Hi All - I've transcribed this issue of the news, but the rest of May will be done by a new transcriber, Lorena Loubsky. She's been with us for some time, but hasn't had transcriptions to post until now. Here's to an auspicious debut!! Cheers, Julia _________________________________________________________________ WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 2 May 1956 FRENCH MEDAL - A very handsome gold medal has been presented by the Emperor of the French, through the French ambassador in London, to Captain John ANDREW, of the schooner "Sophia", of Penzance, who, while on his passage from London to Leghorn in November last, rescued five sailors belonging to the French vessel "St. Pierre," from imminent peril. HER MAJESTY's DRAWING ROOM - The Queen held a drawing room (the second of the season) on Tuesday afternoon, in St. James's Palace. The Court was numerously attended, the presentation of ladies exceeding 250. Amongst the presentations were the following: The Hon. Mrs. Charles Prideaux BRUNE, by the Countess of Caithnese, Mrs. Hussey VIVIAN, on her marriage, by her mother, Lady Georgiana CHOLMELEY, Miss VIVIAN by Mrs. Hussey VIVIAN. PAUPERISM IN DEVON AND CORNWALL - From a return prepared by Mr. JOHN BOWRING, of St. Thomas's Union, Exeter, it appears that in 1852 the paupers of Cornwall numbered 17,151; in 1853, 15,809; in 1854, 14,717; in 1855, 14,658; and in 1856, 14,367; these figures shewing that the tendency of general pauperism is downwards. METHODIST NEW CONNEXION MISSIONS - Sermons in behalf of these missions were preached on Sunday last in Ebenezer Chapel, Truro; in the morning by the Rev. J. Gostick, Wesleyan, who gave an admirable discourse, and in the afternoon and evening by the deputation, the Rev. H. PIGGIN from Guernsey, who delivered two excellent sermons. On Monday evening the annual meeting was held in the same chapel, Mr. BOND in the chair, who advocated the cause of missions with great ability. The Rev. W. WILSHAW read the report, after which speeches of a forcible and impressive character were delivered by the Revds. R. TABB (Bible Christian), ANNEAR (of the Methodist Free Church), LAWRENCE (Baptist minister), by the deputation, Rev. H. PIGGIN, by the Rev. W. WILSHAW, of the Methodist New Connexion, and by Mr. UGLOW, of Truro. At St. Agnes, on Sunday last, three sermons were preached in the Methodist New Connexion Chapel; in the morning by the deputation, Rev. H. Piggin, in the afternoon by the Rev. Charles HAIMS, Wesleyan minister, and in the evening by the Rev. W. WILSHAW. [The annual meeting on Tuesday was addressed by the Revds WHETTER (Independent), PIGGIN, WILSHAW, and Messrs. ENDEAN, BOWDEN, and Captain TEAGUE.] The meetings were well attended, and characterized by an excellent missionary spirit. The collections were about the same as last year. PENZANCE BURIAL BOARD - An adjourned public vestry was held on Friday last, when a letter was read by Mr. CORNISH, from Mr. BARNES, the Bishop of Exeter's secretary, stating that the Bishop required a four feet fence of separation between the consecrated and unconsecrated ground. The meeting was very numerously attended, and some strong observations were made on the arbitrary conduct of the Bishop. A resolution was ultimately passed without a dissentient "that the inhabitants of Penzance, in vestry assembled, entertaining an unqualified disapproval of the Bishop of Exeter's demands, yet wishful of meeting those who desire consecrated burial ground, only accede to the Bishop's grievous terms under protest." DESERTION FROM THE MILITIA - On the 24th ult., THOMAS GREEN, of the parish of Kenwyn, was charged before the Mayor of Truro, with being a deserter from the Royal Cornwall Rangers, while at Bodmin on the 3rd of August last. He was apprehended in Truro on the 23rd ult. by police constable PAPPIN. Corporal JOHN BARON, of the Royal Cornwall Rangers, proved the desertion, which also was admitted by the prisoner, who was committed to the house of correction for one month. A deserter from the Royal Marines, named WILLIAM CRAZE, has been committed by the magistrates of Falmouth, charged with having deserted from that corps. The man had enlisted in the Militia stationed at Pendennis, and was discovered by the letters R.M. on his braces. He is now in the borough gaol, awaiting the directions of the admiralty. TRURO POLICE - On Tuesday last, before the Mayor and Mr. PADDON, WILLIAM TEAGUE, a seafaring lad of about seventeen years of age, was charged with being disorderly, making use of disgusting language, and threatening to stab his mother. This took place on Monday night last, in the house of prisoner's mother, in Carclew Street; he took out a large clasp knife and threatened to kill her, but some of the neighbours, hearing his bad conduct, came into the house, and the knife was wrested from him by JANE RICHARDS. He was ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for twelve months, and being unable to procure them he was committed for two months