The North Wales Times

RUTHIN ASSIZES. The March Assizes for the County of Den- bigh were held at the County Hall, Ruthin, on Saturday last, before Mr. Justice Channell, Mr. T. Williams, Llewesog, was the High Sheriff, and Mr. J. Parry Jones, Denbigh, Un- der Sheriff. The Judge came into the town on Friday, and was received by the High Sheriff, and the usual procession. The usual Commission having been opened, the following were sworn on the grand jury THE GRAND JURY. Col. W. Cormwallis West, foreman. Mr. W. D. W. Griffith Major R. F. Birch Sir W. Grenville Williams Captain Best Mr. O. Slaney Wynne G. H. Denton E. Windsor Davies George Blezard William Coward Phillip Yorke E. 0. V. Lloyd John Morris Col. Wilfred Heaton Mr. W. Theodore Rouw J. O. Pugh W. Foulkes Jones W. J. Lewis Morgan J. W. Lumley H T. J. Williams W. G. Dodd J. Darlington W. Jones U W. G. Rigby THE CHARGE. The Judge, in charging the Grand Jury, said the calendar contained the names of four pri soner, which was a larger number than he had had to deal with in any county he had visited in Wales, but, at the same time, it must be considered quite a small number of cases for a county which in some parts was populous, such as this. The most serious charge was that against Joseph*Owen for sending a letter threat- ening to murder, but he thought it would not present any difficulty. The letter did contain a threat to murder, but it was incoherent, and while he did not know what the defence would be, he thought there might be some question as to his sanity, but that was a matter for the petty jury. There was a charge of stealing a cashbox which was a little, mysterious, but one witness swore to a statement by the prisoner that he (lid steal it. The remaining case was a charge of indecent assault, in which the evi- dence of indecency was certainly very slight. The indictment would include a count for com- mon assault, and if the Grand Jury thought it quite clear that the common jury would not convict on the higher count they might think it desirable to find a true bill on the lower count only. While it was not the business of the Grand Jury to try the cases, still it always occurred to him that, in cases of such inde cency. there was certain advantage if the Grand Jury found that they conld properly decline to return true bills on counts for inde- cency. This was one of those cases in which the prosecutor could be examined as a witness in his own behalf, and had already given evi- dence, but he could not give such evidence before the Grand Jury. According to the law, as it at present stood, it was by no means easy to find out, even by those fairly skilled in the laws, when a prisoner could be called in his own behalf or not. There was a bill in Parlia- ment on the subject, and he thought everyone must be of opinion that the law should not re- main in its present state, in which a prisoner might give evidence in his own behalf in some cases, might not in other cases, and when it was really very difficult to find out whether, in some cases he might or might not. One case certainly had arisen where an indictment con. tained two counts upon one of which he could be examined, and upon the other he could not. The greatest difficulty in the trial was experi- enced in consequence. As to whether in all cases a prosecutor should be capable of being examined in his own behalf, that was a matter of great difficulty. He could hardly quote his own experience as being of value, as his ex- perience as a judge of the High Court was a short one, and although he had had longer ex- perience as a Recorder there were not so many .> cases before the Quarter Sessions in which this point occurred But so far as his experience went he must say that the power of a prison- er to give evidence in his own behalf did not always tend in his favour even if he were inno cent. It depended a good deal upon the e.iuea tion and ability of the man, and one thing was very certain, namely that if a pros; cutor could be examined as a witness on his own behalf, and did not do so, the jury were almost cer- tain to regard it as conclusive against him. Whatever might be decided as to this. there would be no disputing the fact that the law ought not to remain in its present state. He had no doubt they