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-imvpoit golitt SiiteHigcttW.…

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imvpoit golitt SiiteHigcttW. COUNTY POLICE.-SATURDAY. [Magistrates T. CORDES, and L. A. HOMFRAY, Eaqa. ] MR. STONE V. THE PARISH ASSISTAVT-OVERSEER. Before the commencement of the ordinary business, Mr. Davis, the clerk, stated to the Bench that he had received from Mr. Stone, one of the overseers, some papers containing statments in reference to a parish meeting recently held, at which Mr. Jno. Powell was appointed assistant-overseer, at a salary of £ 40 a year. The object of the papers was to show that the pro- oeedings were illegal, and to ask the Bench not to confirm the appointment until a reply bad been re- ceived from the Poor-law Board, before whom all the facts had been laid. The Bench examined the papers and made sundry ioquiries as to the meeting. i i <• Mr. Kessick (deputy-clerk) explained that before the assistant-overseer could be properly appointed, such appointment must be signed by the magistrates The Bench had nothing whatever to do with the question of salary, that being fixed by the vestry and if the latter gave £ 500 a year, the magistrates could not interfere. He had made out the document confirmatory to the appointment, as a matter of course. i The Bench asked Mr. Stone what he had to say. Mr. Stone replied that he was present because he thought the Bench might desire to ask him any ques- tion. All that the overseers wanted was that the Bench should not confirm the appointment until a reply was received from the Poor-law Board. He might state, for the information of the Bench, that when he was overseer for the parish of Christchurch, an increase of salary was given to the overseer there, and when the accounts were placed before the auditor, he required to see the notice which had been issued to the ratepayers, calling upon them to sanction such increase, and because that notice was not produced the increase was disallowed. The Bench asked Mr. Powell what he had to say. Mr. Powell gave an epitome of the proceedings of the parish meeting. Inasmuch as the assistant- overseer for the borough had £ 60 a year, it was con- sidered fair that the assistant-overseer for the parish should have £ 40. The motion was put to the meeting and unanimously carried. There were about twenty persons present. The Bench thought Mr. Stone should have been punctual to time at the meeting, hut still they would not confirm the appointment that day, and accordingly adjourned the matter for a week. ASSAULT.—Margaret Harwood was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Polsom, wife of James Polsom, of Mary-street. — Complainant stated her case, from which it appeared that an undue intimacy had sprung up between her husband and the defendant, who, she said, was a married woman. She had watched her husband a long time, and at length she found him with the defendant at the house of Solomon Meaker, in Frederick-street, where she lodged. Complainant ran in, spoke to her husband, and ordered him home, whereupon defendant took up a flat iron and struck her a severe blow in the face, giving her a black eye and a scar across the nose. -Defendant did not appear. and the Bench imposed a fine of 20s. and costs, or 28 days' imprisonment. If the money were not promply paid, a warrant was ordered to be issued for her I apprehension. PERMITTING DRUNKENESS IN A PCBLIC HOUSE.— Emma Hayden was charged with allowing drunken- ness, on her licensed premises, the George Hotel, at Maindee, on Saturday last. P. C. Rowen(TT), said that on the day named he visited the house and there saw several parties in a state of complete intoxication. It appeared that so recently as the 24th November last, the defendant was fined 40s and costs for a similar offence. The Bench administered a severe reprimand and considered the case clearly proved. They would again impose a penalty of £ 2 and the costs, and these convictions would be endorsed on her license. They also assured defendant if she came before them again within the twelve months she would most assuredly lose her license. ILLEGITIMACY.—Robert Horner, late of Risca, but now residing at Reading in Berkshire, was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute to the support of Mary Evans's little girl, of whom he was alleged to be the father. Defendant did not appear, and Serjeant Hale stated that he had served the summons on defendant personally, and he was re- quested to inform the magistrates that defendant could not attend owing to illness of the master to whom he was apprenticed. He supposed he must submit to an order, but he hoped the Bench would make it as low as they could, because of the position in which he was as an apprentice having two years of his time left and also because this was the third child complainant had had by different fathers. Com- plainant was then sworn, and affirmed that defendant ■was the father of her child. Corroborative evidence was given, and the Bench thereupon made an order for Is 6d per week. Complainant said defendant could pay more than that, and the gentlemen before had allowed her 2s per week. The Bench said that Is 6a was all that they should allow her, and the clerk added that if she came there again the proba- bility was that she would not get half the amount. PETTY THEFT -Ruth Llewellin was charged with stealing an apron, the property of Emma Wright, of Machen. It appears that the apron had been taken from behind a door in prosecutrix's house. P.C. Benfield received information of the theft, and visited