Monmouthshire Merlin

MONMOUTH ASSIZES. ■- On Monday last, the bustle of Assize gave animation to our Usually quiet town. For several days previously, the inhabitants had "set their houses in order;" the windows were cleaned, the shops decorated, the thoroughfares prepared, and cleanliness, that virtue which is next to godliness (according to the old adage), imparted to Monmouth a very interesting appearance. The commission was opened on Monday afternoon, and on the following morning the Judges, Sir James Parke and Sir W. E. Taunton, attended divine service at St. Mary's Church, where the Rev. T. Williams delivered a very impressive sermon from Psalm cxi. 10; after which their Lordships proceeded to the Hall, and immediately commenced business, Sir Jas. Parke presiding at the Crown Court, and Sir W. E. Taunton at Nisi Prius. The Grand Jury consisted of the following gentlemen :— Richard Blakernore, Esq., Chairman. Philip Jones, Esq. John Roberts, Esq. William Jones, Esq. R. Amphlett, Esq. J. F. Vaughan, Esq. Richard Willis, Esq. Charles Marriott, Esq. J. L. Scudamore, Esq. James Jenkins, Esq. Jasper Farmer, Esq. Thomas Fothergill, Esq. C. Bateman, Esq. Joseph Price, Esq. John James, Esq. W. George, Esq. Edmund Jones, Esq. F. H. Williams, Esq. R. J. Blewitt, Esq. E. H. Phillips, Esq. H. Wise, Esq. William Phillips, jun., Esq. W. H. Jane, Esq. Arthur Wyatt, Esq. The grand jury having been sworn, his lordship proceeded to deliver his charge. He said that the number of prisoners for trial was unusually great, which was to be accounted for in some measure by the poverty and distress which did undoubtedly prevail to a great extent, and also to the circumstance of the Assizes happening to take place just previously to the Quarter Sessions. He was, however, pleased to see that the long list of crime contained no offences of great enormity—that this county was happily free from the horrible crime of incendiarism, as well as the' practice of nightly poaching in large numbers, which in other counties had been the cause of so much bloodshed and death. His lordship then alluded to the late alterations, made in the criminal law, whereby the punishment of death for the offences of horse,cattle, and sheep stealing, &c. was superseded, and transportation for life substituted. He observed that the ob- ject of the legislature, in making this humane alteration in the law, was to try the experiment, whether a certain and severe punishment for these particular offences, which had of late been greatly on the increase, would not operate as a more efficacious preventive, than the penalty of death, which was not certain in its infliction. With this view, the legislature had made it im- perative upon the dispensers of the law, whenever a conviction for horse, cattle, or sheep stealing, &c. should take place, to sen- tence the culprit to transportation for life, which punishment wa3 now considerably increased in severity, and would be found to be one of unremitted toil and slavery for eight years, and even then no remission of punishment would be acceded, except upon general very good behaviour. His lordship hoped the experiment would succeed, and that when it became generally known that this very severe punishment would invariably be inflicted upon offenders of the description mentioned, it would have the effect of checking ciimes which had been for some time alarmingly in- creasing. It was not, he said, necessary for him on the present occasion to allude to the charge of murder which appeared in the calendar, as he understood that, owing to the absence of a mate- rial witness for the prosecution, the prisoner would have to be remanded till the next assizes. Another case required a few com- ments, that of Thomas Jones for maliciously stabbing and wound- ing Edward Thomas. His lordship then proceeded to explain the Act 9 Geo. IV., the provisions of which, he thought, were but imperfectly understood, and which made it a capital offence for any person to cut or maim another, with intent to murder, disfigure, or do him some grievous bodily harm but it made this distinction, that if it should appear that in case death had en- sued, the offence would not have amounted to wilful murder, then an indictment could not be sustained under this act. His lordship further explained what provocation the law considered sufficient to justify a person, in his own defence, striking or cut- ting another, and concluded by requesting the jury to apply his remarks to the case to which he had alluded. The calendar contained the names of 41 prisoners, who were disposed of as follow :— George Morgan was charged with stealing a quantity of rye- grass and clover, the property of John James, of St. Arvan's. He was acquitted the prosecutor and his witnesses being unable to identify him. He was afterwards tried for stealing a pair of quarter boots, the property of John Downes, a fellow servant. The said boots were discovered upon his feet when he was appre- hended upon suspicion of the former robbery, and Downes, cast- ing his eyes upon them, said-" Ah, George, thee'st got 'em then why didst thee take a pair of boots from a poor fellow like I?" to which the prisoner answered that his own pinched his feet. He was found guilty. In consideration of his having already been in confinement six months, he was sentenced only to two months' imprisonment and hard labour. THE PONTYPOOL BURGLARS.