16^th November 1888 – Charge of Assault

Henry Neate, a signalman, was charged with assaulting Mary Gregory at Nantyderry on the 21^st ult.,

Mr T Watkins appeared for the defendant and pleaded not guilty.

Complainant, an infirm old woman, who gave her evidence in a rambling fashion, said on the night prior to the assault, said she was in the Nantyderry Station with the defendant, who formerly lodged with her.

Defendant went out to signal a train, and whilst he was away she looked under a paper he had spread out on a bench, and saw his supper. When he came in he said she had been eating some of his supper, which she denied.

He told her she had better go, and she did so. On the following night she saw the defendant and asked him if she had eaten his supper. He said she had and she denied it. He said he could not take his oath of it, and that, but for her being an old woman he would give her a good shaking.

She told him he had better not, and with that he caught hold of her, forced her against some railings, causing a wound on her arm, and hurting her dreadfully. She was attended by Dr Wood afterwards.

Defendant pushed her all the way from the end of the row to her own house, and when she was on the door, “bleeding in streams,” he got a bucket of water and threw it over her.

Cross-examined: – She was not in such a state on the Saturday night as to forget what time she was in the station.

Mr Watkins: You are rather jovial on Saturday nights?

The Chairman: She doesn’t know what jovial means.

Mr Phillips: That’s to classical an expression for her. Were you drunk on this Saturday night?

Witness: No Sir. All I had was with my family in my own house, and nobody can say more.

Cross-examined: She had not been to Pontypool on the Saturday. She did not turn round in the station and spit meat out of her mouth. She spoke to defendant first about the supper on Sunday night.

Mr Watkins: Didn’t you fetch a bucket of water and tumble over the bucket afterwards?

Witness: Oh! Oh! (Laughter)

Mr Watkins: Don’t faint, we can get some water here.

Witness denied having fetched a bucket of water. She was not drunk on the previous Friday, and had no fall on the previous day.

Mr E.T. Cook, assistant to Dr Woods, produced a certificate from that gentleman, who was unwell and unable to be present. The certificate stated that the writer had attended complainant for contusion of the left ribs and lacerations on the arms, she also complained of pains all over her body.

For the defence, Mr Watkins said the complainant went to the station in a state of drunkenness, which was not at all an unusual state for her. Whilst defendant was out of the station, she commenced to eat his supper, after which she left. On the following night she asked him if he accused her of eating his supper, to which he said he did.

She caught hold of his two hands and spat in his face two or three times. He led her to the house, after which she returned with a bucket of water, which she threw over him. In doing so she fell over the bucket and a step nearby. He could also prove, if necessary, she had had a fall on the previous Friday. – Thomas Cooke, a coachman of Gloucester, formerly of Nantyderry, said that on Sunday night he was standing by his door, with his wife and child, when the defendant passed.

The complainant asked him if she said he had eaten his supper, and he said he did. She denied it again, when the defendant repeated the accusation, and told her not to speak to him again. With that she called him an offensive name, jumped at him, pushed him against the railings, and kicked him twice in succession on the shins. With that defendant caught hold of her arms and led her towards the house, where she spat twice in his face in the most disgusting manner. He put her inside the house and shut the door, after which she came out and threw a bucket of water over him. In doing so she fell over the bucket and a step. Defendant retaliated by throwing the remainder of the contents of the bucket of water, a few drops going on her shoulder and in her face. After that, her poor old husband re-filled the bucket to poor over defendant again.

Complainant: Shame on you Cooke! (Laughter)Complainant was requested to question the witness, but her cross-examination consisted of a series of her former statements, in the course of which she admitted she spat in defendants face.

The Chairman said they could not find that complainant’s statement was proved, especially after the evidence of an independent witness, whose word they had no reason to doubt.

Complainant must have misunderstood the thing altogether, the case would be dismissed.

Mr Watkins asked for the expenses of the witness, who had been subconded to attend from Gloucester.

The Chairman said the complainant was a poor old woman, they could not grant the application.

Complainant: I got nothing to pay anybody, (laughter).

Mr Watkins said he was only acting according to his instructions. He might say that they might have proceeded against complainant on a cross summons had they wished, so that she had been saved that expense.

September 21^st 1872 – Pigs out for a Walk

Before Col. Byrde & C J Parker esq.

William Williams was charged with allowing his pigs to stray on the highway, in the parish of Goytre. He said he knew nothing about it, as he was at home only once a week.

Mr Williams, surveyor to the Usk Highways Board, said he found the pigs on the highway near Penplenny, and Mrs Williams admitted they were hers; he had cautioned her about the same sort of thing before: this was the first case of the sort that he had brought forward at this court.

Col. Byrde said it was only right that people should have notice that they are liable to be summoned for this kind of trespass.

Defendant said he had not received such a caution; but he could not say whether his wife had.

