April 27th – Serious Charge Against a Goytrey Man

Charles Percival Rea farm labourer of Goytre charged on remand with attempting to feloniously assault Minnie Austin, a married woman, at Goytrey on the previous Monday. Prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr L E Webb prosecuted – prisoner was undefended. Minnie Austin, wife of William Austin, butcher,  Ton Cottage Goytrey, said that on Monday last her husband went out to work about 8 o’clock in the morning leaving her alone in the house. She was sitting on a rocking chair crocheting a shawl. The door was open – prisoner entered the house whilst she was so doing, without knocking. He said “good morning” and how are you this morning? she replied that she had a nasty headache.
With that he drew his chair up to the fire and sat down opposite her. He then drew his chair closer and tried to kiss her but she would not allow it. He replied that he would kiss her. She then told him to go away, he went to the other side of the fireplace. He afterwards came up to her, put one arm around her neck and threw her on the floor.
She struggled with him on the ground and defendant then tried to criminally assault her. She took up a small poker and struck him across the back. He took the poker from her and held her hands and afterwards attempted to assault her.
Prisoner came to the house about 10.45 and left at 11.40. She could not say how long she was on the ground. Prisoner had been in the house about quarter on an hour before he attempted to rape her. She told him she would tell her husband as soon as he came.
Whilst she was on the ground, witness screamed and called her husband and begged prisoner to leave her alone. When she said she would tell her husband prisoner said “Oh no you won’t, you’ll be afraid.” After that she said she would tell Mrs Watkins, his mistress. Prisoner did not make a reply to that.
After prisoner had gone witness stayed in the house until about 7 o’clock. Mrs Watkins, prisoner mistress came to the house. Witness did not complain to Mrs Watkins then, but followed her and made a complaint to her in her own house. Witness afterwards left Mrs Watkins house and went to meet her husband. She told him everything, returned in his company to Mrs Watkins house. She and her husband made every effort to find the prisoner that night and waited at Mrs Watkins until after 10 o’clock. He, however did not come in.
On Tuesday they tried to find PC Davies but failed. On the Wednesday morning however, she went to the constables house, made her complaint and then went with him to apply for a warrant for prisoner’s arrest. The nearest house to their’s was about 100 yards away. She had known the prisoner about three weeks. She had only lived in the neighbourhood about 2 months. She knew the prisoner by going down to Mrs Watkins’s and he had also been in her house with her husband.
Prisoner had, on one occasion, before the date of the assault, been in her house alone, bringing her a present from Mrs Watkins. She had never allowed him to take any liberties with her.
Cross-examined: She did not tell prisoner to come in. He did not say that he could not stay, neither did she ask him to sit down. Prisoner did put the coal on the fire, as she asked him to do so, while she was doing the shawl. She afterwards asked him to fetch some wood in, which he also did.
Defendant, after being cautioned, said that on Sunday the 22nd April he went up to Mr Austin’s house in company with Mr Austin. Mr Austin left to fetch some water while he was in the house, he then sold Mrs Austin a chicken for 8s 6d. She asked him then if he would come up on the morrow, Monday. He went there between 9 and 10 on the Monday. He found Mrs Austin’s door open and stepped inside. Directly he got inside she asked him to sit down, he refused on the grounds he had work to do and thought of going to Pontypool. She asked him a second time “Percy dear, do come and sit down.” She asked him to break up some wood, which he did. Conversation went on and she began romping with him and he pulled the chair from underneath her and threw her down but not with any intention to assault her.
Mrs Austin had been down to where he lived and would not let him alone. She was continually romping with him, she would never let him alone. If he was outside she would call out to him ” Percy dear or Percy darling, come on in and sit with me.”
The magistrates, after retiring to consider their decision, on returning said they had decided no jury would convict on the evidence and they therefore dismissed the case.

4th May – In pursuit of game;

Joseph Taylor and John Gibbs charged with being in pursuit of game on land  in the occupation of William Morgan Goytrey the previous Sunday. They pleaded guilty.
Fredk. Morgan, son of the prosecutor said that on Sunday afternoon between 5.30 and 6.30 he saw the defendants in one of his father’s fields. They had put a ferret into a hole. He went to them and asked them what business they had there. They would not give their names, he told them he should summon them. There were three other men in the wood besides the defendants.
By Col. Hair – He saw the ferret
By Taylor – There was a footpath in the field, it was a grazing field, how much damage did we do?
Supt. James – You are not charged with damage
Taylor – you needn’t interrupt a man when speaking
By Taylor – it was not a fact that the ferret was running around the field and witness and three other men ran after it. He said he was not in pursuit of game.

Taylor had been convicted three times and well known to the police as a notorious poacher.

Fined 20s each or 14 days

2nd November

Died on 28th October at Rhydyllwyfen Mr Benjamin Lloyd aged 75 halve and hurdle maker

23rd November

Frederick Hodgkiss charged with obtaining 2s by false pretences property of William Wilks of Goytrey on the 20th January last. Prisoner pleaded guilty.