—James Jones, aged 35, and Ed- win Jones, aged 22, were indicted for breaking open the dwelling- house of Thomas Cooke, Esq., at Goytre, in this county, and stealing therefrom five pictures, and other articles. It appearing, however, on the examination of the first witness for the prosecu- tion, that the house in question was vacant at the time of the robbery, it could not be considered in law a dwelling-house the capital part of the indictment was therefore withdrawn, and the prisoners tried only for the larceny. The principal witnesses against them were Catherine Jones, their sister, and an accom- plice named Bale. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against Edwin Jones, and acquitted the other prisoner.—Edwin Jones was again put upon his trial for a burglary at the residence cf William Charles, of Mamhilad, but owing to a defkiency of evi- dence to corroborate the testimony of the accomplice Bale, the judge directed an acquittal. Another indictment against the same prisoner was also abandoned for the same reason. Both prisoners were subsequently again placed at the bar, charged • with breaking into the house of Thomas Lewis, at the parish of Goytre, on the night of the 26th May last, and stealing thereout several cheeses, a bridle, a hatchet, and other articles. Lewis's house is situated about 20 yards from that of Mr. Cooke, men- tioned above, and both robberies occurred the same night. John Bale stated that he was at the house of Samuel Jones, (brother to the prisoners,) at Abersychan, on Saturday evening, the 26th May. At night witness, in company with the two prisoners and Thomas Parry, George Taylor, and Samuel Jones, went to the house of the prosecutor, and having broken open the dairy win- dow, Parry entered, and brought out to the others, who received them, three cheeses and a..basin. Witness did not observe the hatchet and bridle brought out, but heard the Jones's afterwards say they had taken them.—Catherine Jones, who lived with her brother Samuel, proved that Bale and the other persons men- tioned were at her brother's on the evening of the 26th. The prisoner James Jones was not with them. They went out at night, and she was called up to let them in between four and five o'clock. They brought different things with them, among which was a bridle, which her brother Edwin afterwards sold for some beer.-Amy Meredith, landlady of the King's Head, Abersychan, proved purchasing the bridle from the prisoner Edwin Jones, for four quarts of ale.—John Jordan, a constable, proved finding a hatchet at James Jones's house.—Mr. Lewis ¡wd his wife proved that their house had been broken into on the night in question, and the property described in the indictment stolen therefrom they also identified the hatchet and bridle. In de- fence, Edwin Jones went into a long story about his sister be- ing weak in her intellects, that she once attempted to drown herself on account of the fellows," and' that she war not enti- tled to credit. James Jones stated that the accomplice Bale had threatened to do him an injury on account of some money which he (Jones) owed to Bale, and which he had not been able to pay. 'I he hatchet, he said, had been in the possession, for 27 years, of a woman who lived with him. This woman was called, and stated that to be the case, and added that she bought it of her brother. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners-death recorded. John Cross, aged 16, another of the gang, of which the above prisoners formed part, was also found guilty of being concerned in breaking open the dwelling-house of Mr. Walter Williams, of Panteague, and stealing a variety of articles. Death recorded. At our last assizes, three others of the same party, Thos. Parry, Samuel Jones, and Thos. Snell, alias Chapman, were convicted, and have been sent out of the country. Thus has a most formid- able body of desperate characters, who had for a long time car- ried on a system of nightly depredation in the neighbourhood of Pontypool, been broken up and it is to be hoped that the fate of these men will act as a salutary warning to others who may have been guilty of the same unlawful practices. Their apprehen- sion is principally owing to the witness Catherine Jones, who it appears was frequently driven from home by her abandoned bro- thers, and compelled to seek a livelihood by the most disreputable courses. In revenge for the ill treatment she received she gave information of the practices in which her brothers were engaged, and the active exertions of the magistrates, constables, &c., of Pontypool, caused the apprehension of four of the party, previ- ously to the last assizes, and three since. The witness Bale ap- pears to be equally guilty with the others, !