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i Q'IO (D A M IB IB I

CARMARTHENSHIRE SPRING ASSIZES.

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CARMARTHENSHIRE SPRING ASSIZES. The Commission for holding these Assizes was opened on Saturday last, before the Hon. Sir W. H. Maule. The Learned Judge arrived in Carmarthen from Cardigan. On Sunday his Lordship, escorted by a retinue of javelin- men, &c., proceeded in tbe carriage of the High Sheriff, Raleigh Addenbroke Mangel, Esq., of Heathficld, to St Peter's Church, where an appropriate Sermon was preached by the Rev. Henry Wyndham Jones, Rector of Loughor, Chaplain on the occasion to the High Sheriff. In the evening nis Lord- ship, together with Messrs. Chilton, Q.C., Sergeant Jones, Nicholl Came, W. R. Grove, the High Sheriff, the Judge's Marshal, and two or three gentlemen in the Commission of the Peace, dined at Glannant, the seat of Mr. Wilson, the Learned Recorder of Carmarthen.— On Monday, the business of the Assizes commenced, and his Lordship took his seat on the Bench at ten o'clock. The Borough Calendar contains the names of nine prisoners, seven or eight of whom are charged with offences connected with the lafte riot at the W orkhoitse, and other offences arising ont of the recent disturbances. There are twenty-two names on the County Calendar, the majority of whom are charged with riots, assaults, and depredations connected with Rebecca- ism. True bills against several of these prisoners were found at the last Assizes. Several respectable farmers and others are implicated in some of the charges from their station in society, their cases naturally cause considerable excitement and apprehension as to the result of the trials. In four cases the defendants are Queen's Bench traversers, having been at the last Assizes removed by certiorari. They are to be tried by Special Juries, and are precisely in the same position as Mr. O'Connell and the other traversers at the late Dublin trials. Soon after tbf Learned Judge took his seat on the Bench, the Officer of the Court commenced calling over the names of Magistrates and Grand Jurors, Coroners, &c.—The following County Magistrates answered to their names — Hon. G. It. Trevor, M.P. James Thomas, Enq. Rev. Sir E. H. G. Williams, Bart. Francis Sat.iters, R.«q. John Edward Sanders, Esq. George Mor^nti, Esq. K. A. Mansel, Esq., Hi>li Sheriff, Daniel Prjilien h, Esq. Wui. Gailand Hunhes, E-q. Lewis Lewis. Esq. David Jolui Edwardes, E-q. Hit-hard J. N. Nevilt. Esq. David Lewis, Esq. John Banks Davie#, Esq. Rees Goring Thomas, Esq. David Jones Lewis, Esq. John G. Williams, Esq. CORONERS. D."i., Price, Esq. | Geo. Thomas, jun., Esq. The following Gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury for the County The Hon. G. RICE TREVOR, Esq., M.P.. Foreman. Sir John Mansetl, Rait. G<-ort £ e Morgan, Esq. John Edvard Sanders, Esq. Daniel Prvthe.ch, Esq. Wm. Garland Hughes, Esq. John Hughes Rees, Esq. David John Eilwaides, Es^. John Banks Davies, E-q. David Lewis, Esq. Francis D. Sanders, Esq. R. J. Nevill, Esq. David J..nes Lewis. E-q. Esq. Charles M- I.;HII, jnn., E*q. John Geo. Phillipps, Esq. J,,hn 1,'ojd Piuei Esq. The following is a list of the Town Grand Jury — Mr. WM. EVANS, For eman. Mr. John Davies. j Mr. James Mortimer, John Powell Davies, Wm. Morgan, Ri'-li. Morgan Dnvica, Henry Norton, Wm. Griffith Jones, J. N. Roberts, Etlw. BOWHH Jones, Wm. North Rees, John Jones, J. J. Stacey. Benjamin Jone-, Wm. Thotnas, n. Lewig. Thomas White, Daniel Lloyd Mortimer, George ChiMien. I The proclamation against vice and profanity liaviftg been rend, the Learned Judne addressed his charge to the Grand Jury, and observed, that the number of prisoners in the present calendar was but small, if they excluded those cases arising out ol the late I disturbances, and in which true bills had been found at former assizes. This \Vas in cOlIsequPllce of a upasure for the adoption of which he [the Learned Judge] for one, felt grateful to the Magistrates. He alluded to the plan of holding an adjourned ses- sions immediately before the assizes, which cleared the calendar of a number of small cases, which in of her count ies were sometimes allowed to impede the business of the Court, and prevent tlie disposal of important cases, and those which could be Iri- d onlv at the assizes. That was a measure which, when it could be adopted, was very useful in saving time at assizes. It was quite unnecessary for him to trouble the Grand Jury with any remarks on the state of the country, as many of them were more conver- sant with, and better informed about the