the prisoner's house, and told her his suspicion, but ahe denied all knowledge of the apron. He said he must search, and asked for a light to search a small pantry, when prisoner said "the apron is in theie hut I did not intend to steal it, I have used it, and before returning it to Mrs Wright, I was going to wash it." Prisoner now confirmed this statement, and explained her conduct by stating that she was 3omewhat frightened when she saw the officer, and for the moment scarcely knew what she said. She worked as a charwoman, and the apron was a coarse flannel one, such as was used for rough work. The Bench considered that theft had been proved by pri- soners own statement, but still the offence was not of a serious character and in the hope that it would not again occur they would only sentence her to one day's imprisonment, a sentence which was received with applause by the Court. 'NIO BOROUGH POLICE. —MONDAY. [Magistrates THOMAS BEYNON, Esq. (Mayor), and W. EVANS, Esq. DESERTINU SEAMEN.—Carl Alfred Nelson, Adres Johansen, Ernest Schiel and Henrich Gossel, four German seamen, charged on remand with refusing to do duty on board their ship, the Formosa, were or- dered to be sent on board. COAL STEALING. — James Cowling, a little boy, was charged with stealing coal, the property of the Ebbw Vale Company, and sentenced to one day's im- prisonment. A POLICE OFFICER ASSAULTING A SERGEANT.— Charles James, an omcer in the borough force, was charged with being drunk whilst on duty, and further witlTassaulting P. S. Pratten.—Defendant was sent to the station on account of his incapacity for duty, and struck his superior officer several times.-Sergeant Pratten said he had no wish to press the charge, as the defendant appeared very sorry for his conduct.— The Chief Superintendent said, for the discipline of the force in future, he must press the charge. It was the first offence of the kind that had ever occurred in the force since his recollection.—The Bench consi- dered it a very serious matter, and had it not been for the respectable position of defendant's parents, as spoken to by Mr. Huxtable, they should have im- posed a heavy penalty.—Fined 20s. and costs, or four- teen days. TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF LICENSE.— On the ap- plication of Mr. Bothomley, the Bench granted a temporary transfer of the license of the London Inn from Mrs. Wood to Mr. Alfred Pullin, late station- master at the South Wales station of the Great West- ern Railway. W EDNESDAY. rMagistrates THOMAS BEYNON, Esq. (Mayor); W. W. MORGAN, and W. WILLIAMS, Esqrs.] THEFT. George Smatten was charged with stealing 11,.air of boots, the property of William Williams, Dock-street Newport. -Prosecutor said that on Mon- dav last the' prisoner came into his shop, and asked f f mlr of boots and afterwards for a pair of ?'p~r,P nfi waoted to borrow 2, and" after- Mippers. ne t prosecutor saw him go into sricr a pawnorower a, ffaye mformation to W.eauf WUcoT-M'r. Isaacs deposed to prisoner Sg'nrSs 'shoi, o„ Mouday pledge boots for 4s—Sergeant Wiloo P prehension of prisoner, who said the boo ^a3 chased at Pontypool, by his mother.. committed for trial at the next Quarter fen-ssio!os. STEALING A SHAWL.—Louisa Wilson wc ? with stealing a shawl, the property of V'tne", Wilson.—Prosecutrix said she lived at Cardin. > w as at the Parrot Hotel, on Monday last, drinking with the prisoner. Whilst there, the prisoner took the shawl off her shoulders, and said she would return with it in a few minutes, as she was only going to call Charley. The prisoner did not return with the shawl, and she had since ascertained the prisoner had pawned it.-P.C. DUffime proved the apprehension oftthe prisoner, who pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 14 davs'' imprisonment, with hard labour. Ellen Cashman, for being drunk and dis- orderly at Pillgwenlly, was committed to Usk for aoven days. ASSAULT.—IVtary Sheen, charged with assaulting Ellen Connor, on Monday last, was fined 5s. DISORDERLY.—John Keen, for being disorderly and fighting, was discharged with a caution. ALLEGED SMUGGLING AT NEWPORT. Windsor Humphrey Gibbon, of the Union Hotel, Dock-street, was charged with having in his possession 131bs. 3ozs. of cigars, on which no duty had been paid. The case had been postpoued for a fortnight, in order that the Treasury might be consulted, and instructions given for the prosecution. Mr. F. W. Gardner, barrister-at-law, appeared for the Board of Customs, to prosecute; and Mr. Clifton, solicitor, of Bristol, instructed by Mr. Bradgate, soli- citor, Newport, appeared for the defence. The court was crowded during the hearing. The learned counsel opened the case for the prosecu- tion. The defendant was the proprietor of the Union Hotel, and the case against him was taken under the provisions of the Customs' Consolidation Act, of 1853. This was the first offence of the kind that the Custom House authorities had reason to believe had taken place, and, consequently, the Board of Customs had decided not to prosecute for the full penalty of £100, but had consented to proceed under the 232nd section of the Act, which enabled them to decide upon suing only for treble the value of the goods alleged to have beeu smuggled. Information having been laid on the 2nd of February, a writ was issued by the Collector of Customs upon satisfactory evidence being produced, and it was executed in accordance with the 221st sec- tion of the Customs' Consolidation Act, 1853, which empowered the Collector to give such a document to an officer of Customs, for the purpose of making