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-ABERYSTWYTH.I

ARERAYRON.

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-----"CARDIGAN"QUARTER SESSIONS.…

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MERIONETHSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS.

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MERIONETHSHIRE QUARTER SESSIONS. The Hilary Quarter Sessiom were held at the County Hall, Dolgelley, on Tuesday (yesterday), for the trans- action of business relating to the county rate or stock, the police rate, and other business. There were present-—R. Meredvth Richards, Esq. (chairman), R. J. Ll. Price, Esq., Colonel Bunbury, Lieutenant-Colonel Tottenham, Charles Edwards, Esq., J. Jones, Esq. (Ynysfawr), H. Robertson, Esq., H. J. Reveley, Esq., J. E. Parry, Esq., John Vaughan, Esq., Chas. Jones, Esq., C, F. Thruston, Esq., Captain Taylor, John Jones, Esq. (Vrondderw), Lewis W illiams, Esq., Dr Richards, the Rev. John Jones. Barmouth; Mr Edward Breese, clerk of the peace; Mr H. H. Ll. Clough, chief constable. The minutes of the previous session were read and confirmed. NEW MAGISTRATE. The Hon. Charles H. Wynn, of Rhug, qualified as a magistrate for the county of Merioneth. THE DOLGELLEY GREEN. The CLERK of the PEACE then read the following letter upon the question of Dolgelley Green :— Temp'e, Dec. 2S, 18/0. My Dear Sir,—I received your letter enclosing a copy of a letter from the chairman of our Quarter Sessions, on the sub- iect of the Dolgelley Green. The resolution was drawn up in the words of the minute entered in your b 10k, and passed with- out ejection by the magistrates then present. I therefore con- sider that you, as clerk of the peace, have no power to alter it, anil I, as the mover, have no power to authcSriae you to do so; but, at the same time, I, as an individual magistrate, should be glad to comply with the chairman's request, and if the magis- trates assembled at the next Quarter Sessions should think fit to authorize you to enter the memorial of the Green trustees in full, by Wity of recital ill th;) miuute, I see no objection tn that being done, and if yiresont at the next sessions, I would support a motion to th&t effect. That course mi jht probably meet tho approbation of your chairman and other trustees of the Green, whilst, at the sa.ms time, it will not prevent the magistrates' interference in the dispute about the Green. I remain, my dear sir, yours most obediently, E. Breese, fisq. UORGAN LLOYD. It was unanimously resolved that the minute be altered by Mr Morgan Lloyd's request, in the full words of the memorial. THE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF SUPT. HUGHES FROM BALA TO TOWYN. Mr THRUSTON, one of the committee appointed for the purpose, said he had visited the new lock-up at lowyn, and that it was now fit for occupation:; the only work re- qniring to be done being a little painting. The question to be eonsidered was as to what arrangement could be in Hide with Mr Hughes, the free occupancy of the lock-up being considered equivalent to an increase of salary to the amount of £ 15 a year. The question was fully discussed. The CHIEF CONSTABLE handed:in a report showing the order of the Secretary of State upon the maximum and minimum pay of the police; and stated that Mr Hughes, as Superintendent, was now receiving a lower salary than would be sanctioned by the Secretary of State. In reply to a question, The CHIEF CONSTABLE said that the report made no mention of an officer being, allowed the free tenancy of a house. After a great deal of conversation, Mr VAUGHAN proposed, and Mr J. JONES seconded, that the superintendent's salary be £100 7s. fid. the minimum allowed by Government and tnat he occupy the lock-up at Towyn, free of rent, and be responsible for the cleanliness of the place. Colonel BUNBURY proposed, and Mr C. EDWARDS seconded an amendment to the effect that the superin- tendent's salary be £ 100 7s. 6d., and that he pay £7 10s. a year as rent for the lock-up. A division was taken upon the question, when there appeared five for the amendment and four for the original motion. As the subject had been brought up at the wrong time it was introduced later in the day, when Col. Bunbury's amendment was withdrawn and the original motion carried. COMMITTEES. Committees were appointed to inspect the accounts of the police and surveyor. After an adjournment, Colonel BUNBURY reported that the police accounts were perfectly correct, and handed in the Chief Constable's report, and the report of the Inspector of Weights and Measures, which were read as follows:- CHIEF CONSTABLE'S REPORT. Gent1emen,-I have the honour to enclose returns of crimes committed ;ind repor'ed to the police during the quarter ending 25th December, 1870, viz.:—3 housebreaking, 4 larcenies, 2 larceuies froin the p -rson, 1 assault. 