Thomas Jenkins also of Goytre was similarly charged. He did not appear, and P C Williams proved service of the summons. The surveyor said this was a much worse case than the other, as Jenkins pigs were continually in the road.

Col. Byrde said that as these were the first cases of the sort, the Bench would require payment of the expenses only; 9s in the first case and 9s 6d in the other.

Ninety -Two This Week

Mr William Henry Charles of Parc-y-brain Farm, Goytrey, was 92 on Wednesday. Born at Home Farm, Pontyrhydryun, he farmed Hill Farm, Glascoed, before going to Parc-y-brain, which has been in the family for many years.

Mr Charles is an ex-member and Chairman of Pontypool R.D.C. and served on the old Pontypool Board of Guardians for many years.

He has three sons and two daughters Messrs Edward Charles, [Parc-y-brain], William John Charles [Coed Howell, Mamhilad], and Isaac Charles [a chemist at Croydon], Mrs Annie Terrett, [Abergavenny], and Mrs Laura Cordy, [licensee of the Yew Tree Inn, Trevethin].

22^nd June 1888 – Rate Case

Wm. Rees, farmer of Goytrey was summoned for non-payment of £5 3s 10^1/4 poor rates due to the overseers of Goytrey.

Mr Gwatkin, assistant overseer gave evidence as to the claim: and in the result defendant was ordered to pay the amount, less 6s 2d, an incorrect charge made by the auditor some time since.

24^th October 1884 – Application for an Ejectment Warrant

Mr H Lyne, solicitor, Newport, made application for an Ejectment warrant against a woman named Martha Buckley or Beynon, who occupied a house near Pengroesoped Inn Llanover, which was the property of Richard Prewett, her father.

Several notices to quit had been served upon her but she disregarded them. David Williams, being sworn, said he was the agent for Mr Prewett who was the owner of a cottage at Llanover, at present in the occupation of Martha Buckley or Beynon.

Buckley was the name of her first husband, but as there was a doubt as to whether he was really dead or not, she had been mentioned in the notice by two names.

She was a tenant at will. She had been repeatedly asked to leave the premises and notice that a warrant for her Ejectment would be applied for had been served.

The bench granted the warrant.

25^th February 1865 – Disorderly

Wm Parry, who was said to work at Goytrey, was charged with being drunk and incapable on the night of Wednesday last.

Fined 7s including costs.

Friday 16th January 1925 – Fire at New House

On Friday night between 11 and 12 o’clock, a fire occurred at New House Farm, shortly be to tenanted by Mr Herbert E Morgan and his bride-to-be, and formerly in the occupation of the late Mr Phillips.

The flames were fortunately noticed by a near neighbour Mr “Wick” Thomas, who quickly informed Mr D H Morgan {Gwynedd], who with Mr N E Morgan [his nephew] and other help, were soon at work quelling a rick fire, which had started burning in several places and was in close proximity to the house and outbuildings.

Had the discovery of the fire been delayed, even for a short time, the damage would have been disastrous. As it was, only about one ton of hay was spoiled.

We are pleased to state that all losses are covered by insurance.

15^th June 1872 – Throwing Water over a Neighbour

Louisa Waite, who did not appear, was charged with assaulting Martha Williams at Goytrey.

Mr. Alexander Edwards conducted the prosecution.

Service of the summons having been proved, complainant disposed that on the 11^th of May she was going to Pontypool Market when the defendant threw a bucket of water over her, as she was riding in the trap with her husband. Next day she was taken ill and had medical attendance and had been ill ever since.

On 29^th April, defendants little boy was throwing stones at complainant’s turkey and complainant called him a naughty boy and told him to go home. That was the only provocation that was given to the defendant.

A medical certificate was produced, to the effect that the throwing of the water brought on premature confinement.

In answer to the bench, complainant said that defendant was quite aware of her condition.

The Bench considered it quite an unprovoked assault, and fined defendant 60s or one months hard labour.

Friday January 8^th 1926 – Stranded Taxi-Driver

Fredk. Rosser, bus proprietor, Llanover was summoned for driving a motor taxi on the highway after hours without a light at Goytre on Dec. 22^nd.

Pleading in mitigation of the offence, he said he was unable to light his lamps owing to the roughness of the weather, and that he was stuck for three hours owing to the snowstorm.

A formidable list of previous convictions for various offences were proved against him, after which a fine of 30s was imposed.

Friday March 12^th 1926 – The First Time

At Abergavenny of Wednesday, Joseph Edgar Goytre, was summoned for using a motor-car without a road fund license.

P.C. Griffiths said that when he asked by witness about the license, the defendant replied “this is the first time I have let her out this year. I was going to the Post Office for the license this morning”.

Witness then asked for his driving license, and he replied that he had left it at home. Later he showed witness a driving license that had expired on December 31^st last year. Defendant was fined £2 for the car without a road fund license.

He was not summoned for not having a driving license.