country than himself. He was sorry to find there were indications that the disturbances continued in that county down to a later period than in some other parts Of Sonth Wales, but by the vigilance and activitt of the magistracy hebopedtbp peace of the county had been perma- nently restored His Lordship concluded by stating, that should Buy difficulties relating to points of law or of any other kind arisp, he would be happy to assist them. To the Grand Jury for the Borough, the Learned Judge said that there was no offence in their calendar calling for anv observa- tions with the exception of those arising from the recent disturb- ances. The observations made to the Grand Jury for the couniv would be equally applicable to them. He trusted that by their united exertions tranquillity and order would be restored. The Grand Juries both for the Comity and Borough then retired, ano in a short time true bills were found against several prisoners. Thomas IVoolley, of Swansea, was charged with having feloni- ously stolen one fillv. the property of Morgan Morgan Mr. Vaughan Williams briefly slated the. case The prisoner. who foitowed the occupation of a carrier between Carimrlhen and Swansea, was charged with the ffflence of stealing a filly, the pro- perty of Morgan Morgau, the prosecutor, who was a small farmer, residing at Tynewydd, near Llandybie.bnnt two months ago he missed the filly in question, and in consequence of information communicated to him he proceeded to Swansea, and informed the police of his loss. Shortly afterwards the police found the fitly in a rard behind the house of the prisoner's father. It was prolJablo thlt the fiity in the first place followed the prisoner's horses, and he, taking advantage of that circumstance, look it into his possession. It would be proved that in conversation with various persons on the road he had claimed the (illy as being his property, and after driving it for several miles, he took it into his waggon. Though the filly might at first have followed him. yet, if lie afterwards assumed to be the owner, he was guilty of the offence. The Learned Connsel then called the following witnesses: Morgan Morgan, the prosecutor, deposed to the fact of the fillv having been missed on the day in question, and due search for it having been made iti the neighbourhood, but ineffectually wit- ness, in consequence of information which had been communicated to him, proceeded to Swansea. He informed ihe police of the loss, and minutely described the marks,.ixc.,topo)icem;tn\VtJ!iam Webb He and Ihe constable proceeded to prisoner's huu.e, and made enquiries about the tilly, but the prisoner denied having seen such a colt. On making further search, the filly, which witness identified a* being the same as had been missed b, him, was found by the policeman behind the house of prisoner's father. In his cross examination by Mr. Richards, who defended the prisoner, witness said that, previous to missing the filly, lie had seen her in tire s'able, the door of which was shut. The gate of the yard was also generally kept shut, with the exception of the times al which it was opened to admit Ihe caule to the waler. He knew that the prisoner was a carrier hetween Carmarthen and Swansea; knew nothing of his respectability, as he had no IIC- quaintance with him. The filly might have got out. He believed that on being let out to water, the filly ran from the mare and fol- lowed prisoner's cart.- -Notliitt,- important was further elicited in cross examination. William Webb, one of the Swansea police, proved that after having searched the premises of the prisoner's father, he found a filly in an adjoining yard. Prisoner was subsequently taken into custody. Cross-examined :—Prisoner's father lived in Frog-street. The yard in which the filly was fonnd did not beloi g to prisoner's father, but adjoined it. The filly was not concealed, but was running about. The prisoner, to the present time, had borne a good character. Jane Thomas, residing at Cross Hands, on the road between Swansea and the prosecutor's house, slated in evidence that she saw the (illy on the road with the prisoner. That he xsked her for the loan of a hatchet, which she could not give him, as she had riot got one. She asked him where he had got the pony from, and he saucily answered that he had bought it Cross-examined He wanted a knife or hatchet to cut a holly- bush. Prisoner did not appear to be quite sober. The liily was walking near the two horses. She asked him the question hf- cause she was surprised lo see so young a colt between the lioi ses. John Barlett proved, that on the