January 10th – Goytre woman killed when car plunged down embankment

A verdict of accidental death was returned by a jury at a Blackwood inquest on Mrs Mary Elizabeth Litten aged 73,   of Westleigh bungalow, Goytre, who died when the car she was travelling in as a passenger plunged 75 feet onto a railway line near Maesycwmmer.

The jury added a rider that the road where the accident occurred had been in a bad condition for a number of years and some notice should be taken of the fact.

A fence through which the car passed before going down the bank consisted of two strands of wire on posts, wide apart, it was stated.

Sidney James Walton, of Belle Vue Farm, Goytre, the driver of the car said he was taking Mrs Litten and Mr Sims to visit Pontypridd Crematorium.

Post Snapped

When he entered a straight between the Crown Hotel, Pontllanfraith and Maesycwmmer, the car would not obey the steering, went to it’s offside, then returned to the nearside. A nearside front wheel struck a concrete post which snapped.

“Had there been one good strand of wire there, this would never have happened,” he said. “I have been driving 40 years and have never seen anything like it. It was so simple.”

He said there was nothing to stop the car going down the bank. There was no fence and some of the posts which should have been upright were lying down.

January 17th – Double Golden wedding celebration at Goytre.

A brother and sister who were married at a double wedding ceremony at St Peter’s church Goytre, 50 years ago were guests of honour with their wife and husband respectively, at a party given at Goytre Memorial Hall on Tuesday to celebrate their weddings.

The couples were, Mr & Mrs Josiah Owen of Hill View, Goytre and Mr & Mrs Frank Averill who had journeyed from their North Wales home at Cadelyn, Corwen.

It was on January 14^th 1908 that the parties walked to the church for the ceremony which was conducted by the late Rev Joseph Davies.

Seventy seven year old Mr Owen is the senior partner in the building firm Owen Bros., which came into being in 1948, though he had worked on his own account since 1921. His wife, aged 73, is a native of Holm Lacy, Herefordshire, came to Goytre to employment at the home of Capt., Cook, adjutant with the 4^th Volunteer Battalion of the SWB and they met at Mr Owens’s home, 4 years before they were wed.

It was about the same time that Mr Averill, who described himself as “one of the boys of the village,” met his bride. He was employed at Nantyderry station and they decided to marry when he obtained a house at Chester, following moves from Nantyderry, which included a spell at Newnham Bridge.

Houses were just as scarce to get then as they are now said Mrs Owen to the free press and as we had an offer of a house also, my sister-in-law decide to postpone her wedding, which was arranged for boxing day, to coincide with ours, as she thought so much of her brother.

Mr Owen, at that time was employed in the building trade by Mr William Willis and the houses at Goytre could almost be counted on the finers of one hand.

There were no houses from Penperlleni Bridge to Church Farm, a distance of about a mile, he reminisced. His wage packed “not a pound a week when averaged out over the year. There were no guaranteed wages then.”

Despite his age Mr Owen is still active and each day goes to work. At present he is working at Trevethin.

All Round Athlete

In his youth Mr Owen was an all-round sportsman. From 1901-12 he captained Goytre FC, while at cricket he was a crack-hand. Fifty years ago I was a member of the Goytre team that went to Garndiffaith to open the new cricket ground.

This is the second Golden Wedding celebration in the Owen family; her parents also enjoyed this distinction, one of her treasured possessions is a silver jug given to her parents on that occasion.

Mrs Averill, when she met her husband was employed by Mr Berrington at Pantygoitre House. Since her marriage she had lived away from Goytre, returning for occasional visits. Her husband retired from railway employment eight years ago after 52 years service. She celebrated her 75^th birthday last December and her husband was 74 ten days earlier.

Mr Owen and his sister hail from a well known Goytre family. Their father was a cordwainer and was employed by Mr Parkhouse at Pontypool. One of the family of four sons and three daughters, three sons and a daughter survive.

Brother in USA

One of the surviving brothers is Mr David Owen, aged 80, now living in California. Before he emigrated in the 1920’s he had worked at the Lower Mill, Pontypool, for 30 years and was the workers representative on the conciliation board. The other brother, Mr Harry Owen (72) was also in the building trade but has now retired.

Mr and Mrs Owen have one daughter, Eileen James of Penperlleni. Mr & Mrs Averill have two sons, Harry and Kenneth and one daughter, Mrs Phyllis Corbin, with whom they live.

Forty two people attended the party on Monday. A vase of flowers was presented to Mesdames Owen and Averill by Richard James (Mr & Mrs Owens grandson) and bouquets were presented by Mrs Annie Burgess on behalf of nephews and nieces.

Goytre village produce show

May 23rd – Golden wedding celebration of Mr & Mrs Gwatkin Parc Bach Farm

Mr & Mrs Gwatin who recently celebrated their golden wedding were married by the Rev Joseph Davies at Goytre Church. They have lived the greater part of their lives in the district, Mr Gwatkin having been born at Church Farm, Nantyderry. He is aged 76 and his wife is two years younger. They have three daughters, one son, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Photograph shows Mrs Gwatkin receiving a bouquet from her oldest great grandchild, 5 year old Susan Arthur, at a party to celebrate the occasion.

6^th June

Proposal of a bus scheme for Nantyderry.