a seizure. The seizure was accordingly made on the 2nd of Fe- bruary, and a large quantity of cigars was seized and taken away from the premises. Defendant was from home at the time, and no objection was made to the seizure. A short time since a considerable seizure of cigars was made from a Spanish ship, the Norte, when she was in this port, and the cigars found in the pos- session of the defendant corresponded with those taken from on board the Norte. They would, however, be she was in this port, and the cigars found in the pos- session of the defendant corresponded with those taken from on board the Norte. They would, however, be produced in court, and their Worships would have the opportunity of examining them for themselves. It would be proved also that the cigars were of foreign manufacture, and that the value set on them by the Customs authorities, viz., £ 23 Is Sd, was not an extor- tionate value. After reading the section of the Act under which he intended to proceed with the case, the learned counsel submitted that if he proved his case, the Bench would feel it their duty to inflict the penalty which he had named. Mr. Cluton requested that all witnesses on either side should leave the court, and be put in charge of an officer. James Hartnell, a master carpenter, residing in Dolphin-street, said I remember the evening of Friday, the 28th January last. 1 was then at the Union Hotel, about seven o'clock. Was in the bar parlour—three of us sitting together, having some refreshment. The names of the other two were Cloak and Stocker. Just after we sat down, defendant came in and said, "Now, chaps, if you want to buy some cigars, now is your time. I have just bought from two to three thousand from these chaps in the next room, at less than one penny a-piece, or six shillings- a hundred." As he was talking, these men, appa- rently three foreign seamen, passed the bar-parlour. [ saw them distinctly. Defendant made a remark, in answer to a question, that these men were the fellows. Mr. Gibbon said They are worth 3d. or 4d. a piece." I said they must be smuggled, or you could not get them for that price." He said: "To be sure they are." Stocker, the painter, said "You may as well give us one." Mr. Gibbon said "I would, only they are upstairs." I don't recollect that he said anything more. Remained at the house till it was closed. A day or two after, I was working at the Union, and I and defendant went to buy some timber on board a vessel. Was engaged at work in the long-room, repairing some benches. Then L saw p some cigars in a closet, in an old brandy case, next to the drawing-room. Can't be certain as to the number, but should consider that at least there were 2,000 or 3,000. Subsequently, defendant and I were together in the bar-parlour, drinking, and, iii-, the course of conversation, he said, "Oh, Jim; I pro- mised you a cigar last night here is one." The learned counsel Like one of them, did you say ? Mr. Clifton Here is one," he said. It is not likely he would say, "one of them." Witness continued I put the cigar in my pocket, and then missed it. I had a glass of sherry, and then had something more, and got drunk very quick. Went there again after I bad laid the information. Cross-examined by Mr. Clifton 1 know an officer of Customs named Brewer. Not intimately. I did not say last night, in the presence of Mr. Derrett, Mr. Phillips, and Mr Powell, the traveler, that Mr. M. Brewer, jnn., gave me the cigar yesterday. 1 can't recollect that 1 said so, because last night I was made drunk in a mysterious way. Don't know where a. man named Kenvyn, the grocer, is to-day. Have not been there to-day or yesterday. Did not sign a paper drawn up by Brewer. Went to defendant's house last night. Don't recollect that he turned me out last night. On the 29th January I asked Mr. Gibbon to lend me X 12. Did not have the £12. Laid the infor- mation after that. He summoned me before the ma- gistrates. Laid the information before I was sum- moned before the magistrates. Recollect the first glass of sherry. Can't speak pcsitively as to what took place afterwards, as I was not in my right senses. Don't know what was the matter with me. Have had no conversation with Brewer about this matter. He did not tell me that a portion of the penalty would come to me. Had business in defendant's house. Was working upstairs, and the closet in which these cigars were lay in my way, and the door was open. Saw Mr. Brewer yesterday, and bad some conversa- tion about this matter. I laid this information purely out of justice and to protect the revenue. (Laughter.) By the Bench Stocker and Cloak went into the house with me last night. Paid for the first glass of sherry. Mr. Derrett treated me with the second, and I soon became senseless. Was perfectly sobar when I went into the house. Began to recover my senses when I awoke up this morning. Mr. Fox You don't appear quite recovered now. (Laughter.) Witness Can't recollect that I said last night to Mr. Gibbon, I won't do you any harm, Gibbon I would rather lose my right arm." I began to become unconscious almost immediately after having taken the second glass of sherry, which, I believe, was sup- plietl to me by the barmaid. Orlando Stocker, a painter, was sworn, and gave corroborative testimony, he having been with the last- named witness ip the bar parlour, on the 29th of January last. William Cloak, a mariner,, also gave similar tes- timony. Rowland H. Nicholas, one of the Customs' officials, was called and sworn, but Mr. Clifton said he was prepared to admit that the seizure had been made, that