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MERTHYR POLICE COURT.

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MERTHYR POLICE COURT. SATURDAY. — {Before J. C. Fowler, and T. J. Evans, Etqs.) THE DANGER OF DRUNKENNESS. John "Williams, filler at the Plymouth Iron Works, was charged on the information of P.O. Hopkins with drunkenness on Friday last. The ing on the company's railway at the Abercanaid crossing, officer stated that defendant was very drunk, and was walk- He told him to go off, otherwise the engine might knock him down, and kill him. He insisted, however, on keeping an the line, and the constable then told him he would sum- mon him, and in order to his protection he accompanied him until he got into a place of safety. The constable had warned him before off the line when he was drunk and in- capable, but he seemed perfectly indifferent to the danger he was incurring.—The Bench said that the officer hail acted very well in the matter, and fined defendant 5s and 8s 9d costs. DKUNK AND TIIüTOUS. WiIliam Jones, a respectable looking aged man, having the appearance of a fanner, was charged on the evidence of P.O. Coles with being drunk and indecent at Pontmorlais, and find 10s and costs 12s 9d. The defendant had been previously summoned for the offence, but did not appear, but when a warrant was issued he deposited with the Deputy Chief Constable E30 as security for his appearance, to avoid being detained in cus- tody.-Patrick Callaghan charged with drunkenness, on the evidence of P.C. Ford, was fined r)s and costs. REMANDED CASE. —William Edwards, who was charged with unlawfully assaulting two young men at Georgetown, and who has been remanded six or seven times, .vas again brought up and.remanded, in consequence of one <->f the complainants being too ill to attend. It is feared the pri- soner will Lave to answer a more serious charge, as the lad, who resides near Pontypridd, is not exptcted to recover. DIABOLICAL Aor BY A LAD.—Daniel Harrington was summoned for attempting to damage machinery at the Dowlais Iron Works. Mr Frank Jmm-s appeared for the prosecution. The defendant did not appear, and Mr James applied for a warrant. It appeared that on Wednes- day last the boy threw a piece of iron into the cog-wheels at the works.—Mr Hurst stated that he charged the boy with the offence, which he admitted. He said ''he did it so as to have a spell." Mr Hurst said that fortuuately no damage was done, but l.al the iron produced such effect as the boy wished, it would have involved thousands of pounds expense to the company. It also endangered the lives of the workmen. A plan of the machiuery was produced, showing the position of the cog-wheels, asd the place where defendant worked. The iron was cut in two by the cogs, and one half of it was produced in court. The case was adjournod. AN INCORRIGIBLE PROSTITUTE. — Martha Jenkins, a vulgar and shameless prostitute from Aberdare, was charged with disgracefully obscene conduct at the back of Whitcombe-street, in that town, on Friday night. The evidence in the case was given by P.C. Cole, who said that her shameless conduct in the public streets was a general subject of complaint. Mr Supt. Thomas said that she bad been previously convicted at the Aberdare court for similar conduct 18 different times, and that for three of the con- victions she was sentenced to a mild punishment of from 7 to 21 days the punishment was afterwards increased to one month, and she had undergone seven different sentences of one month each. This, however, was not severe enough, and the punishment was then increased to three months, but it would appear that this period had not the desired effect of inducing her to mend her ways, for she had undergone five terms of imprisonment of three inouihs each, and now she was up again for a similar offence.—In reply to the Bench she said she came from Pembrokeshire, uj'ùn which Mr Fowler remarked that he wished to Heaven she would go back there, for she was a perfect pest in this district. He would remand her to Tuesday at Aberdare, and in the meantime he would see how she could be disposed of, so as to give her another chance of raising herself from so degraded a position. MONDAY.{Bcfore J. C. Fowler, £ sq) SUNDAY BACCHANALIANS.—Daniel Da vies, John Davies, and John Richards were summoned for being in the Gipsy Rbymuey, during illegal hours. P. 8. Jenkins sustained the charge, which the defendants denied. It will be remembered that some time since the landlord was tined 40s and costs. The defendants were now tined 10s and costs each. SELLING BEER DURING ILLEGAL HOURS.—THREATENING A CONSTABLE.