day previous to Christmas- day, he was on the road between Cross Hands and Swansea, and he met a man, whom he could not say was the prisoner, driving a waggon drawn bv Iwo horses. A chesnut-colouied lilty ran on before the driver of tiie waggon it had a halter around its head. The driver touched the filly with his whip as witness passed. Thos. Thomas, engine-feeder Pontardulais. deposed to haviug met the prisoner near the Red Lion Inn, di iving his waggon, with a fillv of a chesnut colour, with a white mark in his head, driven before his horses. He asked the prisoner where he had got Morgan the limer's (illy ? Prisoner replied, What's that to you." Witness said, I'll turn hi in back now." Prisoner said, If you are not quiet, or if you wiii not let him alone, I will pnt your head under the wheel." Ha also said that he had bought the filly. Prisoner slood in his waggon Cross examined :-Cuuld swear that the prisoner was not sober, but he stood steadily in his waggon. Margaret Morgan, of the Buck public-honse, Pontlliw, which is between Pontardulais and Swansea, stated in evidence, that Oil the day in question the prisoner remained in her house for about ten minutes, and drat.k a pint of beer. She then assisted him to raise the filly into the waggon A man named Crossley also assisted in laising her up. Cross-examined — Was not examined before tie Magistrates. John Crossley, smith, Pontlliw, corroborated iheilasl witness all to the both having, about dusk on the day in question, assisted the prisoner to put the young animal into ths waggon. Saw a pint measure in the man's hand. Could not say that the prisoner was drunk. Cross-examined There was another man in the waggon. Mr. Richards submitted an objection to the indictment, on the grountllhat it did not appear, on the face of ihe evidence, lhat the prisoner exercised any possession on the properly in the county of Carmarthen. After some discussion between Counsel, the Court overruled the objection after which the Learned Gentleman addies-ed the jury on behalf of the prisoner. Thcprincipatpoin.st.tdefr-nce were, that the (illy followed the prisoner's horses, and that he. being in liquor, allowed her to run on, and did not take the pre- caution ot turning her back. Besides which, the tilly being so young, she was of no use lo him. It was very lIaturul that Ibt" (illy being tired, the prisoner should have raised her to the wag- gon. He turned her into an open yard at Swansea, and when asked about her, said, as any honest man would have done, that the liliy followed liim, and he knew nothing about her bevond that. The Learned Judge summed up the evidence" observing, that the question for the jury w is, whether the prisoner exercised any acts of ownership, which would amount to stealing the filly it, the county of Carmarthen for if he did so in the county of Gla- morgan, they could not convict him under the present indictment. Verdict, "NotGuiity." David ])av>es (53), was charged with having, on the 24th of Feb-uary, stolen a bag of lIour, ihe properlv of John Thomas.- The prisoner was tried before a fioiough jury.—Mr. Richards called the prosecutor s daughter, who proved the loss of tile half of flour, from ihe Carmarthen Market-place. She had bought the flour ofa person named Jauivs, in whose care she left it until itwoutdbesfntfor. When the witness went for the ilour it could not he fonnd she subsequently saw it in the stalion-hoiise. — A witness named John Morgan deposed, that in consequence of what had been communicated to him, he went in pursuit of the prisoner, and saw a bag and a basket under his arm. Prisoner was then taken into custody by a man named Evans.—The pro- secutor s daughter identified the bag found in prisoner's posses- sion as her father's proper!».— Verdict, Guilty.—There was another indictment agaiusi the prisoner, charging him with having, under similar (,IrCUlIIstanct' stolen a hag of harlev, the property of 1 honias Thomas.—The prisoner was likewise con- victed on the latter indictment.—He was sentenced to impri-ori- ment, with bnid labour, lor six calendar months. Daniel Owen (37), farmer, was charged with having stolen three fowls, the property of Morris David, of Narhertli. I hi*- trifling case occupied the attention of the Court for a considerable time.-Verdict, Not Guiliv. BURGLARY.— Thomas Jimes (23), botcher,■ancis Davies ( 17). labourer, and David Junes (28), labourer, were indicted for having, on Ihe 14th of January last, unlawfully entered the dwelling-house of Jonah Williams, in the parish of Mothfe\, and did there and llieu feloniously steal various sums of money, and