WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER APRIL 11, 1851 COUNTY BUSINESS COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM - VISITING COMMITTEES' REPORT [In making their annual report to the magistrates in Quarter Sessions, they begged to express their satisfaction with the present state of the establishment. The new buildings are found to be most commodious and healthful, and by the additional room they afford, the establishment is fully equal to the wants of the county. Several cases of cure were submitted to the committee; unfortunately, they did not equal the number of new cases - a very great number of hopeless and confirmed cases had been sent to the Asylum within the last two years. Many of these cases were kept back for want of room in the County Asylum; too, it is probable that motives of false economy have led to the detention of many patients at home, where the patients did not receive early care, and cases with every prospect of cure by the cruel delay have become entirely beyond the reach of medicine and discipline. To remedy this evil, which arises from a fear of cost, the committee have been doubly anxious to compromise in every particular, and have reduced the charges whenever the prices of food would admit of it. Already during the past year they have taken off sixpence per week, and they have great pleasure in announcing that a further deduction of sixpence is to take place from Christmas last, and this without the slightest interference with the dietary, which is ample and excellent. The grounds and gardens are now progressing, as patients do the principal part of the work. This represents a savings of GBP 400, had the work been done by contract. As to the Report which the Visiting Commissioners made, which, in the absence of the Domestic Superintendent, seemed to reflect on that excellent officer and on the Visiting Committee, and which had been printed and sent to every Asylum in England, Mr. N. KENDALL [as Chairman of the Visiting Committee] requested that it should be withdrawn, or the reply be printed by the side of that report. He then addressed each of the errors in the report which had resulted either from information withheld or wrongly given. For instance, they had reported there was no tool-house connected with the Asylum, whereas the fact was that there was an excellent tool-house. Upon investigation, it was found that the steward, who acted as guide to the Commissioners in Mr. HICK's absence, had, in his misplaced enthusiasm, denied there was a tool-house, in the hope that budgetary restraints would be removed, and they could have "the first institution in the world." He felt we "were toiling in a way of stinted economy, and all that was wanted was a length and breadth of money to carry the institution to an unlimited extent -we should have more room and a better tool-house there, and that we should have a glorious place." The man has been very ill since, and has been obliged to go away for a change of air. Mr. Kendall was sure he had no idea of injuring Mr. Hicks, or getting his situation for himself; Mr. Kendall's idea was that he is a visionary man, and he thought we should have a very grand thing if only we had the money. There was a complaint that patients were in the courtyard, when tools were there. Normally, when the patients were at dinner, the gardener, who was employed four or five days a week, would take the tools in charge. The usual practice is that after the patients dine, the servants take their dinner; but the Commissioners, in order to review the whole of the men in the court-yard, ordered them out there immediately before the servants had dined. So it was true, as far as words go, that the court-yard was full of patients when the tools were there. But it is not fair to say that this was owing to any fault in the arrangements of the Asylum; and was it not disingenuous and unfair on the part of the Commissioners to make this kind of rejoinder to the remarks of the Visiting Committee? If they made a mistake, why should they not confess it afterwards? Then too, the Commissioners thought proper to say that the larder was improperly built; they would not have sanctioned any plans that included a door. However, Mr. WIGHTWICK, the architect, was sure the Commissioners themselves changed the original plan, which had no door; it was their own alteration. Sir COLEMAN RASHLEIGH, a member of the Visiting Committee, observed that the letter which had been sent to the magistrates at the Quarter Sessions during the last sessions, seemed to convey a censure on the visiting committee . Mr. KENDALL said that up to this point the committee had always received perhaps even more than their share of praise from the visiting commissioners. The Bodmin Asylum appeared to rank high in the commissioners' estimation; the only fault found was that they had been somewhat dilatory with regard to the buildings, but this the committee could not help, it having resulted from the want of money. But after the commissioners had been ten months absent (during which it could be shown that more had been done than for years previously), they came down again, and in the absence of the Superintendent, produced this