to the county gaol. On Wednesday last, before Mr. Stokes, Mayor, and Mr. PADDON and Capt. KEMPE, magistrates, EDWARD TANK, a beer-shop keeper in Fairmantle Street was summoned for keeping his house open for the sale of beer, and allowing persons to drink therein, at half past eleven on Saturday night last. The charge was proved by police constable WOOLCOCK, but it being Tank's first offence, he was fined 5s. and expenses, with a caution from the bench. [WILLIAM JOHNS, landlord of the White Horse Inn, and JOHN MITCHELL, of the Railway Inn, were similarly charged with keeping their houses open when by law they should have been closed. Both were fined 10s and costs.] JAMES ROOKE, of the George and Dragon, St. Austell Street, was summoned for having his house open at half-past eight on Sunday morning last. He admitted the charge, but said that two out of the three men in the house were travellers from St. Austell, and that the other, who lives in Truro, having been sent for by them, came in and dra! nk from their jug. [Police constable Pappin testified two of the men lived in Truro; the door was open, not closed, and before he entered, he saw several men coming out of the house, one of them drunk.] It being the landlord's first offence, he was fined 5s. and costs. FALMOUTH POLICE - On Monday last WILLIAM DUNSTAN, of Penryn, was fined 20s. and 10s. costs, for being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting WILLIAM HARRISON, police-officer, at the Coach and Horses Inn. Also a seaman was fined 20s. and costs for damaging a sail. A man called NEWBERRY has been committed for an assault on JULIA HELLINGS. FATAL MINE ACCIDENT - On Monday last, at Pedsandrea mine, Redruth, a young man named DAVEY lost his life under the following circumstances: It appears that he was engaged filling the kibble in one of the levels, but at the time of the accident was replacing a piece of timber over the engine shaft, to enable him to get at his work more easily, when one end, not being properly secured against the opposite side of the shaft, tilted him up and threw him headlong to the bottom of the shaft, where, falling into five fathoms of water, he was drowned. CORONERS' INQUESTS - The following inquests have been held before Mr. JOHN CARLYON, county coroner: On Thursday the 24th ultimo, at Tywardreath, (in the absence of Mr. HAMLEY) on the body of JOHN BARRETT, aged 3 years, who, on the preceding Monday, had fallen into a pan of hot water, which his mother had taken from a boiler and placed on the ground; and although she caught him up immediately, he died from the scalds and the shock to the system, on the following day. Verdict, "accidental death." On the 25th, at Falmouth, on the body of HENRY JOSE, aged 47 years, who was found dead in his bed, on Thursday morning. It appeared that the deceased, who was a waterman, had been exerting himself a good deal on that day, but he went to bed about half-past nine, apparently in his usual health, and there was no doubt that the cause of death was the rupture of a large vessel of the heart. Verdict accordingly. On Tuesday the 29th ult., at Redruth, on the body of THOMAS DAVEY, miner, aged 18 years, who was killed in Pednandrea mine, on Monday. We have given the particulars of this case above. Verdict, accidental death. The following inquests have been held before Mr. E. T. CARLYON, deputy coroner: At Padstow, on the 25th day of April, on the body of William BROAD HARDING, a mason, aged 65; who, it would appear from the evidence, had been engaged at work on the roof of Mr. BODY's house, in Church Street, on the afternoon of the Wednesday previous, and whilst so occupied a miller's cart which was passing down the street, going under the ladder on which deceased rested, struck against it, and brought both it and the poor man to the ground; deceased survived the accident but a very few minutes, having fallen from a height of about eighteen feet. Verdict, accidental death. On the same day, at Nangollan, in the parish of St. Ewe, on the body of JAMES OLD, aged 39, who died very suddenly on the previous evening, whilst conversing with a friend, who had come into his house after the day's work to spend an hour or two with him. Mr. MOUNTSTEVEN was in attendance, and gave it as his opinion that deceased died of apoplexy. Verdict, died by the visitation of God. The following inquests have been held before Mr. Coode, County Coroner: On the 24th ult. at Stokesclimsland, on the body of William WILLIAMS, aged three years, the child of a miner residing at a place called Ireland, in that parish. From the evidence, it appeared that on Tuesday afternoon last, a farmer named RATTENBURY had gone with his horse to the smith's shop, and on returning, alighted for the purpose of leading it through the village, when the animal accidentally pulled the bridle from his hands and proceeded towards its home. On passing Williams's house, the child at that moment ran across the road and fell underneath the horse's feet, receiving