2 obtaining goods by false pretences, "i, d 1 wilful and malicious damage to machinery. Casoa undetected are as follows—1 larceny, 1 housebreaking number of persons apprehended IG, committed for trial 13, con- victed at petty sessions 113. Annexed is a return showing the pay and length of service of each officer in tha police force, as ordered to furnish by the magistrates assembled at the Quarter Sessions in October last. 1 beg to recomvn -nd Mr Supt. Hushes to the Police Committee as being an officer fairly entitled to an increase in his salary. Ho joined the force in July, 1S57, as insneet ir was promot- d in 1858 to superintendent, at a salary of £100 per annum, which is under the minimum as fixed by the Secretary of State. I may further add that during the thirteen years and six mouths he has been in the force, he has fulfilled his duty to my satis- faction. I apply for an order to supply the force with capes, top-coats, and other clothing for the ensuing year. The force is complete, and the c muty quiet.—I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your obelieut servant, II. H. LLOYD CLOUOH, Chief Constable. Indictable Offences. No. of crimes Xo. of persons Dis- Committed committed, apprehended, charged. for trial. 18 16 3 13 Corresponding qr. last year ..14 11 4 7 Oi'ences Determined Summarily. No. of offences No. of persons Dis- C m- cominitted. proceeded agnst. charged, victed. 127 l\Ll 14 113 Corresponding qr. last year 150 150 22 123 The Criminal Justice Act. No. of offences No. of persons Dis- Con- committed. proceeded agust. charged, victed. € 5 3 2 Corresponding qr. last year G 5 5 WEIS-IITS AND MEASURES. Gentlemen,—I beg to present to your worships my report on the inspection of weights and measures in this county during the quarter now ending. I have been engaged on this duty for twelve days, viz., nine days in adjusting and stamping, when I had to attend with tne standards weights and measures at the following places, viz., Bala, Barmouth, Bla-enau Festiniog, Corwen, Dolgelley, the village of Festiniog, and Penrhyn and the other three days in visiting shops and other places of business; testing weights, ,ti measures, and scales f-cr the purpose of detection. Attached is a proposed list submitted for the approval of the- justices, of the places and time of attendance with the standards weights and measures for the year 1871, as directed by the 5tli and 0th William IV. c. £ 3, s. 24. There is also attached 011 another sheet an account in a tabu- lar form of the receipts and expenditure, and the total amount of fines imposed under the Weights and Measures Acts in this county during the past fonrteen years, the number of shops or places visited, the number of detections, the way the same were disposed of, and the per centage found incorrect on the number of visits each year, within the same period. places visited, the number of detections, the way the same were disposed of, and the per rentage found incorrect on the number of visits each year, within the same period. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, O. HUGHES. Inspector of weights and measures, Bala, Jan. 2nd, 1871. Merionethshire.. e,-1 Mr ROBERTSON asked whether the inspector received any remuneration as inspector of weights'and measures. The CHIEF-CONSTABLE said that he received about £ 10 a year. THE SURVEYOR'S ACCOUNTS. Mr THRUSTON said the committee had gone over the surveyor's accounts, and had made them correct. The committee wished to draw the attention of the court to inaccuracies on the part of the surveyor in preparing his accounts. It appeared tc be simply stupidity. There was one item of 5s. 7d. for a broom and handle obtained for the lock-up at Corwen, which the committee allowed, but, at the same time, recommended the court to disallow similar charges in future. After some discussion, it was resolved that in all cases where the police occupy lock-ups, they must for the future provide all appliances for keeping those places clean. Notices of motion were given by Mr J. Jones ancl Mr Robertson with reference to the payment of police officers. APPOINTMENT OF A PCIICS COMMITTEE. Colonel TOTTENHAM moved that a Police Committee be appointed, to consist of one magistrate from each petty sessional division of the county, to be called together at the discretion of the Clerk of the Peace, for the purpose of examining the police accounts previously to the day of quarter sessions, and to report thereon. Mr THUUSTON asked whether the committee would be permanently appointed. Col. TOTTENHAM replied in the affirmative, observing that such was the case in Cheshire and Denbighshire. 