Western Mail Saturday November 20. 1926. No. 222.
CHARGES OF THEFT AT BARRY. Two Women Accused Of Receiving.
Quantities of cutlery and china, books, boots, and various articles of domestic
use, alleged to have been stolen, were placed on the solicitors' table at Barry
Police-court on Friday, when Sidney POWELL, a young man, was charged with
breaking and entering Highlight Farm, Barry.
Mr. Emrys LLOYD (Barry Dock) defended.
In connection with the case, Isabella KEATING and her daughter Lillie Beatrice
KEATING, both living at Hywell-crescent, Witchell Estates, Cadoxton-Barry, were
charged with receiving the stolen goods.
The mother is chairman of a sub-committee of Barry Labour party, a member of
the town distress fund committee, and an active religous worker in the district.
Stanley LAKIN said the farm had been periodically broken into for the last
month.
On October 16 witness first missed an overcoat. Since then other aricles had
mysteriously disappeared.
Questioned by the Clerk (Mr. J. W. MORRIS), witness said that two years ago
prisoner was employed at the farm. "He came to me in the fields," witness said,
and told me he was an orphan without a home.
"I took pity on him, and my mother and I agreed to let him remain on the farm
doing odd jobs. Recently my father gave him a job in Cardiff, and he had not
come so often since to the farm."
At midnight on the 8th inst. witness heard a noise in the dairy adjoining the
farm. Next morning he noticed fruit missing. The following night he was roused
from bed by an employe, who said he heard noises downstairs. Witness did not
investigate, apart from looking from the bedroom window, and, believing
everything was all right, returned to bed. Next morning he found that more cake
and fruit had been stolen from the diary.
Two days later witness, to discover whether the thief was inside the house or an
intruder from outside, placed a bowl on the window-sill of the diary discovered
next morning that the bowl had been removed. The window was still locked,
however, but entrance had been gained by wrenching away the wire case covering
the top of the window. After stealing the food the thief left by the window,
re-locking it. Later, witness heard that POWELL was in the vicinity and found
him sleeping in the hay barn. Witness accused him of systematic stealing from
the dairy, which defendant denied.
"I asked him whether he was starving" said witness,"and POWELL he was not,
but
was living with his sister by day and sleeping in the barn at night."
Mr. LLOYD questioned witness, who said he knew defendant was courting a Miss
KEATING, who would later be charged with receiving the goods, and that the
stolen articles were useful for the "bottom drawer" when they got married.
Defendant had been dismissed because he was caught stealing milk one night.
This POWELL hotly denied, saying he was "sacked because he fed the horses to
well."
James GILL, pawnbroker's assistant, of 151, Broadway, Cardiff, said POWELL
brought the overcoat, travelling rug, and boots (produced) to the shop.
Police-constable PURSER said he arrested defendant in Gladstone-road, Barry,
on November 15. Charged later, defendant admitted stealing several articles
(produced). Witness accompanied by LAKIN, subsequently accosted a young woman
named KEATING, carrying cutlery and china. The girl handed LAKIN the articles,
by arrangement, witness thought , and upon going to her home, recovered many
other articles, including 12 bound volumes. Witness later charged POWELL with
theft of the whole of the stolen articles, and he replied.
"Nothing to say."
Mr. Emrys LLOYD described witness's conduct in entering the girl's home whilst
the owner was absent as most reprehensible. Witness denied doing as he liked in
the house and taking books out of bookcase and reading them.
POWELL was remanded until Monday, bail allowed in £30. The two female were
also remanded, bail being allowed in £5 each.
FOR HEARING ON MONDAY.-The Civil List For Monday Before A Special Jury.
THOMAS HOSKIN v National Provincial Bank (Limited).
MORRIS v THOMAS and STACEY.
South Wales Transport Company v THOMAS and STACEY.
CRIMINAL LIST.
Stanley Stafford JAMES (43), farmer-alleged manslaughter at Cardiff.
Joseph WUALLY (38), fireman-alleged wounding at Cardiff.
Catherine FORD (35)-alleged bigamy at Pontypridd.
Alfred William SUMMERS (25), labourer-alleged forging at Cardiff.
Charles HIDON (63), labourer-alleged forgery, alleged falsification of accounts,
and alleged fraudulent conversion.
David EVANS (45), labourer, and Herbert George LIPPELT (24), haulier-alleged
breaking and entering at Cardiff.
William CONWAY (36), labourer-alleged wounding at Cardiff.
William Albert HOWELLS (40), commercial traveller-alleged manslaughter.
Geo. WILLIAMSON (28), steward-alleged breaking and entering at Cardiff.
Ernest BRACEY (17), a collier boy, of Bargoed, was fined 20s. in each of two
cases of theft at the local police-court on Friday. Mr. W. J. BATTERBEE, Bargoed
represented the defendant, and entered a plea of guilty.
BOXING.- Bouts At Aberavon.
Bill BEYNON (Taibach) and Young Freddie WESLH (Pontypridd) met over fifteen
rounds at the Public-hall, Aberavon, on Friday, BEYNON winning on points.
Another scheduled fifteen-round bout brought together Billy GREEN (Taff's Well)
and Johnny HOWELLS (Llanelly). An injury to GREEN'S right hand in one of the
early rounds forced him to retire in the tenth session.
Hector ALDERMAN (Pontypridd) beat Jackie LEWIS (Aberavon), the latter's second
throwing the towel into the ring in the ninth round.
John Patrick