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PRESTATYN POLICE COURT.

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PRESTATYN POLICE COURT. TUESDAY.—Before W T Girdlestone (in the chair), Messrs R C Enyon, W H Coward, W Bulcock, and R J Williams. The Manslaughter Case: Prisoner Committed for Trial. Considerable interest was shown in the case in which Thomas Jones, a tailor, of Dyserth, Was charged with the manslaughter of John Ellis, of Meliden Road, Prestatyn, on the 3rd of August. The court was crowded. Mr F J Gamlin prosecuted, and Mr Oswald Moseley appeared on behalf of the prisoner. Mr Gamlin briefly reviewed the circum- stances of the fight, as told to the Coroner and fully reported in last week's "Journal." He quoted a case where it had been decided that where death had taken place as a result of a fight, the person who caused death was responsible for killing, whether the deceased had struck the first blow or not. The defen- dant had been a very hardworking and respect- able tailor in the district for many years, and had a wife and nine children to support. He Hight, therefore, be depended not to exaggerate the evidence against him, but to lay it before the court in an impartial way. The man evidently felt his position keenly, for when arrested he said It is a bad job." Wm Cunnah, Ffordd Isa, Prestatyn, labourer, was the first witness called, and Repeated his evidence as he gave it before the Coroner, giving full details of the whole affair. He said he did not call it a fight at all. It was like two chickens fighting (laughter). They were not fisting each other they were only shag-wigging each other. The magistrates asked what shag-wigging' Ineant, and witness explained that they were shaking each other. He did not call it a fight at all. Cross-examined by Mr Moseley Jones did not hit Ellis what he did was done in self- defence. Llewellyn Roberts, railway porter, said he helped to separate the two men. who were struggling on the ground outside the hotel. The men were not drunk, nor sober, but they had had some beer. Witness went away after the men had been parted, but when he returned later the two were fighting again. There was a crowd round. He thought it was a fight. Cross-examined by Mr Moseley He should say it was a fight. The men struck each other. John Roberts, a plasterer, Prestatyn, said he was outside the Railway Hotel. He saw Thomas Jones on the ground, and Ellis was standing up. Witness coaxed Ellis away and they went together up the steps. When they reached the top of the bridge they stopped to see the Volunteer train go out, and leaned over the bridge. In a minute or two Ellis appeared ill, and fell down on his back. Witness sent for some brandy, but Ellis could Hot take any, and he died in a few minutes. Cross-examined Ellis was a bit excited after the fight, but he made no complaint. Deceased walked up the bridge at an ordinary pace without any assistance. Mr Gamlin said he had four more witnesses who could corroborate most of what the previous witnesses had said. Perhaps it would not be necessary to call them. The Chairman No, I don't think we need hear them. Dr A Eyton Lloyd, Rhyl, said he made a post-mortem examination on the body of John Ellis. There was no evidence on the body of external injury. The deceased's heart was distended with fluid blood, and had very thin Walls. There was no valvular disease. In his opinion the cause of death was attributable to the failure of the heart's action. If deceased had previously been engaged in a fight or struggle it would affect the heart, as the exertion would be too great. Cross-examined: There were no evidences of external injuries whatever, nor on the scalp. If deceased had been struck on the head there would have been a clot of blood visible. In his opinion any excitement might have caused deceased's death. The walls of his heart were Unusually thin. The heart was more empty of blood than usual. He thought the fact that the man walked up the steps immediately after the struggle militated against the recovery of the heart, as also did the position of the man in leaning over the bridge. Dr Wimberley, Prestatyn, said that in con- sequence of a message he visited the railway bridge, and found the deceased quite dead. Witness made a post mortem examination in conjunction with Dr Lloyd, and had heard the tatter's evidence that morning. There was nothing the matter with the organs of the body which were flabby, small, and weak. In his opinion the cause of death was failure of the heart's action, brought on by exertion and excitement. Cross-examined He made a superfical ex- amination about half-an-hour after death. There was no mark about the body whatever. This concluded the case, Mr Moseley stating he did not intend to call