very erroneous report. Mr. Kendall pointed out that Mr. TYERMAN gave an order that everything should remain in its place, exactly as it stood, and not a single article should be touched during the Committee's visit. A nurse had very properly thrown a mattress, which was no longer of use, from a window into the yard - but it had not yet been removed. The Committee pointed to this as a point of criticism. Even the economy that was exercised in the establishment had been turned against them into a matter of complaint. There was a clever man in the establishment who was a smith, and by employing him at an expense of GBP 7 a year, they were enabled to save from GBP 40 to GBP 50 a year. That man daily superintends the various pipes and so on, and in the course of a short time would discover any leakage and repair it; yet there was a leakage reported on, and the report printed at the expense of the country and sent throughout the Asylums of England. THE CHAIRMAN: They also found fault with the gravel walks, which were not in use. They were in course of being laid; you had dug to a considerable depth for draining, and in that state they were seen; they were gravel walks in the course of being made. Mr. KENDALL said he wished the Commissioners would come down now. The Visiting Committee would give them every assistance in their power, and convince them they were in error. [The Commissioners had been invited, but had not responded to the invitation, nor acknowledged receipt of the newspaper accounts of the last Sessions.] THE CHAIRMAN suggested that the committee might need to be satisfied with a general expression of confidence on the part of the Court. He hesitated not to say how much the county was indebted to those gentlemen who took on this most disagreeable task, and carried out their duties so well. He proposed a resolution of confidence, which the Hon. G. M. FORTESCUE begged to second. He entirely concurred with Mr. TREMAYNE as to the obligations the county was under to those gentlemen for undertaking their very difficult task, and suggested a copy of this resolution be sent the committee. BRIDGES - Mr. Moorman, surveyor of the western district, stated that no particular report was necessary for any bridge in his district. Mr. Pease ,surveyor for the eastern district, reported some slight repairs to several bridges. Of Tamerton bridge, both arches must be taken down and rebuilt from their spring; the pier and abutments below were sufficiently strong to be built upon. Until the works were somewhat advanced, it would be necessary to close the bridge to the public for about a fortnight. TREGONY BRIDGE - Mr. Gwatkin said, some years ago, on the representation of one of the Justices for West Powder, the small grant of GBP 10 was made for raising the road near Tregony bridge, to prevent it being overflowed. [Since then, the state of the bridge had deteriorated.] The bridge is situate at the foot of Tregony hill, across the Fal, on the way to Truro. It consists of a small arch on each side and a large arch across the river, and there is a causeway connected with the bridge of about 100 feet in length, which crosses two low meadows. Many older residents had told him that they had driven under the bridge with a cart. He believed that unless some remedy were provided, the river would force itself over the bank into the adjoining meadows, and not having any outlet, would destroy the causeway. There was also another bridge in the neighbourhood belonging to the county, built for the purpose of discharging a considerable stream of water which comes down the neighbouring valley; but in consequence of an accumulation of sand against the mouth of the arch, there was not sufficient space to discharge the back water, which is considerable, and during the summer months becomes stagnant and extremely offensive. He thought the county should do something to prevent the evil consequences that must follow if the sand were not removed. In connexion with this subject, he would like to mention from the toll gate at the bottom of Tregony hill, toward Ruan, the road is frequently under water, and was particularly dangerous since there are deep ditches by the side of the road. The Trust have had the road surveyed, with the intent of raising it above the flood water, but the surveyors employed, Mr. TRETHEWY and MR. HICKES, of Truro, say it would be better to deepen the river's channel at Portsgate and cut it straight. The cost of raising the road would be GBP 108, and of cutting the river and deepening it, GBP 178. Once the sand was removed, there would be a proper fall from the bridge. He handed in a plan and estimate by Mr. WHITLEY, of Truro, which stated that the soffit of the large arch is now only two and a half feet above the surface of the water, and only four feet above the bed of the river; that the sand had accumulated under this arch five feet within the last twenty years; that 120 acres of land had been destroyed or much damaged. Mr. MOORMAN said part of the bridge belonged to Tregony; but Mr. GWATKIN said Tregony had not the means of doing [what] was required; the arch belonging to Tregony was filled up. Mr. TREMAYNE pointed out Mr. GWATKIN had omitted one