«sut as it would have been impossible to convict any one of them without the evidence of an accomplice, he was allowed to turn approver. Some others, who are strongly suspected of forming part of the gang, are still"at liberty. At the conclusion of the trial of the Jones's, Mr. Wat- son addressed the judge, that he would be pleased to order a re- ward for the constables, Roberts, Jordan, and Coombs, for their spirited and active exertions in apprehending the prisoners, to which his lordship acceded. John-If atkins Price, aged 29, was charged with stealing a mare, &c., the property of Daniel Brown, of Cardiff. On the jurymen being sworn, Mr. Owen, for the prisoner, objected to six of them. It appeared in evidence that the prosecutor lets out horses for hire. On the afternoon of the 27th Sept. the prisoner came to him, and hired a horse to go to Merthyr, saying that he must get there that night, and that he had missed the mail. He paid lis for the hire of the horse, and promised to send it back the following day. Instead, however, of going to Merthyr, he went to Abergavenny, vvhere a fair was held on the 25th, and sold the horse, with the saddle and bridle, to & horse-dealer named William Fox, for £5, having in the first placa asked X14 for it. Fox did not pay the money. Patrick Cusack, a constable, took the prisoner into custody. The prisoner said it was his uncle's mare, and that he was authorised to sell it but he after- wards acknowledged that it was Mr. Brown's, and that he sold it because he wanted money to take hirq, to America. This wit- ness was cross-examined, for the purpose of showing that the prisoner was drunk at the time he sold the mare to Fox. Patrick said he appeared as if he was fresh." On being asked to ex- plain, he said a man was fresh when his countenance was en- livened, and when he was able to do his business with spirit." The defence set up was, that the prisoner and several members of his family were constitutionally of weak intellect; and several witnesses were called, who gave him a good character, but added that they should not be surprised to hear that he, having set out to go to one place, should in five minutes change his mind and go to another. The learned judge, in summing up, told the jury that they must be satisfied the prisoner intended to steal the horse when he hired it from prosecutor; otherwise, if they conceived he hired it with the intention of proceeding' to Merthyr, as he stated, and afterwards altered his mind, and sold it, they could not find him guilty, the offence only amounting to a breach of contract. Verdict Guilty—transportation for life. James Stephens, aged 24, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with breaking into the dwelling-house of T. E. Biedermann, Esq., in the parish of Mamhilad, in this county, and stealing a silver snuff box, a gold watch, and other articles. The particulars of this most daring robbery appeared in the Merlin of the 19th of January last.—Transportation for life. John Brobin, aged 39, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a loaf of bread, the property of the Rev. W. Powell, of Ragland he said that he was forced to commit the robbery from severe hunger, and that he took the smallest out of four loaves which were all together. It appeared, however, that he went to the rev. gentleman's house for the purpose of begging, and when the ser-' vant, who was about to fetch him something, turned away, he stole the loaf, which was found on him by a constable, and in his pockets were tenpence and a piece of bread.-Six months im- prisonment and hard labour. Thomas Powell, aged 35, was found guilty of stealing a cow, the property of William Whitney, of Lanfoist. It appeared the prosecutor fastened the cow, with four others, in his cow-house, on the evening of the 13th February that in the course of the night, the prisoner, who had formerly been in Mr. Whitney's employ, entered the shed, and drove the cow away to Monythus- loyne, where he resided, and placed her in a hovel, belonging to a Thomas Davis, with whom he the next day bargained for some fodder and for the use of the hovel, where she was afterwards discovered by the prosecutor, and the prisoner taken into custody. —Transportation for life. Enoch Davies, alias Evans, aged 19, was charged with stealing a bay pony gelding, the property of Mr. Richard Watkins, of Trevethin. It was proved, on the part of the prosecution, that the pony was stolen from Mr. Watkins's field on the evening or night of the 11th October, and was sold, on the 13th, by the pri- soner at Rhos fair, in Cardiganshire, a distance of 60 or 70 miles, to a person named John Jones, for ±8. Is, who, however, sus- pecting it was stolen, did not pay the purchase money, but told the prisoner to bring forward some one who knew him. Prisoner gave his name Evan Davies, of Talybont, Breconshire, and said he would fetch his father. Four days afterwards, an old man, stating himself to be prisoner's father, called at Jones's house to demand the mare. It was not, however, given up to him, and the next day prosecutor's servant claimed it for his master.