such injuries as to cause almost instant death. The horse was going at a slow pace, and is perfectly quiet and free from vice. It would have been led by the owner, but from the circumstance of its having unavoidably got away from him. Verdict, "accidental death." On Tuesday last, at Northhill, on the body of JOHN MADDEVER, aged 28. (or 23) The deceased was a native of Bridestow, and a widower. He was by trade a sawyer, and for the last nine years had been accustomed to work at different places in this county; latterly he had lodged at Rills Mill, in the parish of Linkinhorne, with a person called MITCHELL. On Monday morning last, in company with his comrade, a man by the name of SIMON JOPE, he went to work as usual at a place called Linner, in Northhill, about nine o'clock, and shortly after complaining of pain in his bowels, said he could work no longer, and that he would go to Mr. Couch's (the Farmers Inn), a little way distant, and get some brandy, which he thought would cure him. They accordingly left together, and arrived at the inn about twelve o'clock. During the afternoon they were supplied with brandy at different times amounting altogether to about a pint, the greater part of which was drunk by the deceased; he then applied! for more, but it was refused. About four o'clock he laid his head on the table, and, as was supposed, fell asleep. He continued in that state until one o'clock in the morning, when he was left by THOMAS PROUT, the landlord's son-in-law, alone in charge of Jope, with the understanding that they were to go home on MADDEYER's awaking. Soon after, a rattle was heard by Jope in the throat, which alarmed him; he immediately went up stairs and called up Prout, and on their return to the kitchen they found that Maddever was dead. Mr. WILLIAMS, surgeon, having made a post mortem examination of the body, discovered that the man had died from apoplexy. There were also other marks showing that he must have been addicted to drinking; and it was likewise proved by other witnesses that for a long time he had been accustomed to indulge in very intemperate habits. Verdict, "apoplexy from excessive drinking."[his name was spelled in 2 ways] LEGAL INTELLIGENCE EXETER DISTRICT COURT OF BANKRUPTCY - Before Mr. Commissioner Beree Thursday, April 24 APPLICATION TO ANNUL A BANKRUPTCY Re JAMES BENJAMIN LOCKE, of Truro, mercer and tailor. This was an application by Mr. STOGDON, who appeared for the bankrupt, to annul the petition, which was dated 17th of April, 1856; the petitioning creditor being Mr. EDWARD GARD, merchant, of Castle Street, Exeter, to whom the bankrupt was indebted in the sum of GBP 70. Mr. VENN (of the firm of Head and Venn, solicitors, Exeter) examined witnesses in support of the petition. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. ROBERT A BOUTCHER, traveler for Mr. GARD, that a short time ago he called upon the bankrupt on his downward journey. Locke said he could not give him an order, upon which Mr. Boutcher expressed a hope that he would do something for him on his return. On his way home, Mr. Boutcher called again at the bankrupt's house, and saw his wife, who told him that her husband was not home, and that she did not know where he was gone. In the meantime, it appeared the bankrupt had drawn from the Devon and Cornwall Bank about GBP 200,which he had deposited there, taking GBP 195 in notes, and the remainder in gold. He put the former in his coat pocket, having no pockets in his trousers, and the gold in his waistcoat pocket. On his way home he said he did not stop to speak to anybody; but that in going into his house he discovered that he had lost the notes, amounting to GBP 195. In reply to questions, as to what steps he took to recover them, the bankrupt said he had them "cried;" that he sent a young lad to the bank to ask if they knew the numbers; and that he had about fifty handbills printed and distributed around town. The police, hearing of his loss, came to him, but he did not go to them. After remaining in Truro for nearly a week, he stated that he was so affected at the loss of his money that he went away for a change of air. He first visited Bristol, and then went to Dunster to the house of his brother-in-law. After being there three days he told him of his loss, and asked him to lend him about GBP 300, to pay his creditors something, saying he should not require it longer than the month of June. The bankrupt had previously borrowed GBP 200 of his brother-in-law, which he said he still owed him, together with the interest thereon. Mr. BOUTCHER, in the course of the examination, stated that there were rumours about a fire which had taken place in bankrupt's premises, which were somewhat suspicious. Mr. STOGDON examined the bankrupt upon this subject, and he stated that one night, after he was in bed, he sent down a little boy into the shop with a candle to look for his watch key, and that he thought it probable that some papers, which were loose on the desk, might have caught