The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE. USK. PETTY SESSIONS. Town Hall, September 7th.—Before G. R. G. Relpli, F. M'Donnell, and S. Churchill, Esqrs. and Rev. W. Evans. ILLEGAL WEIGHTS AND MEASTIHES.—-William Graham, Inspector of Weights and Measures for the county of Monmouth, appeared to prefer charges against 21 tradesmen of Usk, and one of the hamlet of Gwehelog, for using unjust weights and measures and for non-compliance with the Acts of 5 & 6 Wm. IV. cap. 63, s. 21, which is thus enacted :— And that all Weights and Measures whatsoever, except as hereinafter excepted, which shall be used for buying or selling, or for the collecting of any Tolls or Duties, or lor the making of any Charges on the Conveyance of any Goods or Merchandize, shall be examined and. compared with one or more of the Copies of the Imperial-Standard Weights and Measures provided under this Act for the purpose of Comparison by such Inspectors, who shall,stamp, in such Manner as best to prevent Fraud, such Weights and Mea- sures, when so Examined and Compared, if found to corres- pond with the said Copies and the fees for such Examin- ation, Comparison, and Stamping shall be according to the Scale contained in the Schedule to this Act annexed; and every person who shall use any Weight or Measure other than those authorized by this Act, or some aliquot Part thereof as herein-before described, or which has not been so stamped as aforesaid, except as herein-after excepted, or which shall be found light or otherwise unjust, shall, on Conviction, forfeit a Sum not exceeding Five Pounds and any Contract, Bargain, or Sale made by any such Weights or Measures shall be wholly null and void, and every such light or unjust Weight and Measure so used shall, on being discovered by any Inspector so appointed as aforesaid, be seized, and, on Conviction of the Person using or possessing the same, shall be forfeited: Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall extend to require any single Weight perial Standard, weignts deposited m tlile Excilequer: and that nothing herein contained shall extend to require any Wooden or Wicker Measure used in the Sale of Lime, or other Articles of the like Nature, or any Glass or Earthen- ware Jug or Drinking Cup, though represented as contain- ing the Amount of any Imperial Measure, or of any Multi- ple thereof, to be stamped; but any Person buying by any Vessel represented, as containing the Amount of any Impe- rial Measure, or of any Multiple thereof, is hereby autho- rized to require the contents of such Vessel to be ascertained by a Comparison with a stamped Measure to be found and provided by the person who shall use such Wooden or Wicker Measure, Glass, Jug or Drinking Cup as aforesaid and in case the person who shall use such last-mentioned Measure or Vessel shall refuse to make such Comparison, or if, upon such Comparison being made, such Wooden or Wicker Measure, Glass Jug or Drinking Cup, shall be found to be deficient in Quantity, the person who shall use the same shall, on Conviction, be subject to the Forfeitures and Penalties herein-before imposed on any Person using light or unjust Weights or Measures." 1. Richard Satchell, grocer, was charged with having in his possession and using two 21b, three lib, three iTh, two itIJ, three 2oz, two loz, and a 2 4. ioz weights, all light and unjust. Five 56ft, and '9 one 28Tb, 141b, and 71b weights, heavy, and had ne- ver been stamped with the county die. Beam and scales and flour scales wrong. Mr. Satchell admitted there had been neglect on his part in not having had his weights adjusted by the Inspector, but wished the magistrates to see the weights, as it had been reported, by parties connected with the inspection, that some of them were several pounds over weight, and that report had been circulated about the country to hi s injury, Mr. Graham in reply said all the small weights were light, but the five 561b. weights were from a !oz. to lioz. too heavy. 2 4 Mr. Satchell: That averages |oz. to each half cwt. Mr. Graham The 71b. Weight had some lead about it. and was then too heavy; when the lead was taken away it was too light. The last time Mr. Satchell had his weights tested, was in 1851, and the only weights then sent to be adjusted were one 21b. and a set of small weights. I go round once a year to test weights, and give notice of my coming round by posting up handbills, and sending the crier round the towns. Since 1851, Mr. Satchell has not brought any weights to be tested. 