—William Oliver, landlord of the Moulders' Arms, Nantygwenith-street, was summoned for selling beer during prohibited hours. P.C. Oiiver stated that on the 20th ultimo he saw two men going into the house. Directly afterwards the landlord came out, and waited outside the door. The constable, who was dressed in plain clothes. then went in, and in the front room saw four men, two of them sitting down, having beer before them. He took the names of the men, and told the landlord he was wrong in supplying them with beer. The landlord said one man was working all night, and begged for beer. He (the landlord) further said, What th", —— do you want io come in this way? Do you think that men are thieves, robbing the Government? You ought to bring a belt to show you ar<? a policeman." P.S. Jennings stated that on the day in question lie went to the landlord's house, and said, "You had men in the house this morning." He said, "One man had a pint of beer only, and the next time he (P.C. Oliver) is sent here in that way I'll kill him before he goes out; he tries to stop a man getting a bit of bread and cheese." The constable told him he would report his threatening language. Defendant did not now appear, and his wife was sent for, who said her husband left about ten minutes be- fore the summons was served, and she had not seen him since. Mr Fowhrr said he insisted on his coming to court, and the case was adjourned for his appearance. He also advised Mrs Oliver to leave the house, as it was perfectly hopeless to expect a renewal of the license.— William John, landlord of the Merthyr Tavern, was summoned for selling beer during illegal hours on the 20th ult. Police- constable Emmanuel stated that on the day named he saw a boy coming from the Merthyr Tavern beerhouse with a pint of beer in a jack. The daughter was standillg at the deor, who, as soon as she saw the constable, ran in and closed the door. The constable took the boy back and .knocked at the door. The daughter opened it. Asked her why she supplied beer to the boy. She said it was only a pennyworth. Defendant was represented by his wife, who aaid the beer had been standing all night. Mr Fowler said it was perfectly absurd and ridiculous for her to set up such a foolish defence as that, and fiued her 20s and costs. DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—Thomas Davies, Dowlais, was fined 10s and costs, 8s 9d.—Phillip Crowley was fined 5s and 8s 'Jd costs. —Catherine French was fined 5s and 5s 3d for these offences. ASSAULT ON A POLICE OFFICER.—Morgan Davies was charged with assaulting P.S. Jennings, and lined 20s and 5s 3d costs.-There was also another charge against the same defendant for assaulting Mr Samuel Leonard, fruiterer, but in this case there was no prosecution. CONFLICTING EVIDENCE.—Enoch Evans and David Evans Wtfrc charged with being one or both of them the owner of a dog which had killed a sheep and worried several others, the property of the Dowlais Iron Company.—Mr F. James was for the prosecution.—David Evans said in reply to the charge said that he lodged with the other defendant, and was the owner of no dog, and that he naver bad a dog.— The summons was therefore withdrawn against this de- fendant, and he was requested to go into thv witness box. He was accordingly sworn, and said that he had been a ledger for six years and never had a dog. Ilo was lodging with Enoch Evans, and although he saw a dog about the neighbourhood, never saw one in the liouso, MHI didn't be- lieve he was the owner of any dog. He knew of a black bitch, and saw her frequently in Mr Judd's field with the pigs. Don't know where she is now, and never saw the bitch but in Mr Judd's field, which is opposite to where he and the defendant resided, near the Traiuroad-side. Believe the bitch was astray.—David Thomas, farm bailiff at Penydarren, said that on the 26th January, about ten o'clock in the morning, he was in the field above Penydar- ren farm-house, where there were some sheep belonging to the Dowlais Co. on tack. He saw that one of the sheep had just been killed, the body being then quite warm. He imme- diately afterwards saw a black bitch iay hold of one of the sheep by the neck. He screamed out, and the bitch then fan away towards the lime-kiln. On Saturday he and Jim Beynon went in search of the bitch, and found her on Enoch Evans's door. Witness said, "This i-i a pretty bitch," and Mrs Evans said, It is ours." Witness said, r Do you miss her sometimes ?" Mrs Evans said, "No." Witness said. Oil yes, sho was away yesterday." Mrs Evans then said that the bitch was not hers, but belonged to the lodger, and added that she was generally tied up in the house, and showed a cord by which she was fastened When the conversation was going on Jim Beynon was pre- seut. — Henry Morgan, lime haulier, said he remembered seeing the black bitch chase the sheep on the 2oth January, but hadn't seen her siuce. By defendant Never saw a dog with you. and although I pass your house twice daily never saw a dog in your house. -James Beynon said he was with David Thomas at defendant's house, but denied most positively that Mrs Evans had showed them any cord.