—For the defence, the mother and a brother of the prisoner appeared, and stated that his father brought the pony home on the evening of Talgarth fair, and said that he had purchased it at the fair but that on his way home he had discovered that it had the glan- ders, and it would be necessary to get rid of it. He told the pri- soner he must get up next morning early and take it to Rhos fair and sell it, that he was to give a wrong name and residence, for the purpose of preventing the pony being returned to him that prisoner objected to telling a falsehood, when his father said to him, that if he refused he would tuin him out of the house. It further appeared that the father had been suspected of, and once tried for, horse stealing, and that he had absconded from his fa- mily since the stir made about the pony. Two witnesses gave the prisoner a good character, and stated that he was faithful" teacher at a Sunday school. The learned judge, in summing up, said, there could be no doubt that the pony was stolen from the prosecutor, but it did not appear at all improbable that the father of the prisoner was the actual thief, and had made use of his son as an instrument to dispose of the stolen property. Verdict Not Guilty. John Reece, aged 18, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with breaking into the dwelling-house of Mr. Thomas Reece, of Newchurch, in this county, and stealing a gun.-Death re- corded. William Altiwell, aged 47, was found guilty of stealing two iron cart arms and a wooden case for ditto, and sentenced to three months' imprisonment and hard labour. This disciple of Mercury appeared to be particularly unlucky in the practice of his art, for he bitterly complained, on being detected, that "whenever he did take and steal any little thing, he was sure to be found out," and on this occasion it was very provoking, for the eart-arms were of no use to him after he had taken the trouble to get them." Rachael Davies, aged 44, was charged with receiving certain goods,fthe property of Edward Thomas, grocer, of Newport. The principal evidence for the prosecution was Rosannah M'Giff, a little girl, aged 14 years, servant to a person lodging in Mr. Thomas's house, who stated that the prisoner persuaded her to steal some of Mr. Thomas's candles, soap, tea, and tobacco, promising to give her for it some oranges and halfpence. Guilty -seven years' transportation. CUTTING AND WOUNDING.—Thomas Jones, aged 22, was capi- tally indicted for cutting, stabbing, and wounding Edward Thomas, of the parish of Aberustruth, on the 8th of July last, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm. The state- ment of the prosecutor was, that on Sunday evening, the 8th of July, he was drinking in a public-house, where he got abused by the prisoner and two or three other persons that he left there and went home, and had taken off his coat to go to bed, but hear- ing a noise of persons approaching, he thought it was the pri- soner, and wirhmg to reason with him," and see whether lie would do any thing in a fair way," he went out to meet him. On corning up to the prisoner, and before he (Thomas) had time to speak, prisoner struck him on the side, and he felt himself cut; they then closed and both fell. He got up almost immediately,' and was helped home, covered with blood. An assistant of 1\1r. Rowlands, surgeon, attended him the same night, and on the fol- lowing day Mr. Rowlands himself dressed his wounds. William Edwards, in whose house he (prosecutor) lived, was in bed when he went home the first-time, but got up, and followed him when he went out to meet the prisoner but they did not go together, nor had they spoken together before they came out. The scuffle took place about 120 yards from the house. He did not go out with the intention of attacking the prisoner.—William Edwards examined stated that he went to bed about seven o'clock in the evening of Sunday, the 8th July was called up between ten and eleven by prosecutor's wife, who asked him to follow her husband, which he did, without dressing himself more than putting on his drawers and shoes he overtook the prosecutor before he came up with Thomas Jones saw the latter lift up his hand to strike, and the two afterwards closed and fell down, where they struggled and fought for a bit, and then prosecutor rose and was led home-, bloody from head to foot. On his cross-examination, he said, that after prosecutor rose, the prisoner challenged him (witness), whereupon he struck the prisoner, and he fell he did not repeat or attempt to repeat the blow. In the course of his cross-examina- tion it came out that this wituess was actively engaged in the Merthyr riots, and was supposed to be the person who snapped one of the soldier's muskets at J. B. Bruce, Esq., the magistrate. He denied that he did so, but admitted that he had a gun for a few minutes on the first day of the riot.-Margaret Edwards (wife of the last witness) proved that the prosecutor was brought home bloody, and in the blood upon his head she found a piece of the blade of a pen-knife.