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The Aberystwyth Observer

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Sat July 17 1869

Cardiganshire Summer Assizes, Friday 9th July

John Williams (20), labourer, was charged with burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of one William Jones, Tre-Taliesin, on the night of the 2nd May last, and stealing therefrom a hat and a pair of stockings.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Mr Maurice Davies, instructed by Messrs Thomas and Jones, Aberystwyth, appeared for the prosecution. Prisoner was undefended.

William Jones, examined by Mr Davies, said he was a blacksmith, residing at Tre-Taliesin. He remembers the night of 2nd May last. He went to bed about 10 o'clock, and everything was safe at that time. He was the last person up, and always took care to see things right. There were two windows in the kitchen, one in the front and one in the back. The back window opens, sliding horizontally. The window was perfectly safe when he went to bed. He got up between 5 and 6 the next morning, and found one half the window wanting. It was the half that was sliding. He found it afterwards on the ground outside the house, about a yard from the window.

By the judge: there was room for a man or boy to get through.

Examination continued: He called his wife and son, and then missed a pair of stockings and a hat. He wore the hat on the Sunday. The hat produced was his hat. He knew it perfectly.

Sophia Jones, wife of the last witness, corroborated his evidence, and identified the stockings produced. She last saw them on the stairs when she went to bed. She identified them by a hole which she had worn in the toe.

David Roderick, sworn, said that he had occasion to get up early, between 3 and 4 o'clock, on the 3rd of may last, as he wanted to go a message that he did not like to go the previous evening, it being Sunday, He was on his way home, and met the prisoner about a quarter of a mile from the prosecutor's house, between Taliesin and Talybont. Prisoner was going towards Aberystwyth. Seeing a man up so early, he went and spoke to him. He identified the prisoner before the magistrates. The prisoner spoke English, or something like it.

By the Judge: He knew where Mr Jones lives, as he was going to his smithy.

P.S.Morgan proved going in search of the prisoner, and overtaking him at Llancynfelyn, about 4 miles from Taliesin,. He found the stockings and hat produced upon him. He was wearing both. He charged him with the burglary; and prisoner said he bought the hat. He then took him into custody.

Prisoner had no questions to ask, but said in his defence that he bought the hat and stockings at Newport, Monmouthshire.

His lordship having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of Guilty; and he was sentenced to 9 months hard labour.

October 16 1869

MARRIAGE OF MISS MARGARET PRYSE, GWYNFRYN, TO THOMAS HOLFORD ESQ OF LEAMINGTON

The above joyous event came off with great e/clat on Wednesday last in the pretty little parish church of Llancynfelin. ... The church and churchyard were crowded with eager spectators. Seldom, if ever, have we seen the interesting ceremony so happily and efficiently conducted. The bride was attired in rich white satin, trimmed with Brussels lace and flowers, a white tulle veil, and a wreath of orange blossoms. Sir Pryse Pryse Esq., brother of the bride, was best man. After the ceremony was over the horses of the happy couple's carriage were taken out, and ropes were substituted, and the happy couple were drawn through Tre'rddol village and back to Lodge Park. At this stage of the proceedings Mr Jenkins of Henhavod (one of the oldest tenants on the Gogerddan estate) presented the bride with a necklet, bracelet and brooch, made of pearls...About forty sat down afterwards to a grand dejeuner prepared at Lodge Park, where every delicacy of the season was served....the enthusiasm of the people never flagged until the adjoining hills had been illuminated with blazing bonfires. In the course of the afternoon a large number of the tenantry were regaled with a substantial dinner at the "Half-way House", Tre'rddol. Nothing unpleasant occurred to mar the day's proceedings....The Machynlleth band was in attendance during the day.We have been given to understand that Mr Holford has signified his intention of presenting the handsome sum of £50 towards supplying the poor of Llancynfelin with warm clothing for the ensuing winter.

Dec 11 1869

County Magistrates Meeting, Aberystwyth

Monday December 16th 1869

Larceny:

David Jones, sworn: I am a brickburner, and live at Tretaliesin. My wife died there on the 24th ult. She had two gold rings on her finger shortly before her death, and I was instructed by her to give one of them to my daughter. After her death I missed one of the rings.

Bridget Roberts, sworn: Shortly before my daughter died, Elizabeth Jones, died, I observed that the two rings which were on her finger had been taken away.

Margaret Jones, sworn: I was present when the body of Elizabeth Jones was laid out. She had two rings on her finger, and I believe one of them was taken away by the accused.

P.C.David Morgan, sworn: I received information as to the lost ring on Wednesday last, and was told the accused Ann Evans, was suspected of having stolen the ring. On proceeding to the house of the accused, she gave the ring to me.

Sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

Dec 18 1869

County Court - non payment of wages - Dolclettwr mine works - adjourned

Jan 1 1870

Report of Plygain service - sad departure of Mrs Holford

January 8th 1870

Tre'rddol Petty Sessions. At these monthly sessions, held on Thursday last, it is gratifying to state that there was not a single case that required magisterial intervention. Indeed, none of the justices deemed it necessary to attend on the occasion.