- For the defence several persons residing near the defen- dant were called, who proved that they never saw a dog with defendant, and they didn't believe he was the owner I of any dog.—The case was at this stage adjourned for a week, in order to obtain additional evidence to prove ownership. < I'L'IUOIJS DRIVING.—John Williams, an assistant to Mr Williams, grocer. Market-square, was summoned for o jusly driving his horse on SaHirday afternoon last. V an Jones, a ha^ke. stated th,.t on the d ty named he < drawing a cart near the canal, when a horse and cart ii> dij -en by defendant rushed past him. He had a narrow « ^c„oe from being run over. — Police-constable Coles said ;r he s w a little girl bleeding from the left arm, in George- town, on Saturday afternoon. The defendant's cart bad j struck her down, and hurt her arm very much. Defendant had paid 10s compensation to the girl's mother. The mother appeared, and in reply to the Bench said the doctor was unable at present to say whether a bone had been broken or not -Mr Fowler said the charge bad been fully proved against the defendant, and faking at the dangerous and reckless way which tic had driven he could not see that he could let him off without inflicting upon him such a tine as waullllnark his sense of the defendants apparent disregard of the public safety. There was neither )" rhyme nor reason" in driving as he had done, and lie juight have killed the child on the spot, 01 have disabled her for life. As however he had given tho motlwr of the child some small consideration he would content himself by ordering him to pay a fine of 40s. or 18 d:1Ys' impriscn- ment with hard labour.—The tine was paid. SUMMONS AGAILST A PUBLICAN.-John Aurenas, landlord "f the Dynevor Arms, Tir I'hil. whose c.se had been la>t Vcck remanded, on a charge of permit,ring drnnk'niirss, to.(I;ly, and !«y consent of the BOlch, Mr Keddinp. articled pupil at Messrs Simons and T'h ws's office, watched the case on his behalf.—The evidence of P.C. Davies. who proved that a man named Evan Evans was 1_); v i drunk and fighting in defendant's house on the 20th Jan. is already given, and to-day Stephen Jones was called to cmroborate the officer. His evidence, however, was very indecisive, and although he said Jones was sober, he admit- ted that when he left the Dynevor Arms with him Jones took hold of his arm on his way home.—Mr Beddoe cross- •x uniii' d the officer and witness with a food deal of shrewdness, and afterwards addressed some observations to the iench on behalf of defendant, who hv said was a moxt respectable man, and had always conducted his business with great credit to himself, and that it was not proved that any drunkenness h;ul been permitted as alleged in the summons.—Mr Fowler said he would look over the evidence in the case and give judgment on Wednes- day, upon which day he sai(;r have considered this c;v>c, and I must say that I have no doubt that when the man Evans left the Dynevor Arms he was in some degree drunk. One or two others were, I helieve. not Mober. I think that constable Davies acted properly, bot.h on the spot, and in making the report. Mr Aurelius was not, in my opinion, sufficiently watchful IJno careful about his guests that night, and I muttt caution him to be more watchful in future. But the long period during which he has been managing the house without complaint. or fine, makes me think that he could hardly have been aware of the condition of Evans and the other truests who were not sober. I rather conjecture that the quarrel was the first notic) he had of the actual state Evans was in. I shall be satisfied in this case in discharging the summons with a caution. CHANGE OF SELLING BEER WITHOUT A LICENSE.—Win, Lloyd, a ganger of navvies employed on the Taff Bargoed Railway, now beincr constructed from the_Great Western Loop Railway t1 Dowlais, was charged with having sold beer without a license. -P.C. Davies said he went to de- fwndant's hut on the 27th ult. at 5 p.m. in company with P.O. Clark. Defendant came to the door, and got into a great rage, and said if they went in he would knock their h- heads off. Whilst talking with defendant by the door he saw a woman remove some glasses and a quart, j "g off the table, two men being inside. After the things had been removed defendant, who had kept the officers by the door about two minutes, tl. I said, "Now iro in you b- He was very much the worse of drink The officers went inside, and in the bed-room (the hut. had only two rooms) they found two kilderkins of ale, one of which had only just been tapped, and the other was full. The defendant g.;t confused, and his wife said, "All right, you saw no money handling."—Cross-examined by Mr you saw no money handling."—Cross-examined by Mr Beddoe: I had no search warrant, and defendant didn't a k for my authority saw no beer drank; defendant is a gaffer on the new railway Defendant's hut is about a mile from any public-house.