Peter's Cornwall Genealogy Site

EXTRACTS FROM THE WEST BRITON

14 April 1851

Sheep Stealing

JOHN RICHARDS, 23, a young farmer, was charged with stealing, on or about the 21`st of November, at Polladras Downs,
in the parish of Breage, two ewes, the property of JONATHAN PELLER.

Mr. Holdsworthy conducted the prosecution, and Mr. SLADE the defence. -JONATHAN PELLER deposed: I live at Polladras Downs, in Breage. On the 21st of November I missed two ewe sheep from those Downs; one of them had been on the Downs five years, and the other two years. I made diligent inquiry, but could not
find them until the 12th of March. On that day I went to Mr. HOSKIN's, at Crebor, with my mother. I saw a good many sheep there and recognized my two ewes.
The old ewe had a slit in her right ear, one black spot, and a dark face. The young one had a slit in the right ear, and three black spots in the same ear. On the 12th of March I saw prisoner at Mr. Hoskin's, and Mr. Hoskin, in his presence, said he bought the ewes of him (Richards). Richards said he had reared them. On Sunday the 16th of March I went with the constable SAMPSON to Hoskin's, and he took the ewes in custody; and on the following day they were produced by Sampson before the magistrates. Cross-examined: I had four sheep on the common. I don't know how many sheep were there; not more than a score I should think. There were other commons adjoining; but the sheep were kept on one common. The sheep were mine, and not my father's; they were given me by my brother; I am a miner. When I was
at Hoskin's, the prisoner continued to state that the sheep were his. -MARY PELLER, mother of prosecutor, and who had been accustomed to see the ewes,
corroborated his evidence; as did also THOMAS HOSKIN, farmer of Crebor. Mr. Hoskin also stated that he lived about a mile and a half from Peller. On the 10th of December, he bought six ewes of prisoner, and one afterwards. After Pellar had, on the 12th of March, owned two of the sheep, he (Hoskin) insisted on the prisoner's taking back the four other sheep. The remaining two, that had been claimed by Peller, witness kept, and afterwards delivered them to Sampson, the constable. Cross-examination: He lived about a mile from prisoner, who lived with his father-in-law. Had known the prisoner from a lad and never heard any thing against him. The sale on the 10th of Dec. was openly done, and witness gave more for the ewes than he would if he had to buy them again. He turned them out into the field publicly, the prisoner not objecting to that course. When Peller came to inquire about the ewes he and witness had a dispute about the mark; witness had had the ewes for months and could not see any marks on them. By the Judge - Peller did not say anything about the marks before he saw the sheep.

WILLIAM SAMPSON, constable of Breage, deposed: I apprehended the prisoner on Saturday the 15th of March at Penzance. I found him in an upstairs room at
the house of JAMES ROWE. I found the prisoner in the window place, where he appeared to be trying to get out. The window was partly open. I held my staff over
his head, took him by the collar, and told him he was my prisoner. He gave a sigh, and said "I suppose I must go with you." On going down stairs, he said "Lord,
have mercy upon me; what shall I do?" Just as he came to the foot of the stairs, he made a desperate leap and attempted to rescue himself, the outer door being
about five feet from the foot of the stairs. I then caught him and threw him into the kitchen. I then got assistance from the Penzance policeman, and we took him to
the station and handcuffed him. Some time afterwards, in passing through Breage, I having occasion to keep two other persons in custody, the Penzance policeman alone took prisoner in custody, and in a short time I heard a cry "Stop thief." I looked back and saw the prisoner running, with his handcuffs on, and the Penzance policeman and others running after him. After he was caught, I proposed to have the prisoner and his uncle Rowe handcuffed together. About a mile and a half out of Penzance,
on the way to Breage, prisoner said "I shall be forced to leave this country; I shall never see this country more; do you think I shall?" I made no reply. About
four o'clock on the Sunday morning, I gave him in charge to the Helston constable, CHAPPEL. Cross-examined: I and Richards had previously had a dispute about
a sheep. RICHARD CHAPPEL, constable of Helston: The prisoner was given into my custody on Sunday morning the 16th of March about four o'clock. While I had
him in custody he asked me if I knew how many were coming against him. I told him I did not know. He then said "I may as well plead guilty as innocent; I am sure to be transported; it is a bad job." -JOSEPH JAMES: I live at Penhale in Breage, near the prosecutor, and have very often seen his two ewes. I saw them before the magistrates on the 17th of March, and knew them to be the prosecutor's. -THOMAS SIMMONS: I live at Polladras Downs. I was before the magistrates
on the 17th of March, and saw two ewes produced. I knew the old one by its marks and features. She had been mine for five years before June last, and I sold her to JOSEPH PELLER the father of JONATHAN PELLER, the prosecutor. Since that I have seen her frequently on Polladras Downs. Mr. SLADE addressed the jury
for the defence. He alleged that there was an insufficient proof of identity of the sheep, and of felonious intent on the part of the prisoner, urging that the question
was one merely of mistake or disputed right as touching sheep wandering over extensive commons, together with others belonging to various owners. Mr. Slade also spoke of the good character prisoner had received from one of the witnesses for the prosecution. The learned Judge carefully summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of GUILTY. There were five other indictments against the same prisoner; but they were not proceeded with. On Saturday the prisoner was placed at the bar to receive sentence, and the Judge addressed him as follows: John Richards, you have been convicted of sheep-stealing, and under circumstances which leave no doubt whatever that not only on the occasion in question, but on several others, you were guilty of the crime of sheep-stealing, and you appear to have availed yourself of a respectable condition in life to commit crimes under the cover of that respectability. The charge on which you have been convicted is only one of several against you which remained to be tried; and the circumstances disclosed at the trial leave no doubt that the occasion which led to your detection and conviction was only part of a general system of depredation. The sentence of the court is that you be Transported for a period of Twenty Years.

