1914 Free Press

January 23rd – Goytre Church Choir

Goytre Church choir were on Tuesday evening, at Nantyderry schoolroom generously entertained by Mr D F Pritchard, of Goytre House, this being the second occasion on which that gentleman has exhibited in a practical manner, his interest in the choir.
An excellent hot supper, which had been prepared at Goytre House, was served by Mr Pritchard’s household staff, and was much enjoyed.
An interesting musical programme was gone through and songs were contributed by Mr George Jones, Mr F Leworthy, Miss Gladys Davies, Miss V Harding, Miss A Probert, Mr C Merrick, and members of Mr Pritchard’s staff; while Mr Thomas gave violin solos.
Mr Pritchard junior brought his fine zonophone on which he gave a number of excellent selections which were heartily appreciated.
Games were afterwards indulged in and at the close the Rector, (the Rev. J Davies) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Pritchard for his generosity, Mr Richard Jenkins seconded and the vote was carried with acclimation, Mr Pritchard responding.

April 19th – Goytre Lad Summoned for Assault

George Williams, a young Goytre labourer was summoned by Bridget Williams a married woman for assault on April 19th.
Complainant said the lad had offered her great insults and annoyance for some time.
On the day in question he came to her house to and commenced to annoy her. She opened the garden gate and as about to go out to attend to her chickens when the lad struck her a violent blow across the back with a stick, seriously bruising her. Defendants mother; she will persist in running her poultry on our land.
Defendant on oath said he and his brother were sent to drive the complainant’s fowls off their parents land.
While they were doing that Mrs Williams ran after them. She had a stick in each hand and she threw one of them at witness and a stone at his brother striking him on his back.
Witness picked up the stick and took it home but he did not strike Mr Williams with it. He was on his own parents land during the whole of the time.
The mother of the boy gave corroborative evidence.
The bench dismissed the case and ordered defendant to pay costs 8s

September 30th – Sale Tomorrow – Lan Farm Goytrey

(From Usk 31/2 miles, Pontypool 5, Nantyderry Railway Station 1 mile)
Mr John H Rennie has been favoured with instructions from Mr Daniel Stephens, who is giving up farming, to sell by Auction, on the premises on Thursday next, October 1st1914 his Capital:
Farming Stock &c. Comprising:
19 Hereford and Cross Bred Cattle
33 Smart Black Faced and Radnor, 2-4&6 teeth breeding ewes, Pure bred Oxford Down Ram.
2 young Sows and 10 weaning pigs.
Horses: Grey Mare 7 years 15 hands: Brown half-bred mare, aged, 14.2, both quiet and good workers. Thick, short legged rising 3 year old black gelding, partly broken: Promising cart sucker colt.
60 young fowls.
12 stock and young geese.
Rick of prime clover – 6 tons.
Clean oat straw off 13 acres and the crop of oats, threshed.
Growing mangolds and sweeds, each quarter of an acre, sown in drills and a large quantity of King Edward potatoes, in bags.
A collection of farming implements, machine, two gambos, rally car, harness, dairy utensils and a few lots of furniture and sundries.
Luncheon (free by ticket) at 11.30 – sale at 12.30

November 20th – Goytrey Wedding

A quiet but pretty wedding took place at St Peter’s Church Goytrey, on Monday morning, November 16th, the contracting parties being May, second daughter of Mr & Mrs Walker, Penwern, Goytrey and Avon Hawkins, grandson of Mrs E Jeffcott, Church Farm, Mamhilad.
The bride was given away by her father and Mr Tom Messenger acted as best man.
The bridesmaids were Miss Dora Hawkins, sister of the bridegroom and Miss Gladys Walker, sister of the bride.
As the happy couple left the church for the waiting motor car they were showered with confetti and rice. A reception afterwards was held at the home of the bride, the 65 guests included the Rector, the Rev Joseph Davies. The bride and bridegroom received many useful presents.

November 27th – Sad Fatality at Goytrey

Farmer killed on the railway line.
A sad fatality occurred near Nantyderry Station on Saturday night, Mr Wm Walker, of Penwern Farm, Goytre, being killed on the railway line.
An engine driver reported Pontypool Road that something unusual had happened and a search by a brakesman and porter from Nantyderry resulted in the deceased being found near the Mill bridge on the Pontypool side of Nantyderry station.
The late Mr Walker was a member of the Parish Council and well known and highly respected in the neighbourhood.
The inquest was held on Wednesday, at Nantyderry School by Mr J B Walford, Coroner. Afan Lyndon Hugo Hawkins, son-in-law of the deceased, gave identification. Deceased had been a member of the Rural Council, and was, at the time of his death, a member of the parish council.
He took tea with witness about 8.30 on Saturday night having come from the station about 7 o’clock. After tea deceased attended to the horses. He then said he was going down to the station to fetch a brace of pheasants, which he had forgotten to bring with him. The deceased was an abstemious man and very active. His sight and hearing were good. Witness did not know whether or not his father-in-law made it a practise to walk the line to and fro along the railway line; as on the occasions he (witness) had accompanied him they travelled along the road.

Tracey Frederick Lewworthy, signalman, said he last saw the deceased on the station at Nantyderry on Saturday night between 9.30 and 10 o’clock. He was carrying the pheasants and conversed with witness. Witness did not know whether deceased possessed a walking pass and he did not detect any trace in his demeanour that was lacking in sobriety.
William Powell, brakesman who found the body said he was off duty at the time he received a notification from Pontypool Road that something or somebody had been knocked down. He made a search with a lamp and about a quarter of a mile down the line he found a brace of pheasants in the four foot way and the body about four or five yards on. The deceased was lying on his back with his legs bent at the knee and his arms mangled. Witness immediately returned to the signal box for assistance.

John Morgan, driver of the 9.15 train of empty coaches from Abergavenny, which passed Nantyderry about 10.28, said he recollected having heard some noise where the accident happened but he could not at the time distinguish it. He asked his mate if he could think what it was and he looked round the engine and found that the back damper had gone down, and he presumed that was the noise he had heard and did not pull up. Just outside Pontypool Road station he examined the engine as usual before taking it into the sheds and found blood and matter on the back damper. He reported the discovery at once and steps were taken to find the body, which, however was found by the previous witness before they got back to Nantyderry.
The jury were of the opinion that the deceased was perfectly sober, the Coroner returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

 

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