—P.C. Clark corroborated.—The defence was that the officers had done an illegal act in trespassing into defendant's house without authority—that he had as much right to have beer in his house as any magistrate had, an4 as much right to give it to his guests as any other person. The fact was that the railway work was in a very out of the way neighbourhood, and it was a difficult matter to retain the services of men unless the gaffer gave them some beer occasionally, which the defendant had done, and ho had quits as frequently given them bread and cheese. The contractors were aware of this practice, and sanctioned it by making allowances to the gaffers, otherwise they could never get their contracts completed within the time, for men would not not work in out-of-the way places, or in wet weather, or overtime, unless they had there indulgences. Mr Beddoe called a time-keepyr named James Guy, who bore out the observations of Mr Beddoe, after which Mr FnwltJr said it, was most important to make the fullest enquiry into the matter, and see if the contractors sanctioned the arrange- ment, and in order that the contractor (Mr Dixon) might be present, or some one in authority, he would adjourn the further hearing of the case until Monday next. TRAXSFFR DAY. — This being transfer day, a great number of licences were transferred, and the court was occupied to a late hour. There was a case of wages heard, but it involved no in terest excepting to the parties themselves, and it was ulti- mately adjourned for a week. WEDNESDAY.—(Before J. C. Fowler, Esq.) A PEDLKR IN TROUBLE.—Michael M'Donald, a kind of pedling bell-hanger and lock-smith, was charged with be- ing an unlicensed pedlar. It appeared that his license ex- pired about a month ago, and had not been renewed. The defence was that he had been unwell, and the first time he went out in his trade he unfortunately met a Peeler.- Fined II's and costs, and allowed a week to pay. SHOOTIHG THE MOON—John Price, a labourer working about the engines at Cyfarthfa, was charged by Mr Rees Price, the acent. of the Cyfarthfa Castle Lodge of Odd- Fellows, with removing his furniture in order to avoid a distress for :ent.— Mr Price stated that the lodge had some house property in Bethesda-street, and that he was ap- pointed the agent in October last to collect rents. The de- fendant occupied one of the houses at 8.3 a month, and he owed His on the 15th January. He did not pay anything, and on that night he removed his furniture, which was worth £ There was no notice given on either side. Every- thing was removed away, and the key was given to a neigh- bour.—The defendant had no excuse to offer, excepting that he said something abont going into a cheaper house, but the agent denied that he had ever said so to him. He, however, strongly disputed the value of the furniture, which he said was not worth nearly E2, and if his enumeration of what they consisted was correct we should think they must have been dear at half the appraisement. The wife here joined in the case, and if her character could be judged by her demeanour in court then the office of collector could Hot have been, in relation to her. a very desirable one — The case was adjourned to Monday, and if the defendant didn't pay the amount due and costs on that day, he would be ordered to pay double the valu" of the goods removed, or go to prison for a lengthened period. A BLACKGUARD AT LARGE.—Richard Phillips wascbarged with stealing 10s with violence from the person of Thomas Prosser.—Mr Supt. Thomas said SOltlC settlement appeared to have been made in the case, as Prosser would not appear. -George White, collier, Ynysfach, said that he and his wife were going home through Bridge-street on Monday night and a man came and laid hold of his collar, and begged him to take a man in custody for robbing him. He could see no man, but instantly the prisoner jumped out of a recess in the wall (supposed to be the flood-gate steps) and struck the man on the head until he fell against the wall, and bled profusely. —Witness became alarmed and went home, leaving his wife to render any assistance she could. The wife gave evidence, and said she went with the man and showed him the police station. In respect to the assault she corroborated her husband.—Information was given to P.C. Coles, and from the discriptiou given by Prosser, who is a stranger in the town, he arrested prisoner about 12 o'clock in bed in a house in Bridge-street. There was a female in the room with him, and when he told prisoner he must come to the station the female asked What are you going to the station for Dick ?" to which prisoner replied (before he had been charged) Oh, I sup- pose that Mrs White has been giving false evidence against me."