were all interested in the administering of justice, and possibly some of the Grand Jury might be concerned in making the laws, which would be his excuse for the observations he had made. The Grand Jury found true bill in all the cases. FALSE PRETENCES AT LLANKWST. THE WELSH CYCLIST ASSAULT CASE ONCE MORE Joseph Thomas, aged 20, described as an in- surance agent, was indicted for obtaining by false pretences from E. Davies, lodging house keeper, Llanrwst, in January, food valued at ISs. and 4s. in money; also, with having ob tained from Charles Longman Williams, tobac- conist, a cigar holder of the value of 4s.6d. Mr. Trevor Lloyd prosecuted, and Mr. E. J. Griffith, M.P., defended. The prisoner went to Miss Davies and falsely represented that he had been appointed a tea cher at the Llanrwst Board School, under which pretence she allowed him lodgings for a fort- night. The cigarette case was sold to him in consequence of the same pretence. The jury found the prisoner guiltv. Mr. Griffith submitted testimonials as to the prisoner's character. Superintendent George Jarvis, Llanrwst, stated that he had made enquiries concerning the prisoner, and he found that he was wanted at Colwyn Bay, that he was inquired for from Seaforth, and that he went away from Dol- gelley without paying for his lodgings. His reason for objecting to bail was, that he had hints about these other cases. Mr. Griffith: Was not the reason for your objection to bail that you thought he was wanted for the Spriggs case (laughter). Superinfcendant Jarvis No (laughter). Mr. Griffith: Will you swear you did not tell this lad he was suspected of being the man who committed the crime for which Spriggs was charged. Superintendant Jarvies: I told him he was suspected of being Spriggs. That was on the road to Ruthin (laughter). Mr. Griffith: And you asked him for the diamond bracelet (laughter). Superintendent Jarvis No. His Lordship sent the prisoner to gaol for a month with hard labour. ALLEGED INDECENT ASSAULT. William Davies, a collier, residing at Cefn Mawr. Ruabon, was charged with assaulting Alice Jane Roberts, a young girl 17 years of age, on December 27th Mr. Banks prosecuted (instructed by Mr. Arthur Lewis, Wrexham), and for the defence was Mr. S. Moss, M.P. (instructed by Mr. Wynne Evans, Wrexham). It was stated that the prisoner and two friends had seen the girl's father, and had paid lis. to settle the case. By that time the infor- mation had been laid against the prisoner, and when the justices of Ruabon learnt that the prosecutrix intended to drop the prosecution they felt it to be their duty to insist upon the case being gone into. The prisoner giving evidence in his own defence, stated that he, after joking with the prosecutrix, put his hand round her neck and then Rtumbled and they both fell down. He had had a little drink. He had had no improper intent. The jury found the prisoner guilty of a com- mon assault, and he was bound over for 12 months.. THREATENING LETTERS. Joseph Owen, 27, weaver, was charged with sending a letter threatening to murder William Hughes, joiner, Llanrwst. Mr. Moss, M.P. (instructed by Messrs D. Jones and Roberts, Llanrwst prosecuted, the prisoner being defended by Mr. E. J. Griffith, M.P. instructed by Mr. E. D. Jones, Llanrwst). Mr. Griffith abstained, at the suggestion of the judge, from giving evidence as to the state of mind of the prisoner, and the jury found him guilty. His Lordship then bound over the prisoner to appear at the next assizes, and took his pro- mise not to offend again. Superintendent Jar- vis was asked to keep the prisoner and the pro- secntor in view, and to communicate the result of his observation to the clerk of assize. THE LLANFIHANGEL CASE. Hugh Roberts, factory man, 34 years of age, was indicted for breaking and entering the dwelling house connected with the Myfyr Shop, Llanfihangel, and stealing £ 32 in gold and sil- ver and two postal orders, the property of John Thomas, of the Hand Shop, Bettws, Corwen. Mr. Griffith appeared for the Crown (instruc- ted by Mr. A. O. Evans, Denbigh), and Mr. Moims (instructed by Messrs Lloyd and Roberts, Ruthin) defended. The cash box was left under the bedstead of the manager of the lihop at Llanfihangel on a Saturday night last Novem- ber, and