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THE TITHE AGITATION IN SOUTH…

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THE TITHE AGITATION IN SOUTH WALES. ACTION FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT. At Narberth connty-court, on Tuesday—before his Honour Judge Beresfovd and a jury-an actioll was heard in which it was sought to recover £;)U damages in respect of an assault, of injury to one of the plaintiffs' clothes (Mr Benjamin Evans. clerk, in the employ of Mr Lewis, solicitor, Narberth,), and to a trap and harness in his possession as bailee, on the.High road, near Bryullechog, ia the parish of Llangolnian, on the 25th September last. The defendants were two farmers, named David Davies, Bryullechog, and Benjamin Davies, Llwyn, and the proceedings arose from the anti-tithe agitation. Mr Glascodine (instructed by Mr Lewis, Nar- berth), appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr Abel Thomas, M.P. (instructed by Mr Ivor Evans, Cardi- gan), was for the defendants. The court was densely crowded. Mr Glascodine, having opened the case, called the plaintiff, Mr Benjamin Evans. Benjamin Evans said he was a clerk in the employ of Mr D. T. Lewis, solicitor, Narberth On Friday, the 26th of September last, witness proceeded to Maenclochog onbus.aess orh.scm- plover On the day previous the defendant David VKvip* palled at Mr Lewis's office and asked him to llllow witness to attend at Maenclociiog tne loi- low ncr day for the purpose of collecting certain Hhe fents The defendant also said that if wit- brought an Englishman with him, he (defen- dant) would make it hot for him, but that if wit- ness came himself he would be well-treated. The following dny (September 26th) witness, in company with Mr Heiley, auctioneer, and a friend, attended at Maenclochog. They reached there about a quarter-past ten in the morning, and during the day received between money and 1. O. U.'s about £ 100. Witness saw both the defendants during the day, and spoke to them. Witness left Maen- clochog about five o'clock in the afternoon. On leaving Maenclochog witness and his friends took the upper road leading to Drynllecbog. The de- fendants were standing close by on horsebaeir, and when witness started they also drove off, at the same time giving a shout. A number of persons who were there also followed. When witness reached the hill near the crossroads he stopped to speak to a man named Llewellyn, and while doing so the defendant, David Davies, went off at a full wallop iu the direction of Brynllechog. About 120 yards from Brynllechog witness and the other occupants of the trap came face to face with a large crowd. There was a very thick fog at the time, which prevented witness seeing the crowd until they were close to them. Some of the people were on horseback and some on foot When witness and companions drove up. the ciowd separated to allow them to Pass> them with mud, rotten eggs, and filth, were completely covered with filth. Witness cleared the mud from his eyes, and then drove on, and came upon a fire burning in the ^nt of them. Witness gave the reins up to Mr Heiley and got down. Mr Heiley then drove on and witness saw him hemmed in by a large crowd, and unable to proceed because of the presence in the centre of the road of a cart loaded with thorns. Heiley drove the trap past the fire, and witness walked on the road. The fire was righ t opposite the entrance to the farmyard belonging to the defendant, Benjamin Davies. The fire was made of some inflammable material, and the flames rose up to a height of 6 or 8 feet. The defendant, David Dav.es, and his wife were standin,, near the fire when SSS; "T SJ? ta tb. imddio of .he .ft who were pelting witnfss. '1 here was a crowd ot several hundred persons at this place. Just before this witness saw a woman coming across tne tarm- yard, whom he judged by her appearance to be a farm servant. She held a pan containing quick- lime, which she threw at witness in the presence of the defendant and his wife. Witness appealed to the defendant, David Davies, to stop the ciowd I 1- .» in ronlv. saul. 1 treating mem. a iu- u want you to promise not to^ come to this parish -non the tithe business." Witness told the defendant, that he was only a servant and could not promise anything of the sort. He would die first. The people had sticks, billhooks, and other instruments in their hands. The cart ^th the thorns then moved on and witness followed. 1 hey had been kept at this place fully a quarter of an hour during which time they were being pelted with mud and heavy missiles. Witness advised Heiley to drivo past the cart containing thorns, and Heiley attempted to do so, but the wheel of the trap going into a ditch the auctioneer was pitched out, and the horse then galloped off. Witness tried to catch the animal, but failed. The defendants accompanied the crowd until they turned back. Witness and hi" companions were pelted for fully a mile, more particularly between Llangolman Common and PautlioweJl Mill. Near the Cross Roads witness wot upon a bank and asked the crowd not to molest them any more. The defendant Da vid Davies came up on horseback at the time, Witness asked him to stop the crowd from following them further. The defendant passed on towards Mr Ileiley, and shouted to the crowd. Now, boys, they have had enough; let them go." Heiley told witness the crowd had been asking him for beer. He held up a 4s niece, and told | he crowd that if they would go back he would give them that money. 1 hei money was taken from the auctioneer and handed to the defendant, David Davies. The crowd came up with them about twenty minutes past five, and left them about a quarter past seven, daring which ime they were being pelted and otherwise assaulted. When tbe defeudant David Davies told the crowd to go back they immediately went back. In the presence of the two defendants someone said he would send two little boys with them to show where the trap was The t-ap was delivered to them in a bioken condition; the traces, reins, &c., were also cut, and they had to use rope to drive home. Witness was in a very exhausted Condition and covered with iniid. A coat he was wearing was completely spoiled. He valued the coat at £ 2. Cross-examined by Mr Thomas: The trap cannot be repaired for less than t7. Mr Heiley came down from Abergavenny for the purpose of taking up the distraints; but it was not decided beforehand that he should visit Maenclochog on Friday, the 26th September. I did not hear the defendant, Benjamin Davies, promise Mr Lewis, the solicitor, that he would do his best to make the people pay when Mr Evans came up there. I did not hear the defendant. Benjamin Davies, ask the crowd to 16 Mx G° L. Heiley, auctioneer, corroborated the evidence given by the plaintiff, adding that he (witness) was thrown to the ground a dozen lines, and each time the crowd tried to strip lis c OL ie& off. They also took distress warrants from him, which, however, he subsequently recovered. Evidence having been called to prove damage to the trap, Mr Thomas opened the case for the defence, and told the jury that this action had nothing to do with the tithe question at present occupying so much attention in the country. His friend (Mr Glacodille).in his opening statement had tried to steal a verdict, by appealing to the hearts of the jury instead of to their heads, but he (Mr Thomas) would ask them to give a verdict from their ;aiinds according te the evidence which he would bring before them. If they did this be felt sure they would say by their verdict that the defendants, instead of being guilty of an assault, had taken the part of honourable men in trying to protect the plaintiff from the violence of the crowd. The defendant, Benjamin Davies, was then examined. He gave an emphatic denial to the allegations made by the plaintiff that ho was iirede.nt durinl, the whole of the proceedings ant r'" --0 did nothing to prevent the crowd molesting plaintiff. As a. matter of fact be several times appealed to the crowd to be quiet, and even invited the plaintiff to his house, where he could fit ay until the crowd had gone home. Witness further said he would drive plaintiff home. David Davies, the second defendant corroborated. The case wna adjourned uufil the November ccurt.

-----------------REPORTED…

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IADMIRAL MAYNE AT PEMBROKE…

LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE.

MILFOKD HAVEN.

HAVERFORDWEST.

PEMBROKE.

TENBY.

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