0 Mr THRUSTON seconded the motion, and it was car- ried. j Mr EDWARDS proposed that the surveyors' accounts be also inspected by the same committee, and reported upon. He brought the subject before the court two years ago. Those accounts required a great deal more attention than the police accounts. Mr ROBERTSO objected to the proposal, The surveyor's accounts, he said, seldom contained more than eighty items, and could be gone through in half an hour. The CHAIRMAN said he always thought it an objectiona- ble principle for the court to delegate its powers to a com- mittee. Mr EDWARDS said he did not think it could be carried out, or he should have made a similar proposition two years ago. The proposition was not seconded, and the matter dropped. TOWYN LOCK-UP. Mr THRUSTON said that in accordance with the direc- tions of the Quarter Sessions some time back, Capt. Wynn and himself, with Mr Spaull, the architect, went very carefully over the lock-up, last week, and inspected the tr- various items of repairs, &c., rendered necessary, he was sorry to say, through the mess made with the original contract by the county surveyor some time back. (Hear, hear.) 'le amount of the original tender, he believed, was £ 340. They found a great many things still requiring to be done, principally painting, but most of the painting, he understood, would last a year or two without the wood being injured. Mr Thruston then alluded to the various items that had caused extra outlay, and which ought to have been done in the first contract. A more disreputa- ble supervision on the part of a county surveyor, he sup- posed, never occurred, and he attributed it to his (the sur- veyor's) having wilfully shut his eyes. (Hear.) The accounts, as signed by Captain Wynn and himself, amounted to k328, irrespective of Mr Spaull's bill for £32. Captain TAYLOR asked who the magistrates of the dis- trict were ? Mr THRUSTON—The magistrates cannot look after every nail and every touch of paint. Captain TAYLOR—They might have checked the con- tractors. Mr THRUSTON—In what way ? I think that is the sur- vevpr's work, I Mr ROBERTSON said he thought it was unfair that the sur- veyor should be condemned when he was not present to defend himself. Mr EDWARDS expressed himself of a similar opinion, and to bring the matter to an issue, he would thank Mr Thruston and Captain Wynn for having brought the affair to a satisfactory result, and would propose that the county surveyor be censured, and that he be heard before a com- mittee specially appointed to investigate the matter from beginning to end. Mr REVELEY said it was important they should have a county surveyor on whom they could depend. Mr THRUSTON said that as the surveyor made such a mess in one thing, he had no doubt he would make a simi- lar mess in another. The contractors were the responsible persons, and the present contractors guaranteed the good preservation of the works for twelve months. Ultimately it was agreed that a committee should be formed to enquire into the matter, consisting of the follow- ing Messrs C. Edwards, H. Robertson, C. F. Thruston, J. Vaughan, and Colonel Bunbury, and the chairman, as ex-officio. It was arranged that the committee should meet on Friday, the 14th inst., at Towyn. The CHAIRMAN said it was but right he should remind the court that the matter had been enquired into, and the surveyor had given an explanation and was reprimanded, The account for £ 328 was passed. The CHAIRMAN then read the following report of the Governor of the gaol:— Gentlemen,-I have the honour to report that the state of the countv gaol, and the number of prisoners confined therein, since the last Quarter Sessions has been very nearly the same as usual-53 persons were admitted into custody, 52 were dis- charged, and 21 left ill the prison this morning. The highest number in custody at any one time was 32, the lowest 20. The average daily number was 24 males, and 4 females. Their con- duct has been generally good, 'the male prisoners were em- ployed to pick oakum, and make mats. 220 tons of stones have been carried away since the last Quarter Sessions, and about 100 tons more will be cleared off a soon as the weather permits. I shall then be able t,) employ the prisoners in breaking stones, which is the only first-class hard labour provided for them in this prison.