March 18 1870

The case of the Dolclettwr workers v Chadwick for wages owed - they won

June 4 1870

COUNTY COURT ABERYSTWYTH

Saturday May 28th 1870

Before A J Johns, Esq. Judge

ACTION FOR ASSAULT UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES

This was an action for damages sustained owing to the commission of a violent assault. The plaintiff was a farm servant named Evan Williams who was in service at a farm near Tre'rddol, a locality situated about half-way between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth. The defendant was Mr Charles Jeffreys, a gentleman of independent fortune, who resides at Gwynfryn, in the same locality. The action was brought to recover £50.

Mr W S Crealock appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr F R Roberts for the defendant.

The case was submitted to a jury composed of the following : Capt. Richard Watkins, Terrace Road; Messrs Richard Humphreys, Grocer, Great Darkgate St, Z Humphreys, Royal Oak, Peter Jones, coal merchant, and Capt. David Lloyd, Baker Street.

Two others were summoned on the jury but they were challenged

(full details to follow)

July 2 1870

The late case of assault and battery.

At a recent county court, an action for assault was brought by two young men who were servants in husbandry, for damages sustained in consequence of a severe castigation inflicted on them by Mr Jeffreys of Gwynfryn, and late of Dovey Castle. The action was brought to recover £50 and the plaintiffs were awarded £11 and £15 by the jury empanelled. The facts of the case were that in the dead of night the two young men were discovered in the bedroom of three servant girls, in accordance with the aboriginal mode of sweethearting, which is still perpetuated in some rural districts of the principality. Mr Jeffreys had but little sympathy with such an objectionable mode of paying devoirs to his female domestics; and arming himself with a more formidable instrument than a common oak plant, he cudgelled the intruders to his heart's content, to which they made no resistance. But this did not end the matter, they obtained substantial compensation for the broken nose, fractures and contusions sustained. The report of the long proceeding were inserted in this journal, and a condensed one appeared in many of the London papers, including Reynolds' which most delights in sensational literature of the sanguinary description. But another paper published at the "low charge of only one halfpenny", has of late years out-Heroded Herod. We allude to the Police News in which are portrayed, in shocking drabs, imaginary sketches or woodcut plates representing in repulsive guise all the horrible murders and frightful events that have produced much stir during the week. In the last number of this much admired journal, Mr Jeffreys, the farm servants, and other actors in the tragedy, are depicted in glooming colours, if not as large as life, twice as unnatural. So they may have the satisfaction of pluming themselves that they have at length, like noted criminals, been handed down in posterity, to be the observed of the observers in half the boozing dens of the country. Great complaints have been made in and out of Parliament of the abominable publication which has an immense circulation in the kingdom. It is to be found in almost every village. Mr Jeffreys and the principals in the interesting episode must be highly annoyed at the distinguished honour conferred on them.

Dec 10 1870

Report of public meeting regarding setting up of a school board.

Nasty letter in reply in the following edition, and the one after, and the one after, etc.

March 11 1871

Llanbadarn special sessions

Larceny. William Jenkins, Ynystudor, Llancynfelin, was charged with stealing two brass candlesticks of the value of 2s. from the house of Philip Nicholls, proprietor of the Druid Inn, Goginan.Testimonial of character from Mr George Jones, captain of the Hafan mines.

Case dismissed due to insufficient proof.

March 25 1871

Board of Guardians. Long discussion regarding facilities for vaccination (or lack thereof) at Taliesin. Agreed that Dr Rowland should attend at the National School, halfway between Tre'rddol and Taliesin, every Tuesday for the purpose of vaccination.

May 27 1871

Borough Magistrates court

Larceny: Thomas Jones, miner, Taliesin, was brought up charged with stealing a coat and vest from the dwelling house of Charles Lewis, baker, Highstreet.

Prisoner remanded.

September 16 1871

(Public notice)In re Cardigan Bay Consols Mining Company Limited. In Liquidation.

Valuable Lead Mining Property held for an unexpired term of nearly 19 years together with the costly PLANT and MACHINERY now in use on the workings, and in excellent condition, situate at Gwar-cwm-bach, Gwar-cwm-issa, Gwar-cwm-ucha, and Pensarn in the parish of Llancynfelin, in the county of Cardigan, and about 9 miles from Aberystwyth, which will be sold by auction at the Mart, Tokenhouse Yard, London EC, on Tuesday the 3rd of OCTOBER 1871 at 12 for 1 o'clock, by Mr Robert L Curtis (the Liquidator)

Dec 16 1871

TRE'RDDOL. PETTY SESSIONS, Thursday December 7th. (Before H C Fryer Esq, Sir Pryse Pryse Bart and Thomas Jones, Esq)

Richard James was summoned for assaulting William Jones at Talybont on 19th October last. There was a fair in Talybont on the above day, and complainant went up to the defendant and spoke to him, whereupon he received a violent blow in the face. A fine of 20s. and costs was inflicted.

Thomas Williams, late servant at Noyadd-yr-ynys, was charged with having stolen a pair of stockings and a pair of drawers. Jane Owens, Taliesin, deposed that about the 24th October she hung on her garden hedge to dry a pair of stockings, belonging to a lodger named Richard Jenkins, and a pair of drawers belonging to John Owens, her adopted son. On the morning of the 27th she could not find the articles, and gave information to the police. P.S. David Morgan apprehended the prisoner, who handed him the missing articles, and said he had picked them up in "a lane". The articles were under the value of 5S. and the prisoner, who elected to be dealt with summarily, was sentenced to 21 days hard labour.

(NLW Meicroffilm)

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