the cigars were of the weight and value specified in the charge, and also admitted that he should be very glad to get their property back. Mr. Clifton addressed the Bench for the defence. He said he could not congratulate the learned counsel on the strength of the case which he had put before the court; but, on the other hand, he thought he could congratulate himself on having a very weak case to answer. After commenting severely on the first witness's conduct, the learned advocate proceeded to point out the difficulties under which he laboured in conducting the defence. In ordinary cases it was for the prosecution to make out their case, and to prove that defendant had become illegally possessed of foods but in cases of this kind not only was his client's mouth closed, but the onus was thrown upon him of showing how he became possessed of the goods with which he was now charged with having smuggled. His client could not tell them anything, and all he had to rely on was the invoices of good which he had received in the ordinary course of trade. Now it so happened that in the month of October last he did receive a number of boxes of cigars from Messrs. Harris and Thomas, of Livepool, and he had also made a purchase of 250 loose cigars, and he had also purchased others from Mr. J. L. Lloyd, of this town. He reverted to the evidence which had been deposed to by witnesses, pointed out its absurdity, and stigmatised it as utterly unfounded and unreliable. He proposed to put in the trade invoices for the inspection of the Bench. Mr. Gardner said he must object to the invoices being taken as evidence, unless proved in the ordi- nary way. After strongly condemning the conduct of the wit- ness Hartnell, Mr. Clifton called Evan Morgan, of the Salutation Inn, who said he left the Union Hotel, which he formerly occupied, in favour of Mr. Gibbon. The goods, fixtures, &c., were taken at a valuation in May last, and amongst other things there were four or five pounds of cigars in different boxes. 0 Edward Phillips, sen., American shipping agent, said he was in the Union Hotel last evening. Hartnell came in. He saw the man produce a cigar from his pocket, which was wrapped up in paper, tied with a bit of string. He made an observation to this effect This cigar was given me by Brewer (the custom- house officer) to say that that was the cigar Gibbon gave him before he laid the information." Hartnell appeared to have been drinking, but was not drunk Iat the time. Robert Derrett, sworn, said he was a brewer, and was in the Union Hotel last evening standing at the bar, when Hartnell came and asked him to stand bar, when Hartnell came and asked him to stands glass. He ordered him a glass of sherry which he asked for, and then Hartnell said, Have you heard about the smuggling case?" Replied, "No, what about it?" He said, "I am the man who informed against Mr. Gibbon, but I'll get him out of it again. I wouldn't hurt Mr. Gibbon in the least, and I have something here in my pocket that will convict him or clear him." He repeated, "I wouldn't hurt Mr. Gibbon not in the slightest degree." Don't recollect that he said the name of the party who gave him the cigars, but am sure that he said a custom-house officer had given it him to swear that Gibbon had given it as one of the smuggled cigars he bought. Believe the time was about twenty minutes to 9 o'clock. Thomas Powell, commercial traveller, said he was also present, and gave corroborative evidence. The learned counsel said he wished Mr Brewer to L. called to rebut the charges made against him. Mr Clifton objected, and said it was a most irregular course. The Clerk observed that Mr Brewer would be sure to deny it. The Learned Counsel said it was a most important matter to Mr. Brewer, and might affect him hereafter. Therefore he was anxious that he should be callcd, but only in reference to this statement of his having given a cigar to Hartnell. Marmaduke John Brewer was then called and swore that he never gave Hartnell a cigar, and never had the slightest idea of such a thing. He (witness) was the actual informer in the case, and the collector of Customs could produce the statement of Hartnell which he deposed at the Custom-house and signed, upon which these proceedings were taken. The Learned Counsel claimed the right to reply, but was corrected by Mr. Fox, the clerk, who read the section which prohibited the right of leply in cases of this kind. The Mayor, after a brief conference with his col- leagues, said the Bench were of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction in this case. (Great applause.) The Learned Counsel said that under the 312th sec- tion of the Customs Consolidated Act, 1853, he should ask the Bench to be good enough to certify that, from the information given, the Customs' authorities were justified in proceeding with this case, and there were sufficient grounds for the seizure and detention of these cigars. The Bench said they were prepared to do that, and thought it only right that the Custom-house officers should be indemnified against any future proceedings. The case occupied the Court for upwards of two hours, and throughout there was the greatest interest manifested in the proceedings, and at intervals it was difficult to suppress the applause.

TAFF VALE RAILWAY COMPANY.

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NEWPORT BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

IN EWPORT TOWN COUNCIL.

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ARCHBISHOP LYCURGUS AND THE…

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