Hi all - . This is the last month of 1856 to post, and that means we've almost completed 20 years of WB issues. That's a lot of effort and magic, done without mirrors but a great dependence on computers, cameras, and microfilm, and an even greater dependence on consistant, considerate comrades in transcription who have been ever willing to lend a hand when needed. . I'd like to thank them publically for all that effort and dedication.(but you know they were having fun, too...) . An Archives search for Cornish-gen returned over 36,000 posts today - not all ours, by any imagination, but definitely quite a few of them were... . So stick with us, we've already got 1857 almost ready for you. . MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE, Julia, . ps - we'll try to keep the format for the BMDs; thanks for noticing and letting us know you like it . Current transcribers are Isabel, Lorena, Bill C., Maurine, Bern C., Graham and Sue, and Julia Webmaster, Co-founder, and Official record keeper: Rita Please visit our website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad And we need to thank the St. Pirrans Society of Minnesota, and the Cornish-American Heritage Society, who paid for the microfilming of the newspapers; without them, we couldn't have done the transcriptions. .................................................................................................................. WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 5 DECEMBER 1856 . ADVERTISEMENTS . CONVEYANCE OF PRISONERS . CONSTABLES willing to CONTRACT for the safe Custody, Maintenance, and Conveyance of PRISONERS from Liskeard to the Gaol at Bodmin are desired to send TENDERS, in writing, to the Clerk of the Peace, at St. Austell, on or before the Third day of January next, stating the Rate of Charge per head, for the Conveyance and Maintenance of One, Two, Three, or more Prisoners committed or delivered into custody on the same day, the Contracts to take effect from the time of signing the same, and to continue for an indefinite period, subject to a power to determine the same either by the Justices of the said County, for Misbehaviour or Incapacity of the Contractor, or by three months' notice in writing by either party, and the Contractor to enter into a Bond, with two sufficient sureties in One Hundred Pounds each for the due performances of the Contract. . COODE, Clerk of the Peace, . Dated December 1, 1856 . LOCAL INTELLIGENCE . SEASONABLE BENEVOLENCE - We understand that Lady MOLESWORTH (of Pencarrow) has given directions that the poor of St. Mabyn parish shall be supplied with soup during the winter months, at her expense. . ST. COLUMB NEW BANK - A dinner was held on Friday the 28th ult., at the New Inn, kept by MR. J. WALKEY, to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for the intended new bank, a sum of money for that purpose having been placed at the disposal of the builder and tradesmen employed, by the liberal proprietor, MR. THOS. WHITFORD. About thirty-five sat to table under the presidency of MR. WILLIAM ENGLAND. After dinner the chairman, in a well-timed speech, spoke of the proprietor as the founder of the feast, in terms of the highest eulogium, which was received by the company with several rounds of applause. The chairman next called on Mr. RICHARD COTTON to address the meeting, which he did at considerable length, commenting on the laying of the stone, the great improvement to the town the intended bank would be, the good taste and spirit the enterprising proprietor had evinced, and the confidence he had placed in St. Columb tradesmen to whom the execution of the work had been ! entrusted. Several other toasts were given and responded to, interspersed with cheerful songs, which excited universal good feeling, and caused one and all to separate highly pleased with the evening's entertainment. . THE FISHERY - the boats belonging to Newquay are bringing in, when the weather permits, from one thousand to five thousand fine herrings per boat daily. . ST. AUSTELL FAIR - This fair on Monday last, was well attended, and business was very brisk, both buyers and sellers being plentiful. Fat cattle sold readily at from GBP 3 to GBP 3.3s. per cwt., sheep fetched 6d per lb. . RILLA MILL FAIR - This fair, held on Monday last, was well supplied, both as to quality and quantity. A splendid ox of Mr. THOMAS KITTOW'S, of Brenda, excited general attention. Mr. JOHN DINGLEY, of Netherton, Mr. DIGORY KITTOW, Mr. J.H. TREHANE, of Stockadon, Mr. DINGLE