—I have, &c., OWES THOMAS, Governor. REPORT OF GAOL SURGEON. The surgeon's report was next read as follows :— Gentlemen,—I am happy to state that although the weather has been very cold during the latter part of the quarter the state of sickness in the gaol is not above the average, but I regret to state that in the early part of November the matron was attacked with smallrox of a somewhat sovere form, but she has made a rapid recovery, and by complete isolation and the use of disinfectants and antisentics the disease was stamped out, and only one of the prisoners (a female) caught the malady; it was of a very mild and modified form. Of the number of cases treated 8 were due to diseases of the nervous system, 7 to diseases of the digestive 7 to enthistic causes, 6 to diseases of the skin, 5 to abscesses, Ac., 1 to smallpox, in a modified form, 1 to the bite of a dog, 1 to disease of the eve, 3 to bronchitis. I have, &c., JOHN E. JONES, M.TX The CHAIRMAN said that there was 110 report from the chaplain, and he requested the Clerk of the Peace to desire the chaplain always to send in a report. APPOINTMENT OF VISITING JUSTICES. The following appointments were then made as visiting justices to the North Wales Counties Lunatic Asylum R. Meredyth Richards, Esq., the Rev. John Wynne, and Colonel Tottenham. Visiting justices to the County Gaol: —Justices resident in Dolgelley district, Samuel Holland, Esq., M.P.. H Robertson, Esq., and C. F. r¡ h" '.a(. The CHAIRMAN observed that the asylum report WAS A most excelleut and favourable one, and contained remarks by two Commissioners in Lunacy. The report was not read. THE GAOL. Plans were produced for the proposed new gaol, and the CHAIRMAN read the following Christ Church Buildings, Birmingham, 31st Dec., 1870. Dear Sir,—Herewith I have the pleasure of enclosing my re- port, and of sending per book post the plans I have prepared for improving the county gaol at Dolgelley. The cost is greater than I anticipated, but not more than ought to be expected, and if anything less than I have suggested be done, I believe the justices will greatly regret the omission. It is possible that the Home* Secretary may ask for one of the female cells to be given up for the use of an officer. If so we can get the reception cell certified, and when not required as a reception cell it may be occupied as a criminal cell. The debtors'cell I should like to have devoted to another purpose, namely, for a reception room and officers' room but could not fillll any other place for the debtors. I should also have liked to have removed the building projecting into the entrance court, but as the room will be very useful as an infirmary, I have not proposed to interfere with it. I trust that the Court will approve of the plans withont any modification, and that we sliail be able to get the approval of the Home Secretary, so as to commence the work by April or May next.—I am, dear sir, yours very truly, WILLIAM MARTIN. Colonel BUNBURY proposed that the plans be adopted and forwarded to the Secretary of State for his approval. Agreed to. A PETITION TO GOVERNMENT. Mr EDWARDS said that, according to returns, the total rating of Merionethshire in 1807 was e6,469, and only of the sum of £ 2,253 had the justices independent control; those which were statutory, and over which the magis- trates had no control, amounted to £ 4,216. Therefore, he would move-" That inasmuch as very many of the charges at present paid by county rates (c.f/.), police, lunatics, militia stores, gaols, vaccination, registration &c.), are rendered necessary, not for the benefit of one par- ticular class, but r>f the community at large, it is both just a.nd politic that those charges should be more largely sup- plemented, if not altogether defrayed from the national exchequer, and that a petition from the magistrates in Quarter Sessions be presented to the House of Commons embodying resolutions to this effect." Mr EY seconded the motion, and it was agreed to. NEW RATES. The rates required for the ensuing quarter were made as follows: lor the county, at l^d. in the pound, and for the police at id. in the pound. The Court then rose, it being past four o'clock. „ TRIALS OF PRISONERS. The Court opened at eleven o'clock on Wednesday morning. The chairman, R. M. Richard*, Esq., was sup- ported on the bench by Colonel Bunbury, the Hon. C. H. Wynn, J. E. Parry, Esq., and Charles Edwards, Esq. 'i'he following persons composed the grand jury, of whom Mr Edward Pearson Williams, draper, Do:?ellev, was chosen foreman :—Messrs John Breese, Castcll, Thomas mreS% „trivcwi", Ellis Edwards, Penvbrvn, Thomas tV fy "hwyn, John Evans, Hendre, Griffith Griffiths, Maesyrhelma Humphrey Howell, Cefnberiaeth, Hugh Jones, Dugoed-mau-r, John Jones, Penantigi-uchaf, John Jones, Pentrewern, Hugh Jones, Ffrkldoilcwm, William wurS' v1™' Enoch Jones, Cefnmaelan, Willram Jones, Garth, Brithdir-isa, Hugh Lewis, Red n Samuel Morris, Peniarth Arms, Mallwvd, Griffith Owen, Derwas, Richard Owen, Tvddynmocli, Rees Puh, Dolgamedd, and John Thomas, Clipiau. The CHAIRMAN, in charging the grand jury, said--It is very gratifying to the magistrates of this county, at