30^th March 1872 – A Queer Way of Taking Care of a Baby

Elizabeth Taylor, aged 15 years, was charged with stealing several articles of wearing apparel, the property of John Morgan of Goytre.

She said her mistress had given her the things.

Mrs Morgan deposed that on March 21^st she missed a dress-hat, a bonnet and an apron. The prisoner, who was in her service, was sent to take the baby for a walk; and a witness afterwards found the baby lying in the dung water near the cowhouse, and the prisoner had de-camped.

She did not give the prisoner any of these things.

Pc Williams (42) deposed he found the things at the prisoner’s house at Coedygrig. He asked for the articles and the prisoner gave them up saying, that she did not steal them; her mistress gave them to her.

Mrs Morgan said, that the girl had several times said that she would cut the baby’s head off and so forth.

Committed to the house of correction for 14 days.

6^th February 1875 – Felony

John Scammell 17, was charged with stealing a horse cloth, the property of William Williams, farmer of Goytre.

Complainant said that the prisoner worked for him and was at his house on the 3^rd of Jan; the horse cloth was there then; on the following day he missed it.

In answer to the Bench complainant said he did not ask him why he left; he was no particular friend of his; the horse-cloth produced was his property; he recognised it by one of the straps being chewed a little by the cattle.

In answer to prisoner, complainant said he owed him 5s but prisoner left his employment in the middle of the week; he told him if he would stop he would pay him; he did not order him off the ground.

John Davis, farmer, Pentre, said he gave the cloth produced to the policeman; he purchased it off the prisoner, he asked him where he had got it; he said he found it on Usk road; prisoner had been speaking to his (witness’s) son three months previously to that about a horse-cloth which he had said he had found; he brought it to the witness’s house the Monday after Christmas, he paid him 2s.

Williams, re called said he had the horse-cloth on the 3^rd January, it was in the stable, hung up with the other gear.

Pc Allen said that on Monday he received information on the loss of the horse-cloth from Mr Williams, and on searching for it found it at Mr Davies’s; he asked him where he had it from and Mr Davies said he bought it off prisoner; he asked Mr Williams why he did not inform him of the loss before, he said he was going to do so one day, but he, (policeman) had gone too far; Williams identified the horse-cloth as soon as witness took it to him when he arrested prisoner; he said he found it on the Usk road he said, “if I did take it, I would only be taking what he owed me.

Williams, in answer to the Bench said that he had bought the cloth off Mr Jones, saddler, Pontypool.

The Bench were of the opinion that the case clearly proves against prisoner, and he was sentenced to 14 days hard labour.

For the Red Cross Society Goytrey 1915

A very successful concert was held at the Nantyderry Schoolrooms Tuesday last on behalf of the Red Cross Society.

The Rector, the Rev J Davies presided. Excellent songs were given by Miss Hughes, Nantyderry House, Miss Davies, Mrs E Evans, Mr Percy Jones, Miss Wingrave, Miss C Lloyd, Mr Peter James.

Pianoforte solos were contributed by Miss Muriel Davies and Mrs Rosser.

Messrs Horsington brothers gave a delightful performance on the handbells.

An amusing sketch entitled ‘The Twins’ was given by the Misses G and M Davies, Miss Wilks, Mrs Leworthy, and Mrs Jones, a dance followed.

9th July 1870 – found: Not Stolen

Wm. Morgan of Goytrey was charged with stealing a reap-hook, the property of Charles Ferrers Edwards. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Alexander Edwards conducted the prosecution.

John Watkins deposed that he was a labourer at the Race Farm. He left his hook by the hedge side while he went to get some breakfast when he returned it was missing. PC Henry Gardener deposed that from information he received, he went after the charcoal wagon and overtook it about 100 yards from Mr Edward’s gate. Prisoner was driving it. Told him that a hook was missing and that he must search the wagon. Prisoner said “well if you are going to search I did pick the hook up.”

Witness found the hook concealed under the bags of charcoal at the bottom of the wagon.

Showed the hook to Mr Edwards who identified it as his property. Prisoner asked Mr Edwards to look it over, but Mr Edwards said the case was then in the hands of the police.

Defendant said that he picked the hook up on the slope of the turnpike road. He carried it some distance down the road in his hand, then seeing on one who was likely to own it, he thew it onto the bed of the cart and when he got to the wire works, told Mr John that he had picked it up. There was no concealment about it.

Richard John deposed that he had known the prisoner for years and had been in the habit of supplying him with charcoal at Mr Hill’s works. Witness saw the hook in the wagon and asked defendant where he got it from. Defendant said that he picked it up by the side of a ditch in Treherbert road and that he thought someone had been cutting grass with it; or had been sitting down and left it behind; and that he carried it in his hand some way and then, seeing no one, threw it in his wagon. Witness reached the sacks one by one and threw them in the wagon, that is how they came to be covered.

The bench considered there was not any felicitous intent and dismissed the case.