any witnesses. Jones, in answer to the charge, pleaded "not guilty." Mr Moseley reserved his defence, and prisoner was committed to take his trial at the assizes, bail being allowed, in a surety for himself in £50, and two sureties in JE50 each. The Inspector objected to the bail surety of a man named George Lewis, alleging that he was not Worth anything, and was now paying monthly instalments in respect of a County Court debt. -Lewis was questioned as to his means, and ijid he had two cows, a pony and trap, some Pigs and fowls, also a stack of hay. Mr Gamlin Then why don't you pay your debts 1 Lewis I am doing. Satisfactory bail was eventually forthcoming In the person of Mr Richards, tailor. Hot Weather or Bad Beer. Joseph Jones, Axton, Llanasa, was charged by Wm Hughes, Sarn, Llanasa, with having assaulted him. He was also summoned for Using threats on the 29th of July.—Mr F J Gamlin appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Joseph Lloyd for the defence.—Mr Gamlin stated that defendant, according to his instruc- tions, had used some disgraceful and blasphemous language, in addition to assaulting the com- plainant. Defendant had a grudge against his client for something or the other. He did not know whether it was due to the hot weather or to bad beer served in these villages, but it was a fact that at this time of the year there were disgraceful things going on, and it was time a stop was put to it.—Hughea, who spoke Welsh, frequently answered in a moment of forgetfulness In English, said Jones threatened to kill him, and he was afraid of him.—Thomas Williams said he saw the assault, and heard Jones use threats.—Edwrard Parry said he did not see Jones strike Hughes, but heard the latter shout "Murder."—Edward Thomas and Mar- garet Williams were also called for the prosecu- tion.—Mr Lloyd said the evidence was, in his opinion, worthless. None of the witnesses coulcl give particulars of the assault. As he Was instructed, there was no assault whatever, and there hed been no corroboration of the Plaintiff's statement.—Joseph Jones denied that he used threats or assaulted the plaintiff. Hughes tan him with a poker.—Edward Jones was also called.—The Chairman said the evidence was conflicting, and the case would be dis- eased, each party to pay his own costs. The Drink. George Jones, labourer. TroJogan, Llanasa, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly the 24th July. He pleaded guilty.—P.C. Idfield stated the facts of the case, and said that ones used exceedingly bad language.—Fined s 6d and 7s 6d costs, or 7 days in default. Cadwaladr Owen, Penyffordd, Newmarket, summoned for beinor drunk and disorderly at Newmarket, and Johjo Hughes, Newmarket, as also charged with a similar offencc.- -P.C. avies said the men were fighting and very ^orderly.—As each pleaded guilty, they were ned 2s 6d and 7s 6d costs each. A Pair of Ducks." Harriet Parry, married woman, Prestatyn, was charged by Mary Roberts, of Rosebery House, Prestatyn, with having assaulted her on the 24th July.—!She pleaded not guilty.— The complainant said that the defendant threatened to pull her eye out, and stamp on it like "a sheep's eye." Defendant chen caught hold of her and scratched her face.—For the defence Parry said that her husband had been a cripple for eight years, and that she had been a cripple herself for some time. She gained a living by keeping hens and ducks. She ad- mitted that her poultry sometimes trespassed on Mrs Roberts' property. -On the day in question a duck got on to plaintiff's land, and Mrs Roberts "screwed" its neck and threw it into her (witness's) garden. Witness went to see plaintiff about it, when Mrs Roberts struck her, and she (witness) struck her back in self-defence. Defendant said she had no wit- nesses present. They would not come, being afraid of Mrs Roberts.—The Chairman We shall fine you 5s and 14s costs, or 14 days' im- prisoiimeiit. -Parry I shan'fe pay, I can't.— The Clerk Keep cool.—Parry I don't care, I shan't pay a penny, so I tell you straight. I'll do the fourteen days.—The Chairman Then you are in custody. Whose Property? James Williams, Ochryfoel, Dyserth, charged Sarah Lewis with assault on the 15th August.— Mr Gamlin appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Moseley defended. W iniams said that as he was trimming a hedge in front of defendant's house, she swore at him, threw stones, pushed a pickel at him through the hedge, and threatened to knock his brains out.Air Moseley said the case arose out of a disputed possession of the hedge, and therefore the jurisdiction of the Magistrates was ousted.— This was followed by a long legal argument.- The case was dismissed.

THE DENBIGHSHIRE AND FLINTSHIRE…

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