—Job Davies, a little boy, nine years old, proved finding a broken-bladed pen-knife in a garden near the spot where the scuffle took place. The knife was produced, and two pieces of the blade found in the blood of the prosecutor's head, exactly corresponded with it.—Mr. Rowlands, surgeon, stated that he attended the prosecutor, and found a very danger- ous wound on the left side, between two ribs it was an inch and a half long, and he probed it an inch and quarter deep it had wounded the lungs. There was also a slight wound on the back, and five stabs and cuts on the head. In the blood upon the head, he found a small portion of the blade of a pen-knife, and believed all the wounds to have been inflicted with an instrument of that description, which first made the large wound in the side, and afterwards broke upon the skull. On cross-examination, Mr. Rowlands stated that he interfered to bring about an amicable adjustment, but the magistrates would not allow the matter to be compromised. For the defence, it was proved by two witnesses, Edward Williams and Edward Reece, that the pro- secutor, after leaving the public-house, passed the prisoner, and said to him, Thomas Jones, mind yourself; I'll be with you in a very short time." Edward Williams stated that after this threat prisoner was alarmed, and asked him to go into the Pity (a public house) till they could go home safe. They staid there about half an hour, when they left, and on reaching within 50 yards of their lodgings, which was near the house of the prosecutor, they saw him and Edwards running to- wards them. Edward Thomas, the prosecutor; first came forward aad struck prisoner" a very nasty blow," which nearly knocked him down they then grappled and fell. After fighting a little while on the ground, prosecutor arose, and as the prisoner was rising, Win. Edwards knocked him down, and was about to re- peat the blow, when Mary Luke caught him round the waist and prevented him. Mary Luke and another witness corroborated Williams's testimony, and four witnesses gave the prisoner an excellent character. J. B. Bruce, Esq. was sworn, and stated that from what he had known of the witness Edwards, he would not believe him upon his oath. The judge summed up, and stated that it was uncontradicted that the prosecutor was severely and dangerously wounded upon this occasion, and there was no doubt the wounds were inflicted by the prisoner; and if the jury were of opinion that they were done wilfully, without sufficient provocation, and with intent to do some grievous bodily harm, they must return a verdict of guilty but if they should consider that in case death had ensued, the crime would not have amounted to murder, but only manslaughter—if they thought the prosecutor was the first aggressor, and made it necessary for the prisoner io defend himself-if they believed the prosecutor struck the first blow (and a severe one), they must acquit the prisoner, as the offence, under such circumstances would, in case of death, not have amounted to murder but manslaughter. With respect to the striking of the first blow they had contradictory evidence, and the jury would have to consider which they would in preference believe, Edwards or Williams. They would be guided to their conclusion by the consideration of the circumstances—whether the way in which the prosecutor came up to the prisoner, with his coat off, appeared as if he had a diposition to "reason" with, or if it had not rather the appearance of an intention to attack, the prisoner, who, as far as the evidence proved, had cer- tainly no disposition to make an attack upon the prosecutor, but, on the contrary, wished to avoid him. His lordship then read over the evidence at length, commenting upon it as he proceeded, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. William Wright, aged 19, pleaded guilty to an indictment, charging him with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of John Phillips, of Cwmcarvan, and stealing various articles of wearing apparel.—Death recorded. On the Judge passing sen- tence and;informing him that his life would be spared, but that he would be transported for life, the incorrigible young rascal answered, "Thank you, my lord, for the next; I am sure of this." Thomas Jeithirts, oved 16, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing three half-crowns and a sixpence, the property of Rich. Teague, of Giosmont, and was sentenced to seven years transportation. The learned judge subsequently commuted the sentence to twelve months imprisonment. James Watkins, the younger, aged, 19, was charged with re- ceiving property stolen from John Priee, glazier, of Chepstow. The evidence for the prosecution merely proved that a piece of lead, two pieces of old glass, two paint brushes, and two solder- ing-irons, were found in a shed at prisoner's father's house, which shed was used by the prisoner as a work-shop. The articles were alleged to have been stolen by a young man who had absconded, named James Sherkell Jones, formerly in the employ of Mr. Price. For the defence it was proved that Jones was in the habit of visiting the prisoner's father's house, to court the prison- er's sister, and that he, after he left his master's employ at night, amused