of Darley, and others, also exhibited some prime Christmas beef. Many butchers from Plymouth, Devonport, Launceston, Liskeard, Callington, and other towns were in attendance, and made purchases to grace their stalls with at the coming Christmas market. The sheep also were of first rate quality, and would bear comparison with any in the county. . SHIPPING CASUALTIES - the steamer "Dublin" Capt. PENTIN, from London to Penzance and Waterford, fell in with the schooner "Favourite," of Dublin, east of the Lizard, on Saturday, dismasted. The steamer gave her a rope and towed her some hours, in fact until the rope parted. The schooner's crew declined to cut away the rigging, and they got entangled in the fan of the screw, so that it would propel but not back, and the steamer was compelled to relinquish the schooner and put into Penzance and repair. She sailed on Monday, but again put back, something having gone amiss with one of her cylinders. The sloop "Endeavour" of Milford, from Wales for Hayle, with culm, was assisted into Penzanve on Monday by a Mousehole boat with loss of main boom and split mainsail. . PENZANCE INSTITUTE - The lecture on Monday evening was by the Rev. J.B. FRENCH, Wesleyan Minister, of Newlyn, on "The Superiority of Biblical Poetry." Mr. French took poetic passages from almost every book of the Old and New Testaments, referred to the impossibility of rendering a translation equal to the original, and, having quoted some of the choicest morceaux of Shakspere, Milton, Spenser, Shelley, and other English poets, contrasted with them the still finer poetry of the bible. . BODMIN COUNTY COURT - The monthly sitting of this court was held at the Assize Hall, on Wednesday last, when there were thirty-seven cases entered on the plaint-book, and four summonses taken out for commitment. In fourteen cases, debt and costs were paid into court; fifteen were settled or withdrawn; in two cases, judgments were signed by consent, and the remaining ten cases were heard and disposed of by his Honor. The court rose soon after one o'clock. . Re JOHN TABOIS TREGELLAS - This insolvent, who was described as having been late a mine-agent, of the town of St. Austell, and formerly of Truro, general merchant and adventurer in mines, came up to-day under his petition. His debts appeared in his schedule as amounting to upwards of GBP 2600, and his assets to GBP 345. The insolvent's explanation of the insolvency was, heavy losses sustained in his business, and the general depression of trade. The insolvent was not opposed. His Honor carefully looked through the various items in the schedule, (which were numerous), and after making a few remarks on some of them, considered the insolvent entitled to the benefit of the act, and ordered his discharge forthwith. . HARVEY v HARRIS - This was an action brought by Mr. HARVEY, a tailor, carrying on business at Bodmin, against RICHARD HARRIS, (a journeyman, late of his employ) for clothes supplied to his son, and for money lent. Defendant denied the debt, but the case being clearly proved by plaintiff, judgment was given for him, and payment ordered forthwith. . EAST PENWITH SESSIONS - At a petty sessions, held at Camborne, on Tuesday last, before MR. J.P. MAGOR, chairman, Mr. C. REYNOLDS, Rev. URIAH TONKIN, Mr. RICHARD DAVEY, and the Rev. THOMAS PASCOE, justices; the following case occupied a considerable time, and appeared to excite great interest. . EMMA ABRAHAMS, the wife of a miner residing at Leedstown, in the parish of Crowan, summoned Mr. JOHN PEARCE, a grocer, carrying on an extensive trade at the same place, for having assaulted her on the 20th of September, and 21st of October last. Mr. HENRY ROGERS appeared for complainant, and Mr. FREDERICK HILL for defendant. . Complainant stated that she had been dealing at defendant's shop for about eight years, and in the early part of September last, defendant met her in the road and put a small jar of gin in her basket. She took it home, but did not drink it, and a jar was produced in court with the gin in it. On the 20th of September she said she went to the defendant's office and paid him GBP 1 on account of what she owed him, and defendant on that occasion took hold of her improperly, which was the assault complained of. Defendant, she said, on the morning of the 21st of October, came to her house and asked her to send her children out, and offered to take her out for a drive. She also stated that her husband was now indebted to Mr. Pearce about GBP 8.10s., and that