—His worship said there was no evidence as to the robbery, but abundant testimony that a wicked and mali- cious assault had been committed. As however the com- plainant was not present he must, though with great reluctance, be discharged, at least for the present. ABERDARE INTELLIGENCE. CONCERT AND MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT.—Ten of the loc. choirs held a competition in the Temperance-hall, on Monday night. Mr Griffith Jones was the adjudicator, and awarded the prize of the evening to the Zoar choir. FATAL ACNIDENT. —An accident happened to a boy named Evan Jones at Mill-street. It appears that the lad, who worked at the Sguborwen Colliery, was at his work us usual on the morning of the 30th ult., when a fall of stone took place, large lumps of rubbish falling upon him. He died from injuries received Oil Sunday morning last. SINGULAR DEATH.—On Saturday morning the body of a man, named Thomas Davies, was found in the river Cynon a quarter of a mile out of town, towards Aberaman. De: ceased had the working of a "patch" near Abernant station, near to which he resided. He was last seen in Aberdare on Wednesday night, and was then leaving the town for Aber- nant. It is supposed that he turned aside at the Iron Bridge and accidentally fall into the water. ACCIDENT AT A VIADUCT.-On Saturday night a long train of coal trucks, propelled by two engines was passing oyer the stupendous viaduct that spans the Cwmdarc Valley, a little beyond Glandare House, when several of the trucks were thrown off the line, which was much torn up and otherwise damaged. The trucks were thrown near the hedge fencing of the viaduct, and damaged it On bun- day the rumour spread that the train had fallen off into the valley beneath, through which runs the river Dare. lum- bers visited the locality on Sunday, only to find that the facts had been greatly exaggerated. AN UNDUg CRITICISM—We call attention to the com- ments upon our Board by Mr Simons, at the Merthyr Board of Health on Wednesday. Mr Simons would claim a happy immunity for Merthyr from a disease which has visited almost every hamlet in Great Britain, had other Boards done thair duty. Without depreciating for a moment the reputed efficiency of the Merthyr Board, it must, in justice, be stated that, since the first outbreak of the disease, the Aberdare authorities have unflaggingly applied themselves, and with comparatively good results, towards its repression. Long since a generous supply of McDougall's disinfectant powder was dispersed in all directions. Do they use this at Merthyr? If so, for the sake of passers-by in the public street, to :>"y nothing of the nasal arg.ms of those whose employment dooms them to a few lu-,urs a day in the Board of Health office, let some be sprinkled around the foul slaughter-house close to their very noses. More than one Aberdare man would have cause to be thankful the next time he walks Merthyr High- S^3CHOOL BOARD.—The ordinary meeting of this Board was held on Thursday evening, when there were present-MrJ. Lewis (chairman), the Revs M. Phillips and Dr Price, and Messrs D. 11. Davies and J. Williams—The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The only matter of importance brought before the Board was the rules and regulations which had been forwarded to the Education Department in November last, they having been returned on the 12th ult, --The Chairman observed that in putting the regulations in preparation they would take as their guide the manner in which they were prepared in Liverpool and other towns. In the case of the Aberdare Board, the whole of pages 5, C, and 7 in the regulations bad been can- celled by the chairman, as also were other alterations which he had particularised. Tha Hev M. Williams was present ..n behalf of the managers of the Hirwain British School as regards their transfer to the School Board. He was informed tll.lt the Board could not change their vuws with reference to a letter sent to the managers by the Board.—Mr Linton produced the transfer deed of the Cwmbach British School, after which the Board dispersed. THE SWORT TIMF, MOVEMENT.—A meeting of tradesmen of the Aberdare Valley was held at the Queen's Hotel, Aberdare. on Saturday last, it being arranged the week before that they should give the masters me calendar month's notice, and also that they should continue to meet at the above place every Saturday, for the purpose of receiving the reports from the different places, until such time as their requests were granted. The workmen employed by the Aberdare Iron Company express them- selves confident that they will start the nine hours system on the lnt of April next. The tradesmen at the Gadlys and Powell Dutfryn Companies, and several other places, have all given in notice. It was hinted at the meet- ing that some of the masters wanted to raise the wages, as a substitute for the reduction of the hours. The nMU syetu determined to oppose such a proposal.

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