A bus scheme to cater for the public in the Nantyderry area because of the closing of the railway was suggested in a letter from Abergavenny Rural Council was read at Pontypool Rural Council annual meeting.

Abergavenny Council suggested a joint meeting between representatives of the Councils and Western Welsh Bus Company to discuss a local bus service to enable the public to reach Goytre Hall.

Mr H Stinchcome said the local parish council suggested the bus should run through Newtown and Penperlleni. A bus from Nantyderry to Goytre Hall would not pay.

It was decided that Mr Stinchcombe and the clerk, Mr T P Holmes Watkins should reepresnt the council at the meeting.

Goytre man fined £10 for theft

Father of nine children, Gilbert George Webb of Frondeg, Goytre, was fined £10 at Usk yesterday for the theft of a fuse board, bulk head fitting, pair of scissors, five electric light bulbs, two gallon tins of paint and two sparking plugs to the total value of £8, from the ROF, Glascoed.

Webb, who had been employed at the factory since 1941 told the court he had bought the goods at various times, believing they were ex-war department property.

They were in a car he had bought. Any attempt to erase the Government markings on the property could have been made before the items were disposed of as ex-WD he said.

Webb denied he told PC W Edwards, who found the items at Webbs home, “all right, it started about 4 or 5 years ago.”

PC Edwards said that when interviewed Webb was very co-operative and fitted electric lights in the attic so that it could be illuminated to be searched.

August 15th

Mr Richard Rosser 54 of Frondeg Goytre killed in a car accident at Little Mill

Funeral of Mr Richard Rosser at Mamhilad (in inquests)

October 30^th – Hit with a cider bottle

Two of four youths alleged to have wounded a 32 year old man at Goytre were conditionally discharged by Pontypool magistrates, who dismissed the charges against the other two.

Christopher William Griffiths 20 and Alan Gilbert Webb 16, both of Plough Road Goytre, who were bound over, were also ordered to pay £3 each towards the cost.

With the other two boys aged 14 and 15 they denied the charge.

Eric John Frewin of Newtown, Goytre, said the boys chased him into a field and he was hit on the head with a flagon of cider he was carrying.

Ernest F Draper, of Newtown Goytre said Frewin called at his house, covered in blood. It was streaming down his face and his clothes were covered. He used 4 towels before he could stop the bleeding.

Griffiths, who cross-examined Frewin for threats, which he denied, said Frewin had the bottle in his hand. He took it from him and threw it away, but Frewin, who had been pushed down moved his head and the bottle hit him.

Griffiths father said that over the past 18 months he had warned Frewin to leave the boys alone or he would have a hiding.

Frewin was also bound over for 12 months to keep the peace.

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 28^th 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 6^th 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 29^th  – 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 28^th , 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 25^th

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.

January 6th – Pontnewynydd Man Gaoled for Goytrey Offence

James Aspden, a 57 years old furnace man of Hill Street, Pontnewynydd, was sentenced to three months hard labour at Pontypool on Monday for indecently assaulting a 13 year old girl at Goytrey on December 27th.
The girl said she was walking along Pengroesoped Road, Goytrey, with her brother, aged 8, on her way to Ty Poeth House to shut up the chickens. They saw Aspden, who went after another little girl on a bicycle. Later Aspden came back, caught hold of complainant’s arm and took her into the wood, where the assault took place. Her brother later complained to her mother.
The mother said her daughter would be 14 in a fortnight’s time.
Detective Constable Adams said he made enquiries with PC Germain. At 3.30 pm on Saturday he saw Aspden near the bridge at Goytrey. When told he fitted the description of a man wanted for assault Aspden said “So you think I did it?”
Witness brought him to Pontypool Police Station where the girl picked him out at an identification parade arranged by Sergeant Davidson. Aspden later admitted the offence and was locked up.
PC Davidson said Aspden was a married man with grown up children. This was his first offence.
Aspden pleaded guilty and said nothing in defence.

March 10th
Late Mr T Davies of The Wern Goytrey. (Report in Obituaries)

March 17th – Highway Offences

Henry Williams (52) a Goytrey unemployed labourer and Harry Williams (32) an Abersychan labourer, were fined 10/- each for committing highway offences at Abersychan on March 1st.
PC Ellaway gave the evidence.

March 24th

House to let Goytrey – Apply Edgar, Ynyspicca, Goytrey.

March 31st – Obituary

Mrs Tom Morgan, Pwll Merric (Report in Obituaries)

April 21st – Obituary
Late Mr W J Nicholas, late Ty Cooke (Report in Obituaries)

July 28th – Goetre Fawr Parish Council

The monthly meeting of Goetre Fair Parish Councils held at Penpellenny School on Monday. Mr D Bowen presided and other present were Messrs D Pugh-Jones; S Herbert; D H Morgan; H Stinchcombe and J Williams, clerk.
A complaint of the general condition of Goytrey Council School was discussed. Mr H Stinchcombe contended that the present condition was a menace to the public health and proposed that the Ministry of Health be informed.
An amendment that the School Managers consult the Education Committee on the matter was carried.
It was decided to apply for a “Halt” sign at the entrance to Plough Lane owing to the increased traffic from the Ordnance factory.