himself constructing a miniature gassometer and other things in the prisoner's work-shop, for which purpose he was fre- quently in the habit of borrowing his master's tools, and taking them back when he had done with them and it was argued that the articles laid in the indictment might have been taken to this work-shop without any felonious intent, and left there without even the prisoner's knowledge. It was also proved that the pri- soner was, several days previously, made aware of the intention of the prosecutor to search his house. Four witnesses gave the prisoner an excellent character. One of them, a respectable looking man, was asked if he had not been once put upon his trial at Usk sessions for felony he said he had, but that he was acquitted. It came out, however, that the charge of felony was an action arising out of a disputed property in a house, which witness claimed to be his, and of which he took possession, and was technicaly indicted for stealing the doors. The judge se- verely commented on the conduct of the prosecutor in instructing his counsel to ask the question, and said that such an indictment could not in the slightest degree impugn the witness's credit or respectability. The jury, after being charged, almost immedi- ately returned a verdict of Not Guilty. John Vaughan was charged with stealing a cart, the property of Thomas Woollett, Esq., surgeon, of Monmouth. It appeared that the cart was placed in a yard at Over Mormow, some days before Christmas last, and missed from there on the 7th of Jan. It was afterwards discovered in possession of the prisoner, who was making use of it in his business as a hallier. Vaughan, in his defence, stated that he wanted to borrow a cart, and be- lieving this one to belong to Mr. Saycell, he took it do a job with, intending to return it, and thinking Mr. Saycell would not be angry with him. He called, as a witness, a servant to Mr. Baker, Over Monnow, who stated that prisoner came to Mr. Baker's house to borrow a- cart, and witness recommended him to use the one in Mr. Hatton's yard. Not Guilty. William Evans, aged 24, was charged with stealing a sheep, the property of Mr. John Morgan, of Deepholm, near Monmouth. The principal evidence against the prisoner was that of an ac- complice named John Parker, a boy about 16 years old, who stated that about seven O'clock on the evening before Christmas day, he met the prisoner near the church-yard, who asked him to come and have share of a. pint of beer, and they went to a beer shop called the Globe, kept by Thomas Powell. Prisoner asked witness to go with him for a sheep. Witness agreed and pri- soner sent him home with his (prisoner's) hat, and directed him to bring back his cap, a bag, and a tinder-box. Prisoner after- wards borrowed a pair of quarter-boots, a candle, steel, and knife, from the landlord of the public-house. About half-past eight they left the house, and went to a field near Mr. Shirreff's house at Poolholm, aadAom thence over a hedge into Mr. Morgan's field, where they drove some sheep into a corner. Witness caught. one, and Evans came and killed it by nearly cutting off its head. He then put the head and neck into the bag, threw the carcase over his shoulder, and carried it to a hovel, where witness struck a light, and held the candle while prisoner skinned the sheep and cut it into quarters. Witness put the kidneys and liver into his pocket, and they carried the meat away, and brought it to the back of Powell's house, leaving the skin and offal, as well as the tinder-box and knife, in the hovel. They put the meat down at Powell's back door, and went round and entered at the front door. Witness left the prisoner at the Globe. On the following night he saw prisoner again, and told him he was afraid for what he had done, and should leave the town prisoner told him not to do such a foolish thing. He did leave the town for some days, but returned again, and confessed. This witness was fully cor- roborated in many essential particulars, and it was further proved that the meat was afterwards discovered in a bag under a rick in a field near Monmouth. The skin, &c. was found in the hovel where the sheep was cut up. The prisoner in his defence, ad- mitted that lie stole the sheep, and that he persuaded Parker to go along with him; hlitadded that he was induced to commit the robbery by Powell, who showed him where the sheep were kept; that Powell's wife afterwards ordered him to take the meat away, and ha took it and hid it in the rick. Verdict guilty- transportation for life. Edward Webb was found guilty of stealing a watch, the pro- perty of Mr. Wm. Shill, of Abersychan, and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, and hard labour. Margaret Jones, aged 20, was found guilty of stealing four sovereigns from the person of John Williams/at Abergavenny, on the 5th December last.—Seven years' transportation. Cornelius Norcutt, aged 21, and William Jackson, aged 22, were convicted, principally upon the evidence of an accomplice, Robert Ingram, of stealing three sheep, the property of Mr. John Probert, of Abergavenny.