was missed on the Monday morning. The prisoner lived near, and was shown to have been acquainted with the position in which the box was kept and also with the houses. He was also stated to be a handy man with tools, and to have been in poor circumstances before the robbery. Since then he had paid various sums of money in gold, and Police Superinten- dent Jarvis found JEI5 in gold in the prisoner's house, including a Jubilee sovereign, such a coin having been in the cashbox when it was stolen. The man was practically told on the morning after the robbery that he was suspec- ted, and the same afternoon told the prosecu- tor's little son to tell his father to come over from Bettws as he (the prisoner) had stolen the cashbox His lordship held that the whole case turned upon the meaning to be attached to the latter statement. If it was a confession of the crime it was very important; if it was merely done to get Mr. Thomas to come and investigate the matter it did not help the case much, and the other evidence were suspicions only. The jury found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged. Mr. Moss said he presumed the money taken from the prisoner would be returned to him. His Lordship said he would make no order as to that. THE SHERIFF'S LUNCHEON. The High Sheriff invited the justices in at. tendance (including those who were sworn on the Grand Jury), the members of the bar, and the principal residents of Ruthin to a luncheon, which was provided by Mr. E. Tegid Owen at the Assembly Room, Town Hall. This was a very great improvement upon the hotel dining room, when there are so many guests to be accommodated, and the pleasure of the function was therefore much increased. The lunch was an excellent one, excellently served, and the hospitality of the host was unbounded. At the close, the High Sheriff proposed the toast of' The Queen' which was duly honoured, and then, The Lord Lieutenant, Col. Cornwallis West proposed the health of the giver of the feast, the worthy High Sheriff of the county (cheers). T They wished him every good luck, prosperity, and good health (cheers). The High Sheriff briefly responded, and stat- ed that he had had a very pleasant year of office, and he had been very grateful for the courtesy of all with whom he had come in con- tact. Although his year of office had been a rather eventful one, including the Jubilee cele- bration, and a bye-election, he had not found the duties at all burdensome, and he raid not see why any gentleman should refuse or ob. ject to undertake the ancient and honourable office of sheriff of this county (cheers). He had one word to say with reference to the gentle- man accepted on the Grand Jury. No dis- courtesy was meant to the other magistrates, as the jurymen were called strictly according to seniority of appointment. He was very glad to see such a large attendance of the jus- tices, and it showed the faithfulness with which they discharged their duties, and the honour in which they held Her Majesty's Lord Justice of Assize (cheers).

T-1 ST. ASAPH. k.J -Ll.. PETTY SESSIONS. SUNDAY DRINKING. Monday, hi fore Major Birch (in the chair), Col. Howard. Dr Easterby, Meisrf3 Peter Ro berts and Robert Morris. AN OCCASIONAL LICENSE REFUSED. Mr. C. W. Bell made an application on be. half of Mr. T. E. Roach of the Mariners Arms, Rhuddlan, for an occasional license to sell in- toxicants at Candevdru held on Penyffordd Farm, Rhuddlan, on the 10th inst, on the oc- casion of a champion ploughing match. Major Birch said he was interested in the Mariners Arms, and would not take part in the hearing. Two of the magistrates then said they were in favour of granting the license, and two de- clared their objection. Replying to a question, Mr. Bell said that the application was from nine in the morning to five in the evening. Dr. Easterhy suggested that the application be granted from 10 to 5. Col. Howard asked if the objecting magis- trates would agree to that arrangement. Mr. Robert Morris said that. he strongly ob- jected to the granting of thi- occasional li- cense. It was entirely unnecessary. The field was close to Rhuddlan, and anybody want- ing refreshments could easily be provided. Mr. Bell said that the field was three quar- ters of a mile from Rhuddlan, and the