2. John Edwards, druggist, was charged with hav- ing a 56—28—14—7—4 and 2tbs. two 1-115, one -ilb. ilb., 2oz. and |oz. weights all light and unjust. 1 4, One -!oz. and two Joz. weights right but not stamped, and five oil measures, not stamped with the county die. Mr. Graham on oath proved the above, and said the gallon measure is nearly a pint too small, and the four smaller ones are rather short, and that Mr. Edwards had not sent his weights to be tested since 1847. Mr. Edwards admitted the charge, with the exception of .the four oil measures, which he believed were stamped. He considered one reason that prevented people from tak- ing their weights to be stamped, was the high charge made for stamping. Both Mr. Edwards and Mr. Satchell com- plained of the insolence of Thomas Jolliffe, the assistant to Mr. Graham, and thought him a very unfit person, and was surprised at Mr. Graham's employing him. Mr. Edwards afterwards, on scraping off a thick coating of dried oil on the four smaller measures, proved they had been stamped. 3. William Bull, grocer, charged with having five 56,-—one 28 and 14,—four 7,—one 4—four lib. two-ilb-three -ilb-three 2oz—three 1 oz.—and three åoz weights light and unjust; and two pairs of scales wrong. Mr Bull said he believed all his weights to be just, but if there was any deficiency, it was very slight, and caused by fair wear. Mr. Graham said, Mr. Bull had not, complied with the Act for the last 8 years.. With regard to the scales, they were not properly adjusted, and pointed out by the stan- dard the state the index should be in, but in Mr. Bull's scales the chains of the one side had stretched, and thereby thrown the index out of perpendicular. Mr. Bull, in reply, said scales were very difficult to keep in such a true state, and every person at all acquainted with scales must know, that the beams, from constant use with heavy weights, were liable to be out of order, but as long as the balance was true, no disadvantage resulted to the pur- chaser. He likewise thought a public house was an unfit place for Mr. Graham to fix upon for comparing the weights. In other towns the inspector attended at the different shops with the standards, and the same ought to be done here. 4. Ann Francis, grocer, for having a Ilb-Ill-b lib and 2oz. weights, light and unjust-admitted. 40.5.. Edward Parker, baker, for having a 1 41L.—ffk and weights light, and a !oz. not stamped. Mr. zLI 4 Parker had not sent his weights to be adjusted since 1850. Mr. Parker's daughter admitted some of the weights were wrong, and the !oz had been recently purchased. 6 William Crump, grocer, for having a 141b—71b -41b. and twolto weights light. Mr. Crump had 4' taken some of his weights to be tested in !b54 and 185o. Mr. Crump said he had no idea that any of his weights were deficient, and would not have used them had he known it he had every year taken those he had any thought of being incorrect to be stamped. 7. Mary Arthur, ironmonger, having a 2-1-—and 9 0 |lli"—'loz. and Joz. light. 2oz. heavy, and not 0 stamped. Mrs. Arthur's weights had not been ad- justed for 8 years, 8. Richard Roberts, ironmonger, for having a 14 and 731i, jfb and loz. weights, light, and four oil measures not stamped. Mr. Graham could not state when Mr. Roberts' weights were last stamped, not during the last 8 years. 9. William Roberts, hay-dealer, for selling coal by measure instead of by weight. Mr. Graham said, on calling at the house, Mrs. Roberts told him, she sold coal, but had no scales and weights, but mea- sured by the lcwt. and åcwt. baskets. The charge was laid under the 9th section of the act, which enacts That from and after the First Day of January, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six all Coals, Slack, Culm and Cannei of every Description shall be sold by Weight and not by Measure and every Person who shall from and after the First Day of January, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six sell any Coals, Slack, Culm or Cannei of every Description by Measure and not by Weight, shall, on Conviction, be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Forty Shil- lings for every such sale." David Davies, Matthew Howell, and John Mor- gan were likewise charged with the same offence. As neither of the cases were proved. They were dis- missed, and ordered to get scales and weights. 