GBP 13 had been paid since the summons was issued. . On cross-examination, complainant admitted that she had told her husband of all that occurred on each occasion; that Mr. Pearce's office was adjoining his shop, and that there were many persons in the shop at the time; that she did not make any alarm, and was afterwards served with goods by Mrs. Pearce; and that she continued to deal at the shop for a month afterwards, but made no reference to the assault complained of. . On the 27th of October, she obtained a summons for the assault on the 21st of October, but did not have a summons for the assault on the 20th of September, until the 4th of November. Mr. Hill addressed the Bench at great length on behalf of the defendant, commenting on the improbability of the story, and the suspicious circumstances of the case. MRS. THOMAS was called, who stated the complainant showed her the jar produced a short time before, with no gin in it. The Chairman said that the Bench had given the case the most careful attention and investigation, as it was an important matter to both parties, and they were unanimous that no case had been made out, and they did not believe the statements made by Complainant. Both summonses were therefore dismissed with costs. . DEFICIENT MEASURES - At the Penzance petty sessions, before Mr. COULSON, Mayor, and Mr. BORLASE and Mr. J.J.A. BOASE, magistrates, MRS. THOMAS, of Gulval, was charged by the Inspector of Weights and measures for Penzance, with having, on the 23rd of October, sold oats which were of deficient measurement. The coachman at Mr. T. BOLITHO's (the Coomb), purchased ten bushels of oats of Mr. Thomas on the day in question, at 8s.9d. a bushel. He considered them to be a very fair sample, and, after making his purchase, was induced to weigh them, not from any suspicion, but out of curiosity. The weight was very much under what the sample indicated, and by the recommendation of Inspector OLDS, the oats were measured, and turned out nearly one gallon on a bushel short; MRS. THOMAS at once offered to allow 3s. for the deficiency. Thomas did not now deny this deficiency, but excused it by saying that the tub by which it was measured was a borrowed one. The Mayor said the bench had heard ! the explanation of the mistake, and this, with other mitigating circumstances, had caused them to lower the penalty of 40s. to one of 20s. including costs. . TRURO POLICE - On Friday last, before the Mayor, Mr. EDWARD MICHELL, and Mr. NANKIVELL, and MR. PADDON, magistrates, JOHN LONG, blacksmith, living in Union-street, Truro, was charged with an aggravated assault on his wife, SARAH LONG. It was stated that he was a drinking man, and in the habit of ill-using his wife. On the previous night he beat her with a candlestick, and cut her head severely. He now promised the magistrates that he would behave better in the future. He was ordered to find two sureties, himself in GBP 20, and two sureties in GBP 10 each, to keep the peace for six months, or in default to be committed for three months. He found the sureties and was discharged. . On Monday last, DIGORY WROATH and JOHN FARR, two boys, blacksmith's apprentices, were summoned for breaking glass in premises belonging to Mr. THOMAS TRELOAR, near the Steam Mills. Mr. Treloar is in a foreign country, but the premises, which are unoccupied, are looked after by Mr. FARLEY, builder. The two boys were throwing stones and breaking the windows when Mr. Farley, who happened to be there, ran out and caught them. He now said if they would pay for the damage done, and the costs of the hearing before the magistrates, by the 15th instant, he would withdraw the charge against them; and they were released on that condition. . JOHN PEARCE, of St. Austell, van-driver, was charged before the Mayor and Mr. PADDON, with being disorderly, and insulting MR. EDWARDS, hairdresser, Duke-street, in his shop, and preventing him from attending to his business. The case was first heard on the 24th ult., and adjourned till Monday last for the attendance of Mr. Edwards's sons as a witness. It appeared that Pearce, the van-driver, went to complainant's shop to purchase a toy-fiddle. The price of new ones was 3s.6d., but the van-driver purchased a damaged one for 2s.6d., and took it to St. Austell, where his employer expressed her disapproval of it, and it was sent back, and taken to complainant's shop by another van-driver. Mr. Edwards refused to take back the fiddle and refund the money, and in consequence Pearce visited