plough- men would want refreshments. Mr. Peter Roberts objected to the granting of the license. Mr. Bell said if he liked to act dishonourably he could have gone to a magistrate individually and get the license signed. Major Birch replied that the bench were op- posed to individual magistrates being placed in a corner over these occasional licenses, and they preferred the applications being made in open court. Mr. Bell quite approved of that course Their worships adjourned to the retiring room, and on returning to the court, Col. Howard said they would not agree. Two were in favour and two against, so the application would lapse. SUNDAY DRUNKENNESS AND IRISH WAKES.' Michael Wynne, Forge Square, was charged by Sergeant Pearson with being drunk and dis- orderly in High Street, St. Asaph, on Sunday, February 9th. Mr. Joseph Lloyd, who appeared for the de- fendant, said he pleaded guilty to the charge. Sergeant Pearson. in stating the facts, said he saw defendant drunk and disorderly at 9 o'clock on Sunday night, February 6th. He had to be taken home by his brother. The Chairman You did not have to lock him up. The Sergeant: No, sir. Defendant has been very well behaved lately. There has been no- thing against him for the last 8 years. Mr. Joseph Lloyd said that his client had been at an 'Irish wake on the day in question, in another part of the city. As his (Mr. Lloyd's knowledge of wakes was limited to what he had read in Samuel Lover's books; he did not know much about them, but he believed that drink was used in them, for the mourn- ers to drown their grief (laughter). At any rate, defendant was drunk, and in going down the city he met a sober Irishman, and the fat was in the tire straight. Defendant called the sergeant some names, and was afterwards very sorry, and apologised. He begged the magistratesjto deal leniently with the defendant, who had lost the reputation of eight years in one wake (laughter). Defendant had a wife and three children and for the sake of the wife and family, he trusted they would deal lenient- ly with him. Defendant was fined 2a. 6d. and 9s. costs, the Chairman remarking that they could not look over the offence, especially as it had been committed on Sunday night. But because he had been a sober man for eight years, they had taken a lenient view of the case, and hoped defendant would become a sober man again. A MARRIED WOMAN FINED FOR DRUNKENNESS. Emma Jones, Roger's Yard, St. Asaph, was fined 2s. 6d. and 7.. costs for being drunk and disorderly on the night of the 12th of Feb- ruary. Sergeant Pearson proved the case, and said that defendant had not been before the court that defendant had not been before the court previously. She had been repeatedly warned. She had a good husband, but she continually got drunk, and caused, annoyance to her neigh- bours. On the day in question, she was so bad that he had to get the assistance of a constable, and two women to get her into the house. The Chairman warned defendant. She had a very bad character, but they treated her as a first offender. It she came to court again, she would be more severely dealt with. He-1 did not know that a term of imprisonment would not be the best thing for her, Defendant applied for time to pay. The Chairman: No. We do not give time here. Later on in the day, a fortnight's time, was allowed in which to pay the fine and costs, and the woman who had a child in her arms was permitted to go. BREACH OF THE SUNDAY CLOSING. Ellen Davies, the licensee of the Kinmel Arms, was summoned by Sergeant Pearson for a breach of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act, on the 6th of February. Sergeant Pearson deposed that about twenty minutes past nine on the Sunday night in ques- tion, he heard somebody walking in Mr. E. P. Jones' yard. He looked in and saw Michael Wynne, the defendant, in a previous case, com- ing from a window, which opened from the Kinmel Arms into Mr. E. P. Jones' yard. He then went round to the yard door, and met Wynne, and found that he had a bottle of beer in his possession. He took the bottle from Wynne, and asked him to go with him to Kin- mel Arms. He (witness) went to the hotel, and defendant's sister admitted that she had served a man with a pint of beer through the window. Defendant was