolen them, and said that "her aunt had given her the things. From some questions here put by the court it turned out that tho prisoner's step-mother and the prosecutor's wife were sisters. The prisoner's mother then came forward and said that she went to her sister's on Tuesday week with a view of bringing her step daughter away as she did not like the place, but her sister was unwilling to let her go, as she said that she was a very useful little girl, and if she stayed she would give her some clothes, and the girl had told her that she afterwards gave her the things, it was all she had for the six or seven weeks she was there, except the mending of her shoes. The prisoner, upon being called upon to make her defence, de- clared that the things were given her by the arosecufcor's wife, after her mother Jiad left, and the best frock she put on her, and asked her how she liked it. The other frock she had worn several times while in her service, to wash in. She also told her she might have the stockings if she liked to mend them, and the chemise which wns too small for herself. Superintendent Wrenn stated that the prosecutor's wife had herself been convicted of felony. Mrs. Jewell was again called before the Bench. She acknowledged that she was convicted for stealing a pair of shoes in February, 1855, whereupon the Bench stated that as the case depended entirely upon her evi- dence, which was not that upon which they could rely without corroboration, the prisoner would be discharged. The things however would be give up to the prosecutor. POTATOK STEALING.—A bare footed little urchin named John Hayes, residing at Pont- storehouse, was charged with stealing potatoes, growing on a cinder tip at Pentrebach, the pro- perty of Edward James. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. MONDAY. — (Before J. C. Fowler, and W. Thomas, Esqs.) DRUNKENNESS.—Thomas Owen pleaded guilty of drunkenness in High-street, Dowlais, on Sunday morning, and was fined 5s. A DISREPUTABLE CHARACTER. — William Owen, a bailer, residing at Dowlais, was charged by the master of the union workhouse, with deserting his wife and child, and leaving them chargable to the parish of Merthyr. The cost of their maintenance to the present time was 14s. at 6d. a day each. The defendant said that he didn't run away from his wife, nor did he know that she was in the union, till Sunday morning. Serjeant Howlett said that he apprehended the prisoner at his lodgings in Wind-street, Dowlais. He lodged with a widow about 30 years of age. When lie went in, he found the prisoner in bed and his landlady was in another bed, close beside his in the same room. According to the prisoner's own statement he lived at Aberdare for two or three years, with his wife, and that 8 weeks ago they quarrelled, and he left her. The first week he sent her 10s. and the second week 5s. but as she quarrelled about its being too little, he re- fused to send her any more. Mr. Fooler, do you think 15s. was enough to keep your wife and child 8 weeks—bow did you suppose she was to live?" Prisoner replied—"Then she should be satisfied with what I sent her, and not quarrel about it." Mr. Fowler, "have you anything more to say, because if. you have, I will hear you." The prisoner said he had nothing more to add. Mr. Fow ler said this was to his mind a most dis- graceful case, and that ho richly deserved the sentence he was about to pass upon him, which was, that he be committed as a rogue and vaga- bond. The prisoner here interrupted, when Mr. Fowler said, now allow me to speak. I am not talking to you as much as I am to the public. You married your wife by whom you have one child, and as soon as you got tired of her, you seize upon a quarrel as an excuse for leaving her, and come over to Dowlais and live a disreputable life with another woman. You are in a position to earn good, wages, if you work, and you spend those earnings upon yourself and the woman you are living with, leaving your wife and child to starve, or to be kept by the rate-payers, many of whom earn less wages than yourself, and have a family of their own to keep. Now, do you think this is right ? Do you not yourself perceive that looking at your conduct, whether you view it with regard to living as you do, with another woman, or whether you view it with regard to leaving your wife and child for other people to support, is most scandalous. The law gives the magis- trates the power to deal with such cases in various ways, and we will employ that power in your case in the severest manner, because we think that it deserves it. You will be committed therefore to two months' hard labour at Swansea as a rogue and vagabond." PICKING POCKETS.—A robust rough looking individual was placed in the dock on the charge of picking the pockets of Wm. Williams, a travel- ling hatter. He gave his name Samuel Morris, tinplate worker, river side. According to the evidence of the prosecutor he was drinking all day at the Patriot, and like many others, who when they have a large quantity of beer in their bodies and money in their pockets, treated every one who came into the house, and setting himself up as king of the tap room forthe time being. Some of his subjects, after a time, got nearly as tipsy as himself, when they also sought to sway the scep- tre. The consequence was, a rebellion broke out in this little monarchy, and the prosecutor pulled off his coat to fight. He had just before changed a sovereign with the landlady of the house, paid for half a gallon of beer, put 18s. into his purse, which he put into his waiscoat pocket, and the other shilling he put into his pocket loose, to spend if required. While his coat lay on the settle, some of the company saw the prisoner take the purse from the prosecutor's coat pocket, & put it into his own pocket, and told the landlady of the circum- stance, who informed the prosecutor what had occurred. The prisoner walked away, but pro- secutor went after him and brought him back. He gave up the shilling declaring that that was all he had taken. He then left and information was given to the police. Mr. Fowler: what ex- traordinary characters. Here are three or four persons who saw the prisoner take the purse, and yet did nothing to prevent him. I think it ex- traordinary conduct on their part." 4 Supt. Wrenn Your worship would not think it at all extraordinary if you knew the prisoner's charac- ter." The prisoner had the option of pleading guilty or being committed for trial. He chose the latter. AN OLD FRIEND FROM DOWLAIS.—James Samp- tion, who has several times figured at the bar for assaults, was charged with committing a similar offence upon the person of P. C. Roberts. The complainant said that on Saturday night about a quarter past 12 o'clock, he was on duty in High- street, Dowlais, when he heard a row. He went arjul dispersed the mob. After some of them were gone the prisoner and some others remained on the opposite pavement, and were preparing to fight, when he went over to them and told them to go away. The prisoner refused, and he several times told him if he did not go he would lock him up. He subsequently took the prisoner into custody, as a crowd was again gathering round him, and the prisoner then struck him several times, and the mob assisted him-kicked him several times, and got him down, and thus liber- ated the prisoner. Mr. Fowler told the prisoner that the punishment the Bench had the power of inflicting seemed to have no terror in deterring him from these acts of violence. He would con- sequently be committed to take his trial for the offence, and Superintendent Wrenn was in- structed to ascertain from the books how many times the prisoner had been convicted for assaults. LEAVING WORK. — William Morris, black- smith, Aberdare, was committed for one month's hard labour as a rogue and vagabond, for having absconded after signing an agreement to work 12 months for Mr. Daniel Williams, Dowlais, at 2,1s. per week. — ■ifoi -—» THE HARVEST.—Beyond some allusions to the spread of the potatoo disease in the North, all the agricultural reports are most gratifying. The damages done by the late rains is nowhere serious, while the present weather is all that could be desired for getting in the harvest. NOT so SIMPLE.—As Professor H. was taking a walk one day in the beautiful picturesque envi- rons of Edinburgh, he met one of those beings usually termed fools, and the professor accosted him thus How long can a person live without brains P" Odd, I dinna we el ken, sir; but," (scratching his head) how lang have ye liv'd yersel', sir?"

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