13 & 14. Walter Thomas, shopkeeper and publi- can, was charged with having a lib—|lb—|lb—loz and|oz. light and unjust; and an earthen quart and pint deficient in measure, and having no stamped measures as required by law. 15. Caroline Jennings. shopkeeper, for having a ¡Ô6ib-two l iib—:|lb, and loz. weights, light; a 28 and 7lb. weight, right weight but not stamped, and a pair of flour scales incorrect. Miss Jennings said the 56, 28 and 14Eb weights belonged to Mr. Edwards, her landlord, but were left in her posses- sion. The other 141b and 7Th had been adjusted last year. 16. Thomas Wigginton, druggist, with having a lib—|lb—]4b—two 20z-10z-toz., light, and -loz heavy and not stamped. 17. Evan Jones, ironmonger, with having a 28— 14—7—and 21bs. weights, light: and a loz-two j,oz. and aioz. weights not stamped. Mr. Jones' nephew said the deficiency was but small, and said Mr. Graham remarked, that he wished all the weights in town were as correct. Mr. Graham admitted it with regard to the small weights, but the 281b was loz. deficient, and Mr. Jones had not bad his- weights tested for 7 years. 18. Zachariah Walters, shopkeeper, for having a 141b—|lb—|lb—and loz. weights light. Mr. Graham said Mr. Walters had some weights tested in 1852. Mr. Walters said the weights taken, had been re- cently brought there by his son, who now resided with them. 19. Philip Morgan, publican, for having a quart and 2 pint earthen measures, deficient, and having no stamped measures. 20. John Griffiths, publican, for having no stamped measures in compliance with the act. 21. Elizabeth Edwards, baker, for having a 14— 7-2-—lib. and lIb, light, and Jib heavy and not stamped. Has not had her weights tested during the last 8 years. 22. Thomas Harris, shopkeeper, Gwehelog, for having two 14—one7—4—two lib.—|lb—loz—and |oz. light; and |lb-^flb—2oz—! oz—and Joz. not z 2 4 il stamped. Has never had his weights adjusted. After going through the whole of the cases, the magistrates retired to consult together, and in about ten minutes returned to the court, when Mr. Relph addressed the parties to the following effect.;— n It was very painful to the bench, to have had so many of their neighbours brought before them, charg- ed with the disreputable offence of having and using zn 0 light and unjust weights, and one or two of having in addition deficient measures. Although in one or two cases there were grounds for very strong suspi- cion, they could not, he said, coin; to '.he belief that there had been wiifui deliberate ty, but it was very evident there had been a total disregard, if not, defiance of the law, whereby they had damaged their own characters, as fair and honorable traders, and had been cruelly robbing the poor, and defraud- ing all who had been dealing with them; the injury done varied, but the dishonesty was the same. He for his part could not understand how tradesmen cou:d go on from year to year in apparent indifference, whether they were dealing honestly or fraudulently by their customers, as ■ it appeared they had been doing, for it is not enough for tradesmen desirous of maintaining their fair fame, to rest satisfied the consciousness that they do not wish to do wrong, they y 0 must assure themselves they are positively doing right, which in the matter of weights and measures the law affords them an easy means of doing, and if they will not avail themselves of those means they must bear the consequences of their neglect, which were not merely pecuniary penalties, but the severer penalty of loss of character which necessarily accom- panied an exposure like the present. In accordance with the request of Mr. Satchell and Mr. John Edwards, they had seen some of the weights and measures tested in the other room. On cleaning some of the coating from the smaller measures, the stamp was found quite correct, but with regard to the deficient gallon, he must say he could not have be- lieved that any one with any regard to right, could have long used, without discovering it, so deficient a measure, seven-eights of a pint was a visible defi- ciency in a gallon; the plea that oils and varnish coat- ed the vessels, in which they were measured was true enough, but knowing that, extra attention should have been given to keep them free from that coating, if that were not done the culpability was much great- er." Mr. John Edwards said that it was all but impos- Continmd on the last page.