him on the 22nd ult., and much altercation took place between the parties. Mr. Edwards threatened to send for the police, upon which Pearce left the shop, but returned in about half an hour, whe! n another dispute and very high words again ensued; in the end the police were sent for, and police-constable WOOLCOCK took Pearce into custody. Complainant had his son as witness, and Pearce produced a blacksmith called TEAGUE, of Grampound, as a witness, and his cause was defended by MR. JOHN EDWARDS, attorney. The evidence was so conflicting as to what took place in the shop, that the magistrates eventually dismissed the case, and ordered the parties to pay the costs between them. . PENRYN POLICE - On the 22nd ultimo, before Mr. J. B. READ, Mayor, and Mr. STEELE and Mr. A. TEAGUE, magistrates, Jonathan WARMINGTON was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and using obscene language in West Street, at eleven o'clock the previous night. The officer stated that at the time he apprehended the prisoner, he was almost in a state of nudity, and very violent. He was fined five shillings and expenses, or to be committed for one month to hard labour. He was committed in default of payment. . On the 27th ult., William YENDALL, landlord of the Fifteen Balls, West Street, was summoned before the Mayor, Mr. J.B. READ, and Messrs. A. TEAGUE, J. STEELE, and S. STEPHENS, borough magistrates, for keeping his house open for the sale of beer, on Sunday morning the 23rd ult. It appeared from the evidence of the police officers, Merrifield and Jarrett, that on the morning in question, they visited the defendant's house at a quarter past nine, when they found a pewter pint and a glass containing beer, a man in the kitchen, and another hid in the back yard. The defendant's answer to the charge was, that the men alluded to by the police, came there, one for the purpose of assisting him to fill some barrels, the other to look at his garden. The magistrates, however, considered the case proved, and fined the defendant 20s. and expenses, which were paid. . Levi WITCOMBE of the Cross Keys public-house, Commercial Road, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly, and was fined five shillings and expenses, which he paid. . PENZANCE POLICE - On Tuesday last, before Mr. W. BORLASE and Mr. J.J.A. BOASE, magistrates, William THOMAS, of Penzance, labourer, was charged with assaulting police constable William BARNES, in the execution of his duty. He assaulted a man named SMITH, at "Hare's Horse and Jockey" beer-shop, and was removed by the request of the landlady. Outside he turned on the constable, for which he was fined GBP 1 and costs,and in default committed for one month to hard labour. . ST. AUSTELL PETTY SESSIONS - At these sessions held on Tuesday last, before Mr. SAWLE, M.P., Mr. TREMAYNE, and the Rev. C. LYNE, magistrates, John STEPHENS, of Charlestown, was charged with assaulting Charles PIDWELL of the same place, for which the defendant was fined GBP 1 and costs. A butcher of St. Austell, named Richard WILLIAMS, who, after several warnings, still persisted in hanging his meat outside his door on the market days, was fined 10s; and William and Richard CUNDY, of St. Stephens, were fined 1s. And costs, and John CUNDY and John COMMINS, of the same parish, were fined 5s. and costs, for leaving their waggons in the street, to the danger of the public. . COMMITTAL - On Thursday last, a lad named TIPPET was committed for trial by the Rev. C. LYNE, on a charge of stealing 10lbs. Of candles from Boscundle mine, in the parish of St. Austell. . INCENDIARY FIRE - On Friday night last, about twelve o'clock, a house in the village of Mount Hawke, in the parish of st. Agnes, belonging to a quiet respectable person of that place, was wilfully set on fire, but fortunately it was quickly discovered, the door being in a blaze at the time, and immediately inside of the door was deposited a quantity of tallow, which communicated with some wood work. The people of the house were in bed, and there is every reason to believe that the fire would have lead to fatal consequences, if it had not been so soon discovered. There are strong suspicions of the parties concerned in this affair, and it is hoped those suspicions will lead to their detection and conviction, as a more malicious deed has never been perpetrated in the locality. . ACCIDENTS - We stated last week, on good authority, that Mr. LANYON, a farmer of St. Allen, had driven over an elderly female called HARRY, in