1868 Free Press

January 11th – Inquest of Emily Griffiths

Child Burnt to Death.

On the morning on Monday last an inquiry touching the death of a little girl, between two and three years of age, named Emily Griffiths, was held at the Nightingale Inn, at this place, before ED Batt, Esq., and a respectable jury.
It would appear that deceased had been left in the house with two other children on the evening of the Saturday previously and, as it is supposed, they commenced playing with the fire, by which some straw, of which it is said a quantity was on the floor, became ignited and the flames communicating with the dress of deceased, the poor little thing became so fearfully burned that death put an end to its suffering at six o’clock on the following morning.
The jury returned a verdict accordance with these facts. We may add that O D Thomas Esq., surgeon, of Pontypool, was early in attendance and found that Miss Byrde of Goytrey House had already administered such aid to the sufferers approved of by medical skill under such circumstances.

January 11th

To be let by tender with possession on the 25th March next, Penwern Farm, situate in the parish of Goytre and within half a mile of Nantyderry Station, comprising 107 acres of dry, arable and pasture land, together with the following newly erected buildings, viz:
An eight roomed dwelling house, barn; waggon house; two granaries; stabling for 5 horses; stalls for tying 24 head of cattle; chaff and root house; and a range of detached buildings, comprising a labourers cottage, barn and stables.
The farm has, for the past ten years, been in the hands of the proprietor, John Logan Esq., and is in a good state of cultivation.
It may be viewed on application to the bailiff, John Williams.

January 11th – Festivities of the Season

William Griffiths was charged with being drunk and riotous at the Goytrey on the night of Christmas-day.
PC Evan Williams (42) deposed that he was on duty on the night mentioned he met defendant in the state described.
Defendant was fined 7s 6d. including costs.

January 15th – Police Court – Theft

John Rawlings, a young man, but an old offender, was charged with stealing an axe and a hand-saw, the property of Wm Morgan at Goytrey, on the 28th ult.
Complainant stated that he was a woodcutter, and that while at his work in the wood he missed the axe produced, which was his property, from a heap of hurdles. He also missed a hand-saw at the same time and place.
P.C Williams said that he went to the prisoner’s house on the 6th inst., and charged him with stealing the axe and hand-saw. He produced the axe stating that he had found it on the road.
Prisoner now said that when the constable came to his house he produced that axe, asking him if he knew anyone had lost such a thing, as he had found it on the road.
Prisoner was warned that he must take care for the future, or he would suffer penal servitude, and was committed for two months, with hard labour.

January 18th – Young in Years but Old in Crime.

John Rawlings, the younger, of the Goytrey, who has been committed from this court several times for theft and other offences, was placed before the bench on remand from Monday last to answer the charge of having stolen one axe or hatchet, the property of William Morgan, Goytrey.
The latter said he lost an axe and saw on the 28th of December last, which he had been using in a wood situate near his house at the place already mentioned.
The axe produced was the one he lost and was his property. PC Evan Williams deposed that from information he received he searched the house in which defendant was living and found the hatchet produced, on the 6th inst.
The prisoner said he reached the article down from a shelf in the house and handing it to the policeman he asked him if he knew of any one who had lost such an article.
The chairman reminded the prisoner that he had previously committed from this court several times previously and told him to take care or he would be sent for penal servitude.
He was committed to Usk gaol for two months with hard labour.

January 25th

At Tyvera Farm, Goytrey, January 22nd, of bronchitis, Mr Thomas James aged 75.

January 25th

Colonel Byrde on Tuesday last returned home from India and we are to state, the gallant officer is in good health.

February 22nd – Jenkins, farmer, Goytre v Roberts, Mamhilad

Claim £3 7s 10d for 2 tons and 31/2 cwt of straw at £2 5s a ton. Defendant had received £1 10s 10d of the amount.
Defendant said it was barley straw and that he was to have had it at £2 and that he only had 1 ton 31/2 cwt.
Plaintiff produced the weight of a quantity of straw from the machine at which it was weighed, but defendant said that was the weight of the load he had from Stinchcombe, to go to Abersychan. The straw he had from him was weighed at the Pontnewydd machine.
His Honor to plaintiff; you will, accept a judgement for £2 10s 4d.
Plaintiff; will you allow my expenses?
The Judge; you must not make a bargain with me.
Plaintiff; yes, your Honor.
Judgement accordingly. To pay in a week.

February 29th  – A Clever Capture.

