Mystery words/terms from this post - "about four gun-shots from the goose house" (and how far was that precisely??) WEST BRITON AND CORNWALL ADVERTISER 17 OCTOBER, 1851 - CORNWALL MICHAELMAS SESSIONS (part 1) At these sessions, which opened on Tuesday last, at Bodmin, the calendar contained the names of thirty-eight prisoners. We regret to state that the Chairman of Quarter Sessions, J. K. LETHBRIDGE, Esq., was unable to attend in consequence of severe indisposition. [30 magistrates attended.] The following qualified as magistrates: J. Ennis VIVIAN, Esq., M.P. W. Carpenter ROWE, Esq., N. KENDALL, Esq., jun., and James GLENCROSS, Esq. The Rev. Joseph BENSEN took the oaths on appointment to the rectory of St. Breock, and the Rev. John Pope COX, on institution to the rectory of St. Ervan. The following were sworn on the Grand Jury: Mr. Philip Blamey, Gwennap, foreman Mr. R. Bewes, jun., Egloshayle Mr. H. Bishop, Stithians Mr. T. Dash, Budock Mr. J. Derry, Egloshayle Mr. J. Devonshire, Falmouth Mr. J. Edye, Falmouth Mr. J. B. Geake, St. Mary Magdalene Mr. D. Gray, Endellion Mr. S. Hanbury, Budock Mr. H. Hayman, St. Mary Magdalene Mr. T. Mills, Bodmin Mr. O. Pearce, St. Stephens by Launceston Mr. J. Phillips, Falmouth Mr. D. Roberts, Endellion Mr. J. Roberts, Falmouth Mr. T. Short, Bodmin Mr. E. Spettigue, Bodmin Mr. J. Teague, Falmouth Mr. H. Vercoe, Egloshayle The Royal proclamation against vice and immorality having been read, the Chairman delivered his CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY. [The learned gentleman decried the absence of their chairman, and wished him well. The next subject was the fact that thirty-eight cases were to be heard, and a few were commented upon. Then he referred to a recent event.] I am sure I need not remind any one in this court that since our last meeting it has pleased God in His infinite wisdom, to remove from among us our kind and much valued friend - I had almost said father - Mr. TREMAYNE. I need not remind you of this melancholy event; for no one can enter this hall without missing the well-know and well-beloved form of him who for a series of years devoted the best energies of his life to the service of the public and the good of his fellow men, - one, I may say, beloved, respected, and deplored by all. He needs no eulogium from me; he needs no monument to record his virtues; his memory will long live in the hearts of all Cornishmen, and in the grateful prayers and blessings of his poorer neighbours. I trust I may be permitted to express my personal gratitude for the memory of one who first kindly introduced and instructed me in the duties of a magistrate, and who was always my kind and ready adviser. The kindness he extended to me, he on all occasions extended to all, and therefore I may truly say that the loss of no individual has been so universally felt, in the memory of the oldest among us. I feel it unnecessary to say more; but I could not feel satisfied in saying less on such a melancholy occasion. (The Chairman, when speaking of Mr. Tremayne, manifested deep emotion, and his language awakened the sympathies of all who heard him.) COUNTY BUSINESS SURGEON'S REPORT - The surgeon of the gaol, Mr. Hamley, in making his annual report, had great pleasure in stating that there had been much less sickness than for many years past. There had been only one death, that of William JOHNSON, who died of consumption, he being far advanced in that disease when brought into the prison. The number of cases for the year had been, - slight indisposition, 62 males, 10 females; under seventeen years, 2 males; Infirmary cases, 4 males, 1 female; death, 1 male; greatest number under care at one time, 5 males, 2 females. He had great pleasure in adding that the whole of the prisoners are at present in a very healthy state, and both infirmaries unoccupied. COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM REPORT - presented by Mr. N. KENDALL [The first 3/4 of the report was full of praise for the operation, particularly praising the efforts toward education, and the "good order" of "everything". He then went on to rebut portions of a report given by the Visiting Commissioners.] With regard to the beds referred to in the report, they appeared to him to be of the same size as those in private houses. The accommodations spoken of were intended for