—Transportation for life. William Morgan, aged 28, was charged with stealing a dark brown half-bred mare, the property of Thomas Prothero, the younger, of the parish of Ttton, in this county. Mr. Owen, for the prisoner, objected to twenty of the jury. It appeared that the mare was taken from a field at Itton, on Tuesday night, the 7th of August last, and was seen in the prisoner's possession the fol- lowing morning, when he put her on board the packet at New- port to proceed to Bristol. The defence was that the prisoner purchased the mare at five o'clock in the morning from a person whom he met in the road, and gaveEI5 for her; he also received a. very excellent character. The learned judge summed up, and observed that the jury would have to consider whether the prison- er's statement as to how he became possessed of the mare was deserving of credit, but in confirmation of such statement he had not brought forward a single witness. If any persons had ap- peared to prove that prisoner had left his home, taking with him money to purchase a horse, then it would have been more plausi- ble at present it was entirely unsupported by evidence. The jury were consulting on the verdict, when Mr. John Owen, pri- soner's attorney, requested to be sworn, and stated that the pri- soner's mother had told him that she gave her son money a few days before the robbery was said to have been effected. The mother was then sworn, and said that she gave prisoner £13 about three weeks before the robbery,-and believed he had some money of his own and that the prisoner was going to set up in a little busi- ness at Bath, in which he would want a horse. The jury again consulted, and returned a verdict of Guilty—Transportation for life. Catherine Driscoll, aged 42, and Mary Godnin, aged 28, were found guilty of stealing coal, the property of Mr. Monkhouse, of Newport, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment in the house of correction at Usk.—-Jane Williams, aged 56, for a like offence, was sentenced only to four days' imprisonment, in con- sideration of good character, and having been already imprisoned six weeks.-Evan Yorath, Ðged 27, found guilty of stealing coal, also received a good character, and was sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment, and hard labour.— Wm. Price, aged 52, pleaded guilty to a similar charge, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, and hard tabour.- Tlicmas Jones, aged 15, also for stealing coal, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment. William Price, aged 19, a workman atHemming's iion-works, was found guilty of entering a stable, at Lanfoist, and stealing thereout a leather housing, the property of Thomas Williams. -Eight months' imprisonment, aud hard labour. Rees Duffield, aged 60, charged with stealing a blanket, the property of Charles Tyler, Esq., of Monmouth, was acquitted as was also William Harris, aged 10, charged with stealing a pair of quarter boots, the property of John Evans, of Wyesharn. John Bale, Robert Ingram, and John Parker, were admitted evidence.— Winifred Powell, aged 19, charged with stealing .fr three sovereigns from the person of David Puntan, at Aberga- venny, was discharged, no,prosetiltor appearing.—John Edmunds, aged 39, charged with the wilful murder of William Rosser, at Clytha, was remanded till next assizes, owing to the illness and absence of a material witness, Mrs. Rosser. Ann Matthews, aged 17, charged with stealing a silk handker- chief, &c.; John Plaisted, alias 1 rowbndge, charged with steal- ing a ferret and five fowls James Harris, charged with stealing a saddle; Elizabeth Ward, charged with stealing £9. 5s-No Bills. THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMAETF. Death recorded 6 Transportation for life 6 for seven years 2 Imprisonment for various terms. 12 Admitted evidence 3 No bills found 4 No prosecutor. 1 Acquitted 7 John Watkins was indicted for assaulting William Fuller, a constable of the borough and parish of Monmouth, in the execu- tion of his duty. A second count charged the defendant with a tion of his duty. A second count charged the defendant with a common assault. Fuller proved that he was a constable for the borough but not for the parish, which was more extensive than the borough. The judge said, then the first count was not sup- ported. It further appeared that the prosecutor was, at half-past ten in the evening, going round the town, and hearing a noise in the defendant's house, which was a beer-house, he knocked at the door, which was opened by the defendant, and he immedi- ately entered, insisting that he had a right to inspect the house, to see whether there were any persons tippling. Mr. Justice Parke said the act gave no authority to a constable to enter into a beer-house therefore the prosecutor had no right to enter. It was a very trivial case, and the only question was whether the first assault was committed by the defendant or not. Mr. Greaves then addressed the jury, and, having called a witness who con- tradicted the prosecutor, his lordship intimated that an acquittal had better be taken.—Not Guilty.