point, that the bridge was the only means of access the people of that part had to Truro, unless they crossed the set at Ruan. Mr. Gwatkin said they would otherwise have to go to Grampound, ten miles round. He was authorized to say that Mr. GREGOR had offered to give GBP 100 toward the GBP 178 expense, and he believed the trust commissioners would be able to raise the remaining GBP 78; but it was necessary that the two improvements should be made simultaneously. Sir Colman RASHLEIGH inquired whether the accumulation of sand under Tregony bridge endangers the structure? Mr. Moorman replied, certainly, though not immediately. To further questions, Mr. Moorman replied that if the banks of the river are raised, it would swamp the bridge. Mr. Tremayne thought it might be in the interest of the county to keep up the bridge, because if destroyed, it might involve the county in building another. He understood that Mr. TRETHEWY, acting as Mr. HAWKINS's steward, had prevented very much the accumulation of sand in the upper part of the river; and the sand accumulated at the Tregony part had been where no such precautions had been taken. He favoured the plan for cutting a new channel, as now although the upper bridge at Nansladron was covered with sand, the lower at Pentewan was more clear now that it had been for thirty years past, and this was solely, he believed, from keeping the channel narrow and straight. Mr. Gwatkin then gave notice that at the next sessions he should move for a grant of GBP 60, for the purpose of removing the sand and gravel accumulated within certain limits above and below Tregony bridge; in the interim, Mr. Moorman and Mr. Pease to examine the bridge and accumulations of sand, and to report the best means of preventing them, and how far the county is liable to the same. Mr. Gwatkin said he had given this notice based on the estimate of Mr. Whitley; but he presumed that Mr. Moorman and Mr. Pease would furnish an estimate. LOOE BRIDGE - Mr. Pease reported that the wooden part of this bridge had been broken up, and the state of the girders was found to be worse than he had anticipated. All the girders as well as the planks on the eastern opening must be replaced by new, and also some of the western opening. [He had advertised for oak timber for repairs, but as the cost of the timber alone was twice as much as the sum allowed by the magistrates, he had waited for this session before taking action.] The REV. R. BULLER said the bridge was dangerous to the lives of her Majesty's subjects. Mr. Pease agreed. The Rev. Buller then said GBP 80 would meet the cost of present repairs, but should that money not be allowed, such was the danger of the bridge that perhaps there would be some unwilling martyrs before the next sessions. A question regarding the Admiralty was raised, amendments were suggested, and at length the Rev. Buller proposed that Mr. Pease be directed to draw up a report, to be submitted to the next Quarter Session, with a view to its submission to the Lords of the Admiralty. This proposal met with no objections. TRIALS OF THE PRISONERS THOMAS HARPER, 29, and PHILIP CARLYON, 32, were charged with stealing, at the parish of St. Mewan, on the 4th instant, two hen turkeys and a fowl, the property of Mr. ROBERT BUNN, of St. Austell. Mr. SHILSON for the prosecution, Mr. CHILDS for the defence. Mr. Shilson stated the case, then called: - THOMAS RICHARDS, from whose evidence it appeared that Mr. Dunn, of the hotel at St. Austell, keeps also a farm at a short distance from the town, called Trelowa. The witness, Richards, acts as Mr. Dunn's hind on this farm. [On Friday the 4th instant, he saw the fowls in a wain-house on the farm premises. The next morning, on going into the yard, he saw a quantity of feathers, and the turkeys and fowl were gone. He traced the feathers across the farm, over a hedge into a field belonging to MR. EDWARDS, where he saw the footsteps of two men. On examination, the tracks showed one man had seven hobs on the heel of his right shoe. He continued following the trail toward Truan, where the prisoners lived. About fifteen yards out from the pathway in Polterro moor, he found more of the turkey feathers. Afterwards, found in prisoner Carlyon's house the wing of a turkey, in a wood corner; it was of a dark colour, as one of his turkey's had been. Harper's boot was compared, and corresponded with the tracks having seven hob-nails and an iron skute partly broken.] Cross-examined: The prisoners live near together. The feathers and wing of the turkey which were found I believe are those of the lost turkeys, but cannot swear to them. -The next witness was a policeman of St. Austell, who examined the footmarks, and found the tracks of two men and a dog. From Polterro moor, he and the last witness went to prisoner Carlyon's house. Saw his wife looking out of the chamber window; she came down, and had then blood and feathers on her gown. She went up hastily and the constable followed. She began to double up the bed-clothes, but he turned them back, and found on the bed-tie two legs of a fowl and entrails of a fowl or turkey, which were then warm. Saw a knife with blood and feathers on it, and on the floor what were