people in the lower walks of life; the poor sleep in their cottages three or four in a bed, and there was no comparison between their beds and the accommodation in the asylum. Mr. SAWLE said, as one of the members of the committee, he perfectly coincided with the remarks made by Mr. Kendall. Mr. Kendall observed that one tick was placed on the wrong bed, and therefore appeared short when the commissioners were in the asylum; hence the remark about the beds. Mr. Sawle remarked that one of the commissioners, Mr. MYLNE, was down some years ago, and then said the clothing of the pauper patients was excellent. Since that time it had been considerably improved, yet now it was reported not to be good enough. ............................ TRIALS OF PRISONERS MARY FRANKS, 38, pleaded GUILTY of stealing, at Truro, on the 31st of July and the 4th of August, a coat, waistcoat, trousers, bolster-case, apron, and other articles, the property of WILLIAM TRENHAILE. CATHERINE STEPHENS, 17, pleaded GUILTY of stealing, at the parish of Kenwyn, on the 10th of September, a shawl, shirt, apron, and other articles, the property of SARAH HOOPER. JOSEPH FINCH, 28, was indicted for stealing, at the parish of Budock, a silver watch and gold key, the property of JOHN CURRY. MR. HOCKIN conducted the prosecution. From the evidence, it appeared that prosecutor keeps the canteen at Pendennis castle, and that on Christmas day last, the prisoner came there, being then on furlough. He was a private in the 82nd regiment, a detachment of which had been some time previously at Pendennis. There were in the canteen four rooms, a bar, two tap- rooms and a bed-room, all down stairs. Prosecutor took prisoner into the bed room to give him a glass of brandy. He had there a watch and key hanging to the bed, and these he missed after prisoner had left the canteen. It further appeared, from the evidence of LUKE SMITH, another private in the 82nd regiment, that in June last he and prisoner were in the Railway Tavern, in Carmarthen. Prisoner asked Smith to sell a watch for him, and he did so, to the landlord of the inn, Mr. EVANS. Prisoner was in the parlour at the time, and the doors being open, he could see the landlord purchasing the watch in the tap-room. The watch was purchased for 16s. and a half a gallon of ale. Afterwards it was given up to a Carmarthen policeman, who also found a key in prisoner's possession. Both watch and key were identified by the prosecutor as his property. Prisoner said in defence that he bought the watch of a man in Carmarthen on the 18th of June. Verdict, Guilty. WILLIAM PAYNTER HAWKEY, 25, was charged with having on the night of the 21st, or morning of the 22nd of September, stolen from the premises of John WARNE, at Pennard, in the parish of St. Breock, a dark chestnut gelding, the property of the said John Warne. The prosecutor stated that on Sunday night, the 21st of September, he had a dark chestnut gelding in a field about half a mile from his house, and on the following morning, the horse was gone, and the gate was broken. He pursued tracks of a horse nearly a mile, in the direction of St. Breock Common, towards Withiel. He then advertised the horse, and on the following Wednesday it was brought to him by the Constable Skin. JOHN SKIN, constable at Menheniot, stated that on Monday the 22nd of September, he brought the prisoner and a horse to his house; he took charge of the prisoner and delivered the horse to the prosecutor. JOHN CONGDON, farmer at Menheniot, stated that on Monday the 22nd of September, prisoner called at his house and offered to sell him a horse; he first asked GBP 4 and then came down, by 10 shillings at a time, to fifty shillings, but witness refused to purchase at any price. The horse was worth about GBP 10. Prisoner then went away with the horse. Witness went after him and overtook him with the horse, about a quarter of a mile on the road, took him into custody and handed him over to the Constable Skin. The prosecutor, recalled, stated that the horse brought back to him by the constable, was the one he had lost on the previous Saturday night. Guilty. GEORGE TONKIN, 19, was found Guilty of stealing, on the 15th of August, at St. Blazey, a pint of rum and a quantity of port wine, the property of Augustus SANDOE, innkeeper, his master. EDWIN ANDREWS, 18, was found Guilty of stealing