this inclement season of the year, to see so large a number of jurymen desirous of serving their country by appearing here in the box. It is always very essential that the grand jury should attend in large numbers, although the business is not very voluminous we have to do to-day. On the last occasion when I addressed you in this court I thought it my duty to refer somewhat fully to the state of the county finances and to other. matters connected with the conduct of the county. Having so recently referred to these I shall confine my observations almost entirely to the criminal business to be brought before you. I will, how- ever, allude to one particular matter, which is the Towyn lock-up. This place has been a very great expense to the county, it having been found necessary to make alterations and additions to render it waterproof. These alterations and additions are now completed, and I trust it will not be long btfore the building' will be permanently occupied by the police. At the same time I regret—and all the magis- trates regret—extremely the unfortunate and unforeseen events which have caused the excessive outlay upon this building. The cause of that expense and the talure of tha.t work are going to be enquired into by a committee of magistrates, who will direct their attention particularly to the causes, and you will hear more about it at the next quarter sessions. Our time yesterday was occupied entirely by the finance business of the county; and when I see so large an assembly of the grand jury attending to the summons sent to them-all of whom must of necessity be ratepayers, and ratepayers of a considerable amolint-I cannot help expressing regret that some of you do not attend on the previous day—on Tuesday, when the finances of the county are gone ino. It cannot be too widely understood that Tuesday's is an open court. I con- sider It most essential that all financial business of the county should be done as far as possible in public, in order that ratepayers themselves may have the opportunity of seeing, the magistrates doing their duty, and that the duty is well done. Although the expenses of this county—as in all other counties—are large, still we do our best to keep them as low as we can. I only throw out that observation because it is so very seldom that a single ratepayer comes to the adjoining room, where the financial business is transacted. I should be glad if ratepayers would come to see whether we conduct the business well or whether we negleCt; n. J-ne magistrates are extremely desirous to keep down matters of expense; and it is probably little known that in this county the sum laid out annually is upwards of £ 6,000 raised by rates. Out of that sum £ 4,000 are of necessity expended under the provisions of certain Acts of 1parliament, and only over the expenditure of E2.000 have the magistrates any jurisdiction whatever. Therefore wherever you hear complaints cf county rates increasing it is because of Acts of Parliament, which throw on counties many items of expenditure, and sometimes, I think, with a little undue severity. Many itans of expenditure might be distributed over the general taxpayers of the country; and with that in view, the magistrates yesterday adopted a petition to Government to call their attention to that state of things, alluding to the large amount of expenses laid upon tae county rates that ought to be thrown upon the country at large, such as matters of police and matters of gaol, concerning' which the whole -of the community is as much interested as a portion. This petition is in course of signature by the different magistrates, and will be sent to the House of Commons. Whether it will have any effect^ I do not know however, it is a move in the right direction, and I f,)r one should be glad to see the rate- payers of the county relieved to a great extent of the immense expenditure thrown upon them. The learned chairman then commented upon four of the seven cases to go before the grand jury, observing that the number of eases was more than is usual in this uncriminal county, but none of them were of a very bad description. LARCENY AT FESTINIOG. Mary Griffith, 48, was indicted for having stolen, at Festiniog, from the person of Morris Jones, a purse con- taining k3 10s. in gold, and two half-crowns, his property. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr David Pugh prosecuted. The prosecutor said he was a shepherd living at Festiniog, and was at a fair at that place on the 14th of November, He was at the Abboy Arms there, and had in his posses- sion a purse containing C3 10s. in gold, and two half- crowns. Prisoner was there, and threw her arm around his neck. A man was also there, and placed his hand on his (prosecutor's) 'breast, whilst the prisoner was standing by, and he afterwards missed his rnonev.