16 January 1852

Speculating in California?

Persons wishing to speculate on their own account in California, and possessed of energy, intelligence, good principles, and character, and £70 or £80 in cash, may form a party for that purpose by immediately applying to Mr John Hodge, of
Tretharrup House, St Cleer, near Liskeard. The preference would be given to miners in the vicinity of St Blazey.

11 June 1852

The state of Camborne

Small, low, irregular and badly built, as the houses at Camborne are, there are some things there of a much worse descrtiption.
I allude to the uncleanly and indecent habits of the poor people, and to the want of ordinary sanitary precautions on the part of all,
for it is the duty of the rich to look after the poor. There is no proper sewerage in the place; all the filthy water from stables etc
being conveyed away in open drains; and the contents of the privies etc are carried through the streets in open day, in defiance
of the common rules of prudence and decency. Many back entrances are excessively filthy, and Gas Lane is the abode of filth,
both physical and moral. There is no flat pavement in the town except in front of about a half a dozen houses in Chapel Street
and Church Street. In the darkest winter there is no light except the occasional light that comes from the heavens and the
glimmering from the shop windows.

5 November 1852

On Monday last, in the parish of Breage, on the bodies of WILLIAM BODINNAR, aged between three and four years, and MARY JANE BODINNAR, aged between one and two years, both of whom had lost their lives on the 30th ult. from the circumstance of the house of their parents, in which they were, having been burnt down. It appeared that the mother having prepared breakfast for her husband and children about six o'clock in the morning, in order that the husband and such of their children as were going to their labour might do so, - she about nine o'clock left her own house to go to her father's which was distant about a mile, and as she did so she locked the door, leaving the two children in the house playing with a stool on the kitchen floor. The fire at which she had prepared the breakfast, (which was only some milk warmed) was a bush of furze, and nearly three hours having elapsed before she left her house, she felt thoroughly satisfied that there was no fire in the grate. In about a quarter of an hour after she had gone, however, the house was discovered to be on fire, and it being known that the two deceased children were within, an immediate attempt was made to rescue them, and for that purpose the window of the kitchen was smashed when the flame poured out with such violence as to render it impossible to go in, but the youngest child was discovered on the window seat, and was immediately pulled out in a lifeless state. The other was not found till after the fire had been extinguished, when his remains were discovered among the ruins. About the spot where the kitchen table had stood. Verdict "accidentally burnt."

26 November 1852

Floods in St Blazey

Owing to the heavy rain which fell on Saturday night last, the river above St Blazey bridge overflowed several acres of land
adjoining the reservoir that feeds the canal, and about eleven o'clock on Sunday forenoon, the bridge gave way, and a
tremendous rush of water took the inhabitants by surprise, it coming around them in torrents. Some began to move their things
up-stairs; and others were obliged to retreat to the upper parts of their houses for refuge. It was heart-rendering to see the
people crying from their windows for help. Boats were sent for, and at length three arrived from Par, and the landing of the
people commenced, and we are happy to say that no life was lost. The people in general exerted themselves, and especially
the sailors from Par, under Captain Found, and others, deserve praise for their manly conduct.

7 January 1853

Richard LANE, 22, was charged with stealing on or about the 6th of August last, at the parish of St. Blazey, a pair of collar-trees, with chains attached, the property of Betsy Oliver ROGERS, who, at the time of the alleged robbery kept the "Sloop" public house at Par, being assisted in her business by her brother-in-law, Mr. GRIGG. The prisoner was also a relative of the prosecutrix. Mr. SHILSON conducted the prosecution; Mr. STOKES the defence. The case lasted some considerable time and, after long consultation, the jury returned a verdict of acquittal.