a pair of shoes, the property of JOHN SHORT, in the neighbourhood of St. Austell. The prisoner, a weakly looking lad, had stated in his examination before the magistrates, that he should not have committed the robbery but for poverty - that his mother had been dead for many years, and his father, the last time he saw him, told him he would have nothing more to do with him - and that no master would keep him, because he was subject to fits. The prisoner's appearance bore out much of his statement, and the jury recommended him to mercy. JOHN AUNGER, a young man, charged with having on the 20th of September, at the parish of Northhill, feloniously assaulted Edmund COUMBE, and put him in bodily fear and danger of his life, and feloniously and violently stolen from his person, two pennies and a half-penny. Mr. WHITE conducted the prosecution, and Mr. STOKES the defence. It appeared from the evidence of prosecutor, the only witness for the prosecution, that the prosecutor, a young lad, was, on the 20th of September, about half-past five in the afternoon, proceeding from Launceston to Mr. COUCH's in the parish of Northill, with a horse and cart, and barrel of porter. On the way, he met the prisoner and another man - both of whom were tipsy. Prisoner accosted the prosecutor, laid hold of the horse, and threatened to overturn the cart if prosecutor would not give him some money or beer. The boy hereupon became very timid. The prisoner made use of various violent expressions to intimidate him, and ultimately put his hand in prosecutor's pocket, but did not taking any thing from him. But, afterwards, the boy, from fear, handed over 2 1/2 d. to the prisoner. The most remarkable circumstance in the trial was the positive contradiction between a portion of the prosecutor's evidence, and the testimony given by a young girl named SALLY WILTON for the defense. He denied, in the most clear and determined way, that any item in the following statement made by Sally Wilton was true, except that he was at her house once and told her that he was going to Launceston to be measured for a new jacket. Sally Wilton's evidence was that, on the Sunday morning following the 20th of September, Edmund Coumbe told her he had met with a man called Aunger, who asked him for beer or money, and that he told the man he had not got any beer, but gave him 2 1/2 d. She replied "I would not have given the man 2 1/2 d. for you were not out of sight of houses, and if you had halloed, [some] people must have heard you." The boy replied that he did not hallo, for he was not at all hurried or afraid of the man. She then asked him if he had mentioned it to his master Mr. Couch. He said he did not say any thing to Mr. Couch about it, because he was not more hurried about it than he was at that moment. A few days after that she saw the boy again at her house; he told her he had been to Launceston against the man. She asked him what was done to the man; and he said "nothing; it was put off to the Sessions." She asked him what he said before the magistrates; he replied "Oh never mind; I know what I said." On the 6th of October, she saw him again; he then said he was going to Launceston the next day to be measured for a new jacket, as he was insured a sum of 17s.6d. the next week. She said "who has insured you that?" He said, it was for going against the man - that he should have half-a-crown at least for going to Launceston, five shillings if he stopped only one day in Bodmin, five shillings for going down and five shillings for returning. She said "you don't know; there is the man's story as well as yours." He said "the man is a miner, and the gentlemen dislike miners and won't take notice of what he has got to state." In depreciation of the girl's testimony, it was attempted to show that she had a tender attachment to the prisoner; she, however, denied that she had ever spoken to him, and had never seen him otherwise than in chapel. Mr. WHITE hereupon informed the jury that there was a great deal of courting went on sometimes at chapels, and that it was as easy to do so by looks as by talking. As we have said, the boy prosecutor denied every statement but one made by the girl, and the case was put to the jury as one of direct conflict of testimony. The jury found a verdict of Acquittal. 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