Two young men who had the appearance of being tramps, and who gave their names as Jas Thompson and Jas Taylor, were charged with having broken into the shop part of the premises occupied by Mr Henry Mathews, at the Goytrey, on Sunday last, and stealing therefrom £6 in gold, half a pound of cocoa, 1lb of sugar, several boxes of matches, and a pair of scissors, the latter article being the property of his daughter.
Ellen Mathews said, I live at Goytrey, and am the daughter of prosecutor. On Sunday morning last I went to church at 11 o’clock, after which I went to dine at my father’s, and returned to the shop about 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
From information I received, I searched the house and found £6 missing from a chest of drawers, all of which seemed to be ransacked.
I also missed cocoa, sugar and four or five boxes of matches and a pair of scissors, the latter of which are my property: I swear to them by the rivet.
I saw the prisoners when I was returning from church, by the blacksmith’s shop, a short distance from the house.
By the prisoner Taylor: I saw you near the shop, on the road.
George Mathews: on Sunday I found the door of the premises open and went and gave information to my sister in the afternoon. The door had been burst open. I saw the drawers had been ransacked.
Walter Williams: I am a labourer, residing in the parish of Goytrey, at a distance of 400 to 500 yards from prosecutors’ shop. The big prisoner, (Thompson) came to my home begging, about one o’clock on Sunday, I gave him a pair of old boots.
P.C. Basham: from information I received I went and examined the premises of Mr Henry Mathews, which are situate at the Goytrey, this was about 5 o’clock on the evening of Sunday last. I found the front door had been burst open, and a board from the end of the house had been placed under the window. Mt attention was attracted to some footprints, which I examined and have compared since. I proceeded to Monkswood and gained some intelligence of the prisoners, whom I found at Chepstow, in a lodging house, about half past twelve o’clock the same night.
I found on the prisoner Thompson 19s 9d in silver, two packets of cocoa, a box of matches and a pair of scissors.
On the prisoner Taylor I found 9s 1/2d, three boxes of matches and a packet of sugar, now produced.
The prisoners were charged by Supt. Llewellen, who was with me, of having broken into the shop of Henry Mathews of Goytrey, and stealing there from the money and articles mentioned.
The prisoner Thompson said he found the money on the road, and Taylor said he had only 10s and was making his way home with it.
I compared Taylor’s boots with the footmarks mentioned, and found them to correspond in every particular.
After being duly cautioned by the chairman. The prisoners said they would reserve their defence, after which they were committed for trial at the next quarter sessions, Usk.

March 28th , Usk quarter sessions

James Johnson 6 months imprisonment.

James Taylor 12 months imprisonment.

(Thompson/Johnson – as is)

March 28th – Goytrey Housebreaking

James Johnson, 30, labourer and James Taylor 18, labourer, were charged with entering the house of Henry Mathews and stealing £6, a quantity of cocoa, sugar, and a pair of scissors, at Goytrey, on February 23rd. Mr Cleave prosecuted. Taylor pleaded guilty.
The particulars appeared at the time of the commission of the offence, and may thus be briefly stated.
The house was locked up at 11 o’clock on Sunday the 23rd February and the shop secured. The prosecutor and daughter went to church and returned about 5 o’clock, when they found the house broken open, £6 in money stolen, also 1/2lb cocoa, 1/2lb sugar, a box of matches and a pair of scissors. The scissors were identified by the daughter of prosecutor and recognised as being her property.
The prisoners were seen both together about half-past one o’clock, not a quarter of a mile from the house which had been broken open.
PS Basham apprehended the prisoners at Chepstow, in a lodging house and on Johnson he found 19s 9d., some cocoa, matches and a pair of scissors and on Taylor 9s., three boxes of matches and a quantity of sugar.
They both denied having committed the offence and Johnson said he had picked the money up off the road.
The jury found the prisoner Johnson guilty.
Johnson was sentenced to 12 months hard labour and Taylor to 6 months.

April 25th

Found in the parish of Goytrey, a sum on money. Anyone giving a proper description of the same may have it on applying to Mr Thomas Thomas, Mamhilad Great House.

May 23rd – Drunk and Riotous

Lewis Morris, labourer, Goytrey, was charged by PC Rutter with being drunk and resisting the police on the previous night. Prisoner was very violent and it required several policemen to bring him to the station.
Fined 15s and costs or 14 days.
Committed.

June 13th – Birth

At Half-Moon Street Piccadilly, London, May 28th, the wife of the Rev Thomas Evans, rector of Goytrey, of a daughter.

August 22nd – Gambling at Goytrey

Thomas Price of the Royal Oak, Goytrey, was charged with permitting gambling in his house. PC 42 proved the case and said that Mrs Price and two men were tossing for drink and quarrelled whether it should be beer or spirits.
It appeared that the defendant was away from home at the time, and knew nothing about it, and therefore he was discharged with an admonition to be careful in future.

December 12th – Goytrey National School

A Certified Master, with a wife who can teach needlework, is required for the above school, the present governess having resigned in consequence of her approaching marriage.
Apply by letter to the Rev. Thomas Evans, Rector of Goytrey, near Pontypool.

 

For any comments or suggestions regarding this item please use the Contact tab at the top of the page.