-P.C. William Jones, Festiniog said he apprehended the prisoner, and f 1 told her the charge. She said she had given the pnrse and its contents to Thomas Jones, of Bethesda. Wit- ness's wife searched the prisoner. (A certificate of illness of witness's wife was put in, and her depositions read.) The sum of Is. 2d. was found upon her.—Owen Thomas, the governor of the gaol, gave corroborative evidence.— Guilty; two months' imprisonment. LARCENY AT LLANFAWR. Jane Roberts, 20, servant, pleaded guilty to having stolen, on the 25th of Nov., 1870, at Llanfawr, one dress, of the value of 5s., the property of Ellen Edwards, of Glanrafon. Prisoner also pleaded guilty to three pre- vious convictions. The Chairman told the prisoner she must be a hardened offender, and sentenced her to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour, and, in addition, four years' police supervision. HOUSEBREAKING AT CORWEN. Thomas Parry, 26, labourer, pleaded guilty to having broken into a dwelling-house, called Penygeulan, at Cor- wen, on the 4th of November, 1867, and stolen therein £2 9s. 6d., moneys of David Jones. Prisoner was employed by the prosecutor, and took the money from a mantle- piece, during the absence of his master. The Chairman, in passing sentence, said the court could not legally take cognizance of an offence committed by prisoner subse- quently to 1867, and for which he had suffered twenty- three months' imprisonment in an adjoining county. Sen- tenced to two calendar months' imprisonment. FALSE FRETENCES AT TOWYN. Edward Parry, 23, sailor, was indicted for having ob- tained tobacco by means of false pretences, at Towyn, on the 17th of October, 1870. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr G. J. Williams prosecuted prisoner was undefended. -John James, in the employ of Wm. William Jones, draper, Towyn, said that on the 17th of October last, Mrs Kdwards visited his employer's shop, and prisoner was with her. Mrs Edwards made a purchase and p lid for the articles she obtained. Prisoner left the shop a few minutes before Mrs Edwards went out. In a few minutes prisoner returned with Mrs Edwards's parcel, and asked for a quarter of tobacco, saying that Mrs Edwards would send the money for it by her little boy on the following morning.—The case was here stopped, and the Chairman, after a remark from Mr Williams, said that the advocate for the prosecution intimated he could not produce further evidence, and that produced was not sufficient to establish false pretences. In order to establish a case of false pre- tences something must be represented as an existing fact which was not an existing fact.—By the direction of the Court the jury found prisoner not guilty. LARCENY AT LLANABER. Mary Vaughan, 29, no occupation, was indicted for having stolen, at Llanaber, a mackintosh, the property of Owen Williams. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr W. R. Davies (Messrs Jones and Davies, Dolgelley) appeared for the prosecution. Owen Williams said he lost a mackintosh in October last, from The Last" public-house, at Barmouth. It was on the 26th of October. He last saw the coat on that day when he left, over his pony's back. He missed the coat on returning to his home. A search was made. He subsequently saw the coat produced at th* Last Inn. Mary Williams, wife of William Williams, of Bar- mouth, said that the prisoner brought a coat to her, like the one produced, asking witness to buy it. She said she found it on the ground, at the Last Inn. Witness re- fused to buy it. Prisoner said she had no food for the children. Witness gave prisoner a shilling, upon the un- der^tar.ding that the coat should be given up to the o Nner, if found. „ j Catherine Brodie,- of William Brodie, L.armout.1. said she received the coat produce 1 from the last witness, on the day following that on which it waS urssed.. j Prisoner made a long defence, stating that picked the coat up, and took it to William Williams's to cried, but Mrs Williams wanted to buy it for her husband or her son, and gave her Is. as part payment for the coat. Not guilty.-Discharged.. INDECENT ASSAULT. William Vaughan, about 25, was indicted for having, on the 17th of November, 1870, at Talyllvn, unlawfully and indecently assaulted Anne Owen. