WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER JULY 4, 1851 CORNWALL MIDSUMMER SESSIONS These sessions commenced on Tuesday last, in the Shire-hall, at Bodmin. The calendar contained the names of thirty-seven prisoners, namely, thirty felonies, three committed for misdemeanours, three for an assault, and one for a breach of the peace. The following were the magistrates present: J. K. LETHRIDGE, Esq., Chairman Sir W. L. S. TRELAWNY, Bart...............W. HEXT, Esq. Sir COLMAN RASHLEIGH, Bart................D. P. HOBLYN, Esq. J. H. TREMAYNE, Esq.......................R. G. BENNET, Esq. N. KENDALL, Esq...........................E. COODE, jun., Esq. C. B. G. SAWLE, Esq.......................H. THOMSON, Esq. E. STEPHENS, Esq..........................T. GRAHAM, Esq. F. RODD, Esq..............................Rev. Gerveys GRYLLS The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury: Mr. William Deacon DODGE, St. Austell Mr. James BRAUND, Boyton Mr. Stephen Usticke BEAUCHANT, Budock Mr. James DERRY, Egloshayle Mr. John GIDDY, Boyton Mr. William GRIGG, Jacobstow Mr. Peter H. GUTHRIDGE, Falmouth Mr. Richard Arundell HARRIS, St. Breward Mr. John HAWKE, Bodmin Mr. Robert HICKS, Jacobstow Mr. James HUSBAND, Mylor Mr. Michael LOAM, Gwennap Mr. Richard NANCE, St. Dennis Mr. Richard PARNALL, St. Ewe Mr. William PARNALL, Gorran Mr. Richard Grose POLLARD, Egloshayle Mr. John RENDLE, St. Austell Mr. Joseph ROWE, St. Gluvias Mr. William SPRAY, Jacobstow Mr. John STEPHENS, St. Ewe Mr. WILLIAM TREGILGAS, Mevagissey Mr. William VERCOE, St. Austell Mr. John WILLS, Gorran COUNTY BUSINESS LOOE BRIDGE - Mr. PEASE presented the following report; [As he had been ordered to prepare a report regarding the state of the Looe bridge, he had conducted an extensive examination.] "The general appearance of the bridge is that of weakness and insecurity; in fact the impression upon the mind of a stranger on first seeing the bridge, and perceiving the numerous fissures in the piers and cutwaters, some of them extending nearly from the parapet to the base of the piers, whilst the piers and cutwaters have in some places bilged out so as to project several inches beyond the perpendicular, would be, that it must soon tumble down. ... The most defective pier is that between the second and third arches from the western end; there is in it a fissure extending through more than two-thirds of the whole width; and on the eastern side it is supported by two pieces of wood which were placed there thirty years ago. The piers between the third and fourth, eighth and ninth, and the ninth and tenth arches also appear to be feeble, and their appearance would give me some uneasiness but for having seen that an apparently much weaker pier has stood for thirty years with the aid only to two small props. It is impossible to say what is the real state of the interior of the piers. It may be even worse than the appearance of the exterior might lead one to expect, as was the case with the wood-work of the eastern opening, where the external appearance gave no adequate idea of the almost perfect rottenness beneath the surface; it was not until the wood-work was being removed that the danger to which the public had been exposed in passing over it became apparent; one of the girders actually broke into three parts on being removed, and scarcely an inch of the oat plank which rested on the girders was sound. The eleventh and twelfth arches, which were rebuilt about sixty years ago, are sound and good. ..There can be no doubt that a new bridge would be very desirable. Mr. Pease then said that in consequence of none of the old wood from the eastern opening being fit to assist in the repairs of the western opening, it is possible that the cost of the repairs will amount to about GBP 20 more than the sum voted at the last sessions. Mr. Pease also reported that he should require two levies at these sessions. -The Rev. R. BULLER said that he had given notice that he should apply at these sessions for GBP 2,500 for the purpose of rebuilding Looe bridge [based on the plan, which had been approved by the county,being accepted by the Admiralty. He found, however, that the Mayor of Looe, who was a captain in the Navy, was so strongly against the plan in question, that there was very little chance of getting the Admiralty to consent to its adoption. The Mayor had an idea that by building the bridge above the present site, there might be war steamers at Looe, with other advantages. He had written the Admiralty; it would cost GBP 4,500 to build the bridge where required by the Admiralty. He did not intend now to ask for any sum, and begged to withdraw his intended application.] On the motion of the Rev. R. BULLER, seconded by Sir COLMAN RASHLEIGH, it was then resolved that in addition to the GBP 80 granted at the last sessions, the further sum of GBP 20 should be granted for the repairs of Looe Bridge. TRIALS OF THE PRISONERS -JOHN HARRIS, 23, pleaded Guilty of stealing, at Truro, on the 14th of June, a fustian waistcoat and a shoe, the property of THOMAS WILLOUGHBY. Two Months' hard labour. ......... -JOHN RUNDLE pleaded Guilty of stealing, on the night of Friday, the 9th of May last, at Newquay, two cwt. of coals, the property of HENRY MEREDITH. One Month's hard labour. ......... -ANN VIGUS, 28, was charged with stealing, on the 20th of March, at Torpoint, a kettle, towel, cap, blue dish, and other articles, the property of EDWARD HAWTON BROCK. MR. GILBERT HAMLEY, for the prosecution, called Mr. Brock, a draper, tailor, and lodging house keeper, at Torpoint, who stated that about the 25th of March last, several articles were missed from his house, and that from information received, he went on the 3rd of June to the house of prisoner in Torpoint, where he found several articles of his property. He went for a constable called PATTISON, and on his arrival, prisoner said "I hope you will look over it, and will not punish me." AMELIA BROCK and Constable Pattison were also examined, and the jury found the prisoner Guilty. Four Months' hard labour. ........... -PHILIP MORRISH, 32, was charged with stealing, at Newquay , two horse cloths, the property of STEPHEN DREW DARKE. Mr. G. COLLINS appeared for the prosecution. Mr. Darke lives at Newquay, and has a stable there. On the evening of Monday the 14th of April, about seven o'clock, he saw the horse cloths in his stable. On the following day he went to Truro, and on his return, the weather being severe, he ordered the horse cloths to be placed on his mare, but they could not be found. On the next day, in consequence of suspicion, having heard that prisoner had slept at the house of his brother-in-law, prosecutor went there with SLEEMAN, a constable, and in the garret where prisoner had slept, the horse-cloths were found. MRS. FANNY THOMAS, sister of prisoner, at whose house prisoner slept on the night of the 14th of April, stated that he came in carrying a small parcel about nine o'clock that night, and said it contained some of his bedding; he took the parcel up into the garret where he slept. Prisoner's statement before the committing magistrate, Mr. BENNET, was then put in; it was to the effect that he found the parcel when walking in a field towards Newquay; he also said prosecutor owed him a grudge. Guilty. Four Months' hard labour. END of PART ONE Julia Mosman, OPC for St.Austell,Charlestown, and Treverbyn Website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~staustell W. Briton newspaper transcripts at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wbritonad Please visit the OPC website at http://cornwall-opc.org