Pydar-street, Truro, through which she received very serious injuries. We have since been informed that it was not a Mr. Lanyon, of St. Allen, but of a neighbouring parish. . At Penzance on Thursday the 29th ult., as a dog-cart with four persons in it, and driven by Mr. QUICK, surgeon, of Trewellard, was proceeding up Alverton-lane, a little girl, daughter of Mr. TREGARTHEN, cabinet-maker, was crossing the road and was unavoidably knocked down. The wheel passed over her thigh, the bone of which was broke. The little sufferer was at once attended to and is doing well. . RAILWAY ACCIDENT - On Thursday morning the 29th ult., the passengers by the up train due at Redruth at 10:30 were alarmed by the engine running off the line between the end of the viaduct and the station; after tearing up the sleepers, the engine ultimately embedded itself by the side of the railway. After about a quarter of an hour's delay, another engine was obtained from the Carnbrea station, and the train proceeded on its journey. . DISTRESSING SUICIDE - On Wednesday morning last, a woman named Betsy JAMES, living in a house in Plain-an-gwarry, Redruth, committed suicide by throwing herself down a deep well behind the house in which she lived. She called her son in the morning, as was her usual custom, and went downstairs to light the fire and prepare the breakfast as he thought; but on his coming down he found nothing done, and went in search of her. He found her shawl lying on the pump handle, and on further examination, found she had thrown herself down the well. The body was recovered, but life was extinct. On Wednesday, an inquest was held on the body, before Mr. John CARLYON, county coroner, when a verdict of "Temporary Insanity" was returned. . CORONER'S INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held by Mr. John CARLYON, county coroner. On Thursday, the 27th ult., at Zelah, in the parish of St. Allen, on the body of Thomas Henry PLYNT, aged four years, who caught his clothes on fire on Wednesday, and was so severely burnt before any one arrived to his assistance, that he died from the injuries he received, a few hours afterwards. From the evidence given at the inquest, it appeared that the mother, who is a widow, had left the house only a few minutes before, to put out some clothes to dry. Verdict, "accidental death". . On Friday at Twelve Heads, in the parish of Kenwyn, on the body of Francis UREN, a miner and small shopkeeper, aged 42 years. On Thursday last he had gone to Devoran to buy some coal, and had loaded one of the trucks of the Devoran and Redruth Railway Company with it. He rode back in the truck which formed the hindmost of a train of seven trucks, and when the train had arrived at a place called Busveal Gate, near Twelve Heads, the guard proceeded to uncouple the hindermost truck, and told the deceased to sit quiet until it had stopped. Instead of doing so, however, he appeared most unaccountably to catch hold of the last truck on the other part of the train; and as that moved on, he was dragged out of the truck he was in and fell on the rails, while the unconnected truck was still in motion. This truck then came on and went over him; and he died from the injuries thus received, just as he was carried home at a short distance off. Verdict, "accidental death." . The following inquest has been held before Mr. HITCHENS, county coroner: On Monday last, in the parish of Mullion, on the body of Walter TREZISE, aged 53 years, whose death occurred on the 29th ult., from injuries received on the 11th of that month, by being thrown down by a horse, on which a boy was riding at the time at a swift gallop. The deceased was proceeding towards his house, in the neighbourhood of Mullion, along a highway of considerable width, but being near to the hedge on the right-hand side, and hearing a horse coming behind him, he, without looking to see where the horse was, crossed to the other side of the road, where the horse came upon him and knocked him down. The occurrence happened, no doubt, by the deceased's crossing the road heedlessly, and the jury believing that it was purely accidental on the part of the boy, returned a verdict of "accidental death" at the same time animadverting strongly on his conduct of riding so fast. . CHANGE OF NAME - The Queen has been pleased to grant permission to Mr. BLAGROVE, of Lifton Park, that he and his issue may use the surname and bear the arms of BRADSHAW, in compliance with the will of his grandfather, Mr. Robert Haldane BRADSHAW. .