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr G. J. Williams appeared for the prosecu- tion, and Mr W. H. Thomas for the defence. Anne Owen said she was in service at Maesypandy in November last. On the 17th of November she went to chapel, at Abergynolwyn, in the evening, and on return- ing home, when she had gone about half the distance, she met some people in a cart and the prisoner. Prisoner asked her where she had been. She did not know the prisoner. He asked for a "night's courting." Witness refused to go with the prisoner, and he threw her on to the ground. He kicked and struck her. Cross-examined—Had had two illegitimate children. Had deserted them once. Had been in service at Bar- mouth. (Prosecutrix was subjected to a severe cross- examination.) P.C. Griffith Griffiths said he went to Maesypandy on the 18th of November last. He saw the prisoner at Machynlleth, and attempted to apprehend him, but failed. He examined the place on the road where the prosecutrix said the struggle took place. P.S. Thomas Roberts, Aberdovey, corroborated, and stated that he went to che spot where the struggle took place, and sent the last witness a distance of about 250 yards, and shouted with the view of asertaining whether he could be heard that distance off. Ann Jones, a fellow-servant with the prosecutrix in November last, said that on the night of the 17th Nov., the prosecutrix complained of having been interfered with by a man on the road. She also said she would not prose- cute him if he had not struck her. ( Cross-examined — Prosecutrix's bonnet was tidy enough that night; but when it was before the magis- trates it was not in the same condition. P.C. Wm. Roberts, Pennal, said he apprehended the prisoner at a gipsy's camp, near Machynlleth, cautioned him, and told him the charge again-t him. Prisoner said he would never have done it had ke not been in drink. Prisoner's face was scratched. The jury found the prisoner guilfcv. In delivering judgment, the Bench remarked that the jury had taken a very lenient view of the offence, but that the Bench considered that the offence was of an ag- gravated character, and would therefore sentence the pri- soner to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour. LARCENY. Charlotte Roberts, of Dolgelley, was charged with steal- ing a silver watch and silver guard, the property of Robt. Jones, Plough and Harrow, Llanelltyd, on the 10th of December last. Mr G. J. Williams prosecuted, prisoner being undefended. A difficulty being found in obtaining a sufficient number of jurymen who had been summoned, four other per- sons consented to act, at the invitation of the Bench, and Mr Lewis Evans, of Garthyfog, one of those summ med, having been seen in court in the course of the day, was fined 10s. for not answering to his name. Mr Williams, for the prosecution, called Robert Jones, Llanelltyd, who said-On the 10th of Dec. last I was at Dolgelley, and had occasion to go to prisoner's lusidence. Before going there I went to the Cross Keys. David Owen, of Maesmawr, near Llanelltyd, was there. I in- tended going home that night. I left the Cross Keys to go to prisoner's residence about ten minutes to nine. I took out my watch once before going, in order to see what o'clock it was. I went from the Cross Keys straight to Mrs Eddy's house, which is, I believe, the next door. I am quite certain the watch was in my possession when I went to Mrs Eddy's house. When I went in, prisoner and Mrs Eddy's little daughter were in the house. Pri- soner gave me two glasses of ale. Mrs Eddy not coming in, I fell asleep on the chair. When I awoke, I saw the watch in prisoner's hand. I tried to get it from her, and in trying to do so I fell across the table, upset it, and broke the ware that was on it. I have had a bill for those things. I went out for a policeman. Before that, Mrs Eddy had come in. She was in when I saw the watch in prisoner's hand. Prisoner said to Mrs Eddy— "I will keep this watch." Prisoner was drunk at the time, but I was sufficiently sober myself. I found a policeman, and we took prisoner to the police station. David Owen deposed that prosecutor had the watch a couple of minutes before he left the Cross Keys, to go to Mrs Eddy's for a note. P.C. Azariah Phillips deposed that he went with prose- cutor to the house and arrested the prisoner. She ws afterwards searched, and subsequently the house was, but the watch was not found. Witness continued—Prisoner was first taken before the magistrates on December 13th. As I was taking her to the hall through the Green, pris- oner asked me, What will they do to me?" I said, "I cannot tell you." She then said, Shall I come back this way." I said she should if she would be going back. She then said, "I don't know whether I took the watch or not, as 1 was so drunk that night." Prisoner, having no statement to make in defence, ex- ccpt that she had not seen the watch, and knew nothing about it, was found guilty, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

MR WATKIX WILLIAMS, M.P.,…

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LLANDINAM.

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