not at home at the time. Wynne was drunk, when, he saw him in Mr. E. P. Jones' yard. Cross-examined by Mr. Joseph Lloyd, who defended, the sergeant said lie had seen Wynne previously to finding him in the yard, and he was drunk then. It was true that there was a dead person in the city on the night in ques- tion, but Wynne did not say he had been to a wake. His statement was that a person had taken a bottle of whiskey to his house from Denbigh. He (witness) had made enquires at Mr. E. P. Jones (where Wynne worked), as to whether he had been anywhere where he might have obtained rdrink that day, but that was before he went to the Kinmel Arms. Mr. E. P. Jones, he believed was an agent for the sale of drink including beer. Miss Davies was then called for the defence. She said that she left the house Ii hout eight o'clock on Sunday night, February 6th to go to Denbigh, leaving her sister in charge of the house. Her sister was instructed not to serve anybody but travellers, and the bar was locked. When she returned from Denbigh, there was nothing to show that any drink had been served during her absence, and no money was handed over to her. The first she knew of this matter was on the following morning, when Wynne's brother called to see if his brother had been served there on the previous night. She said that she had not served him Enquiries followed and she heard that her sis- ter had served the man. Mr. Lloyd addressed the court for the de- fence, and pointed out that the evidence against his client was purely circumstantial. He further urged that as the sister had been expressly in structed not to serve, defendant could not be held responsible for her sister's action. The sister had gone away after being spoken to *1 A- fcb about this matter, and they had *a have her whereabouts. Otherwise they vy .i oUnb6 brought her to court. If their worships the case proved, he urged that a srnai I ^e would suffice under all circumstancc • wimow. he mentioned for t,ie i,lf:()I.riiati the court, was small, in which only 00 "^liss opened for the purposes of ventilation- d the alle aiid Davies had now barred that pane, an ethod owner of the house was considering & tjfcUout of ventilating and lighting the room toe window in question, which sV° blocked.. rjsjoDi The justices retired to consider their t a_id on their return, c;Herei The Chairman said they had fully col?o0that the case, and were unanimously of 0'Pinl«;ai/its it had been proved There were no c0"y against the house, therefore they I;tioD leniently with Lhe defendant, 1m. OIl CÜt il that the window referred to be made could not be opened. They made n° ^B(j but if at the next licensing session they that the window had not been made as open, the license would not be renewed gy fendant would be fined 10s. and 8s. costs. would not endorse the license.

ST. ASAPH (FLINT) RURAlJ DISTRICT COUNCIL. 4 The monthly meeting of this Council fl. on Friday, Mr. Robert Morris, Rhuddla > siding. There were also present Messrs.. Morgan, John Roberts (Bodfary), hoi ail gan, Thomas Ellis (Meliden), John (Pydew), W. Conwy Bell, Sir William jeg t lianis, Mrs.Rawlins, Miss Bennett, Mr. C yor), Griinsley (Clerk), G. Bell (Sanitary survd Vt. Mr. John Lloyd (Road Surveyor), Lloyd Robert (Medical Officer of Health). A PRINTER'S ERROR.' On the minutes of the last meeting bel read to the Mr. W. Conwy Bell called attention .Etbyl report of that meeting in one °f, papers. In that paper it was stated 0]J John Williams, Pydew, in the disc''8*!1, at be the roadmen's hours of work, had said t flf had workmen on his farm who I%va bf,)tlr three miles every morning to work other o'clock. The North Wales Times, a° coi" papers containing reports of the nieetiBg> si* rectly reported that Mr. Williams said o'clock.' Coming as it did just he'°ffag # County Council election, the mistake ^afl(jie most unfortunate one, and was made a of. no' The Chairman said that this matter e«r0' arise on the minutes He was sure ¥ sentative of the paper in question >v0 very pleased to correct the mistake. glad'/ The representative said that he w0 JLji correct the error, which must have* printer's error. The matter afterwards dropped. DRAINAGE AT MELIDEN. wit. It was reported that the appointed tee met the owners of property