apparently turkey's feathers; also found downstairs in a crock over the fire, part of a fowl. Went to Harper's house under the same roof, and took his boots, which were then damp, and the right one corresponded with the track with which it was compared in the moor. Witness afterwards took Harper into custody, when he said that he and Carlyon came from Polgooth together, and Carlyon had his dog with him. On Sunday night the policeman apprehended Carlyon at his sister's house at St. Ewe, about three miles from his own house. Mr. Childs addressed the jury for the prisoners, contending that the evidence was not conclusive against them; there was nothing to show positively that the feathers &c. found were those of Mr. Dunn's turkeys and fowl. As to the footmark with which the shoe found in Harper's house corresponded, it was not shown that he had been wearing that boot, or if he had, he might have been passing over the ground for innocent purposes. The jury retired for some time to deliberate; then returned and found the prisoners Guilty. They were each sentenced to Four Months' hard labour. .......... RICHARD ALLEN, 44, was charged with stealing at Bodmin, nine pounds weight of beef, three pounds of pork, and a pound of suet, the property of WARWICK GUY, the younger. Mr. J. B. COLLINS conducted the prosecution. Mr. GUY stated that he was a butcher, and attended Bodmin market on the 22nd of March. He had a cart with meat on it, which was placed in Mr. FRAMPTON's yard, at the Town Arms, adjoining the back of the market-house. On the evening of that day he had a basket in his cart containing two pieces of beef, a piece of pork, and some suet. He had tied an oil-cloth over the cart preparatory to going home, and had ordered the ostler to put to the horse. He then left the cart and went into the market-house for his great coat, which he had left on the stall. As he was going into the market-house by the back way, he saw prisoner there a little distance from his stall. When he returned with his coat, he went through the market-house into the front street, then through Mr. Frampton's house down to the back yard again. On getting to the entrance of the yard, he saw prisoner standing between the shafts of his cart, with his hands over, tying up some beef in a handkerchief. He stood still to watch prisoner, who turned round to come out of the yard, having the handkerchief containing the beef and other meat in his hand. He observed prosecutor, and threw the meat under the cart in the handkerchief. Prosecutor ran to take up the handkerchief to see what was in it, and prisoner ran away. Called the ostler, and searched, but could not find the prisoner. Examined his cart, and found that all the meat that was in his basket was gone, and that the oil cloth had been untied. The meat was his property. Verdict, Guilty. Sentence, Three Months' hard labour. NO BILL - The Grand Jury ignored the bill against RICHARD QUILLER, charged with embezzling the monies of THOMAS HARWOOD and others, of Penryn. The Chairman discharged the Grand Jury at about one o'clock this day, with the thanks of the county for their services. Two or three appeals were entered and adjourned. PERRANARWORTHAL, appellant; KENWYN, respondent. Mr. Childs, for Mr. Genn, on behalf of Perranarworthal, said this was an appeal against an order for the removal of MARY and REBECCA DAVEY, from the parish of Kenwyn to Perranarworthal. He moved the case be adjourned. Mr. SHILSON, for respondent, consented to the adjournment, on condition that appellants admitted the birth settlement of pauper's deceased husband, to have been in the parish of Perranarworthal. Mr. Childs assented to this condition. RECOVERY OF MALT DUTY - Mr. DARKE made an application for the return of duty on the destruction of malt by fire. [The act provided that in such cases the proprietor should apply to the Quarter Sessions wherein the malt had been destroyed; the court of sessions was authorized to examine witnesses on oath, and to grant a certificate that a certain amount of malt had been destroyed, on which the duty had been paid. On the production of that certificate, the Excise would repay the duty.] Mr. Darke called WILLIAM SCOWN, jun., who deposed that his father is a maltster at Stratton, and on the 19th of December last, his malt-house was destroyed by fire; it arose from the kiln, and was discovered about two or half-past two o'clock next morning. It had been an accidental fire; the duty had been paid on the malt, amounting to GBP 106.9s.3 1/2 d. , or 2s.7d. per imperial bushel, and five per cent on that. He had altogether 985 bushels. PHILIP MAINE, supervisor of Excise for the Bideford district, in which Stratton is situate, said he had ascertained the quantity of malt which would be on the premises at the time, which agreed with what the last witness had stated, namely 785 bushels, after allowing for increase. [this may be in error, as Mr. Maine just said 785 bushels, not 985.] The duty, GBP 106.9s.3 1/2d. had been paid, and that was the amount entitled to drawback. The Court granted the certificate necessary for the return of the duty. This concluded the business of the Sessions. 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