fire. About an hour and a quarter after this he was awoke by a policeman, who had broken through two doors to get to his bedroom. On getting into the street he complained of the cold, whereupon one of the bystanders said to him "It serves you right; you should not have set the house on fire." It appeared that the bankrupt received the sum of GBP 200 from the Phoenix Insurance Office on account of this fire, and that this was the same which he had taken from the bank, the greater portion of which he alleged he had lost on his return home. Mr. STOGDON, in support of the application to have the bankruptcy annulled, contended that no act of bankruptcy had been committed; that the man, having sustained a serious loss, had gone to his friends, with the view of meeting the payments coming due. He denied that any specific appointment had been made with Mr. Gard's traveler; and that his usual mode of payment was to send notes, in halves, to Mr. Gard. Mr. VENN called Mr. Boutcher to prove that the bankrupt had promised to meet him with the understanding that the account should be settled. Ultimately, the examination was adjourned until Tuesday, Mr. Stogdon agreeing to produce the bankrupt's brother-in-law as a witness, as well as some letters which Locke wrote to his wife during his stay at Dunster. Tuesday, April 29 Re J.B. Locke: The examination in this case was resumed to-day. Mr. STOGDON said he would be able to prove by witnesses, that the loss sustained by the bankrupt was a genuine and not a fictitious one; that in leaving the town of Truro, the bankrupt had no intention of absenting himself from his creditors, and that his reason for going away was to obtain money to meet the claims of his creditors. He therefore contended that no act of bankruptcy had been committed. MRS. ELIZA LOCKE, wife of the bankrupt, then stated that in consideration of the loss occasioned by the fire, her husband received between GBP 200 and GBP 300. He deposited GBP 200 out of the this sum in the bank, and with the remainder he paid some of his creditors, including the petitioning creditor, Mr. Gard. Her husband received notice that Mr. Boutcher would call on him, and she advised him to draw the money from the bank. Mr. Boutcher called, and she heard from her husband that he did not ask for any money, but told him to get up a good order on his return. Her husband went to the bank to draw money, and on his return she asked him if he had got it; but upon his putting his hand into his coat pocket he exclaimed "dear me the notes are gone." He appeared quite delirious after this, and witness feared at one time that he would have destroyed himself. She tried to console him, and steps were taken to discover them (which the witness detailed). Her husband had been much af! fected ever since, and until lately no clue had been discovered to the missing notes. A few days since however, a man named DUFF, who was formerly very ragged and in low circumstances, was discovered to have new clothes, and his wife was also seen to be well-dressed, and it was said by some people that he had found a lot of money; and in consequence thereof an inspector of police was now engaged in trying to find the notes. She advised her husband to go to his friends, and try to obtain money for them. He accordingly went to her brother's at Dunster. After he was gone, Mr. Boutcher called and witness saw him. He told her he had heard that the money had not been lost, but on a subsequent occasion when she asked him who had slandered their character, he then said they did not distinctly say so, but intimated such was the case. Soon after she received an attorney's letter from Messrs GLASS, of Bristol, threatening her husband with a writ if their debt was not paid. She wrote to them to say her husband was not at home, and then consulted Mr. Boutcher, whom she considered their friend, and he suggested that an assignment should be made to Mr. Gard. She did not then know where to find her husband, but she wrote him at several places and he came back on a Friday, and the next day the bankruptcy messenger took possession. By Mr. Venn - Mr. Boutcher suggested that her husband had run away, but she told him he had gone to his friends to get money, but she did not know where. James ESCOTT, miller and baker, of Dunster, the brother-in-law of bankrupt, stated that the latter had borrowed money, and had goods of him to the amount of GBP 200. for which witness held a note of hand, with interest at five per cent. The bankrupt told him of his loss, and asked him to lend him GBP 200, to meet his creditors, but that he should not want it until May. He promised to lend him the money whenever he wanted it, and nothing was said about security. The sitting was then adjourned until the 5th of May for the production of Escott's books, to show the transactions between him and bankrupt, the accounts according to bankrupt's books not being satisfactory to the Commissioner, who said they did not correspond with his statements.