RICHARD LANE, 29, (who was acquitted on Tuesday on a charge of stealing a pair of collar-trees and chains) was now charged together with HARRIET MOORE, with having on the 18th of November, at the parish of Lanlivery, stolen about five bushels of potatoes, the property of William RUSE, a carpenter, wheelwright, and small farmer. In the second count, both prisoners were charged with feloniously receiving. Mr. CHILDS conducted the prosecution, Mr. STOKES the defence. The case, being entirely one of circumstantial evidence, occupied the Court about six hours. It appeared that the prisoner, Lane, cohabited with the woman, Moore - she being the wife of another man; and, by reason of his violence and his frequent robberies, he had long being a terror to their parish - Tywardreath - and its neighbourhood. The prosecutor lives at a place called Puddle, in the higher part of the parish of Lanlivery. In November last, he had a cave of potatoes in a garden adjoining his house; and in the morning of the 19th, he saw that the cave had been opened and a large quantity of potatoes of different sorts taken away. Near the cave, and from it to the road adjoining the garden where a man's foot-marks; and on the road were recent cart wheel tracks, and the foot-marks of a horse. The wheel tracks were peculiar, because of one of the tires having been fastened with three pins, only one of which was driven in close; the other two standing up unusually high. The footmarks of the horse were also remarkable; the two fore feet having been very recently shod; one of the hind feet about a fortnight earlier, and only one foot having an old shoe; there was also the peculiarity that the horse had evidently the habit of over-stepping - that is, of bringing up his hind feet in front of the impression of his fore feet. There were also peculiarities in the heel and toe-plates of the shoe of the man who had been at the cave and drove the cart. Those marks were observed double - coming to and returning from the prosecutor's place; and were traced in a very circuitous route, to Lane and Moore's dwelling in the parish of Tywardreath, where was found a cart, with the name of "H.J. MOORE, Tywardreath," on it, and with the tires corresponding with the impressions on the road. Having procured a search warrant, the prosecutor and three constables went to search the prisoners' house and in a pigs' house adjoining, used by the two prisoners, were found potatoes, corresponding nearly in quantity, and in their various sorts with those the prosecutor had lost. While the search was going on at the pig's house, Lane, who was that time an active fellow, though he has since become lame, got through a hole in the ceiling in the dwelling house, and knocking some slates off the roof, bolted and jumped down a distance of nearly twenty feet. He was immediately hotly pursued - or coesed?, as one of the witnesses called it, by the three constables, through and beyond the cabbage garden; unluckily for himself he stumbled and fell, and one of the constables fell across his feet and another across his neck, thus securing him until he was handcuffed; though not without a desperate scuffle. The prisoners had no horse of their own, but it was proved that on the morning of the 19th, a neighbour's horse, which had the gait of overstepping, had evidently been worked during the night, as it was covered with dry, curly, recent sweat. Another piece of circumstantial evidence in the case was that the soil of the prosecutor's farm in the higher part of Lanlivery, was black; while that of Tywardreath, where prisoners lived, was reddish; and the potatoes found in their pigs' house had black soil about them. There was also evidence that on the night of the 18th, or rather early on the morning of the 19th, a woman, who lived in a house near to the prisoners, and who was sitting up all night in consequence of the illness of one of her own family, heard Lane and Moore go into their house. Two women also proved that on the 18th, there were but very few potatoes in the prisoners' pigs' house; but on the 19th, before the constables came, she looked into the pig's house and saw a large quantity of potatoes there. The jury found Lane guilty of stealing, and Moore guilty of feloniously receiving. A previous conviction was proved against Lane; at the sessions on July 1845, he was convicted of stealing a baking dish, plate, and other articles, the property of Charles ROGERS, of St. Blazey. The Chairman, in sentencing the prisoners said, your character, Lane, we know to be of the worst description. You have been living in open adultery with this woman, and for a long time you have been the dread of the neighbourhood. There was a prior conviction against you in November 1845, and the sentence of the Court is that you be transported for ten years. Harriet Moore, your sentence is, to be imprisoned for four calendar months, and kept to hard labour, and remember that we have dealt kindly with you.

13 January 1887

Murder in Breage

Much sympathy is, says a correspondent, felt among the fellow workmen of Thomas POLGLASE, now known as the 'Breage murderer.' Polglase was
commonly known by his neighbours and fellow miners as 'Ould England,' from the habit he had of saying. 'Here's off through Ould England,' whenever
he left work and started on his long walk home. He was noted for his extraordinary appetite, the size of the pasties brought to mine with him being
the wonder of his comrades. He was known at the mine as anything but a morose or vindictive man, but, at the same time, he was regarded as far from
sharp witted. Indeed, the 'bal' maidens were in the habit of making him the subject of their practical jokes. It is believed at Breage that Polglase had a good
deal of money secreted on his premises, and that he really feared that he was going to be robbed. That he should be condemned to penal servitude for life
seems an outrageous excess of punishment.