at Brymv and discussed the question of draining to place The owners were willing, sUbjets certain conditions, to subscribe their wards the cost of drainage. On the motion of Mr. Thomas ElliSi ty»s by Mr. Conwy Bell, the offer of the owner accepted. WATER SUPPLY AT ST. ASAPH RHUDDLAN. „ Dig, A letter was read from the Rhyl Urbfl tract Council agreeing to extend the I" ca or mains in St. Asaph if the Council wouldeI ges, the owners to take the water into the 11011 ter and take the responsibility that the s rate would be paid. Feut The Clerk suggested that a reply he, p saying that while this Council would best to entorce the taking of water itiloil,le, houses, they could not become resp^H..jjj-ict With regard to Rhuddlan, the Urban l the also required a payment of £ 36 frool The owners towards the cost of the extensioPp^t/ owners had promised this, a'\d Mr*. 0 & Jones hid already sent his I contribute wards it. j¡0 The Clerk was instructed to write 1 terms he suggested to the Rhyl Council, THE OPPOSITION TO THE LONDOgA NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY -BI.LL. WHO IS,TO PAY THE PIFEJR ■ t0 Correspondence with Mr. Kelly. ,,ce County Council, was read with refer' £ 0jr the costs of opposing the new bill of the 9f)f don and North Western Railway COcoullCl y Mr. Kelly Btated that the Connty-tinn (K would bear all the costs of the opposiC ^xl eluding briefing counsel, if it became ne^aj(# to do that),ijwith the exception of the f^ggif any witnesses that this Council migh* to call. Sir William G. Williams remarked was all right. vroola The Clerk said that, probably, they not have many witnessess io take up» a cost to this Council would not be much- F-Y, DEFECTIVE CULVERT AT BODF ."iog Mrs. A. Ll. Jones, Bala, wrote cowp WOO that the culvert at Ty'nyffordd, Bodf&rj' blocked, and caused' damage to her Pr » o^ The fields were flooded by water from 11 if land and Mr. Pennant's land for the V'e & months, and she was u«able to let a cot consequence.. «Bf The Surveyor said that the caused by water flowing from Mr. fb9 land, and they had nothing to do with to old highway board had never done a.oy" I this culvert. ,0 The Clerk was requested to write Jones explaining that this Council i" ponsible for the cleaning of the cut question. trntJfl*" THE ROADMEN AND THEIR A REDUCTION GRANTED ft The roadmen in the employ of wrote asking the Council to reconsid^^ tP application to leave work at half-pas same as the County Council roadmen- Sir W. G. Williams-said he thought tn j decided this question at the last mee his opinion, the roadmen had no Tl,()ro to e$toa plain of than farm labourers. lit3 eC°P that they turn the roadmen away. aDLe men who were willing to work the sa se<5°^ as farm labourers. Would any bo j that? 0<>ft Mrs. Rawlins said if Sir Willi,4 ,ndi)1 was seconded she would move an ^•jllifltl There being no seconder to 811 VV of proposition, lieati0"^ Mrs. Rawlins moved that the ttrPd tbtlt t o the men be granted. Shn contende were Ope- conditions under which they wor?e<rers> the same as in the aase of farm lab00 Tt » roadmen were exposed to all jg, i. could not get in even to take their r» ^et gP labourers in wet weather could get.u gjje P JJ ter, and had rooms to go to meals' lDjiajf h° posed that the roadmen be given the grace they asked for. Miss Bennett seconded. # jt> Mr. W. Conwy Bell asked if were supposed to be at their work fc0 l<e „ the morning, or whether they we | 06 *19p their houses at that hour. Some or]s 1' lived further away froio on the ttl)o others. They should all be placed 0fi basis, and he moved, as an amendr» B io men be allowed to leave their hou fcjiU in the morning, and to leave wor reach their homes at six o'clock Mrs, Rawlins said she would eDt. proposition in favour of th« amen s Mr. Roberts, Geinas, observed w seemed to know more about men Mrs. Rawlins: But they ;ire iution- men. I have withdrawn my res %3on 1 Mr. Roberts There is some rv- Bell's proposition. oA t0. Mr. Bell's proposal was agre » INADEQUATE WATER sL BODFARY. [ary Mr. Roberts, Clerk to \vere Council, reported that cotnp j. by the inhabitants of fhe pari8)* j. supply was inadequate. An coTlS\ioP^i<e cil desired the District Council. to se matter with a view of getting eSeO^ Mr. George Bell said that the v <