Western Mail Wednesday November 10 1926. No. 171.
ALLEGED HOTEL THEFT-Light Hat That Evoked Comment At Swansea.
David John BATTYE 37, a dock labourer, was charged at Swansea on Tuesday with
stealing and receiving a man's overcoat containing two £5 notes, and a man's
felt hat, valued altogether at £14, from the smokeroom of the Bird-in-Hand
public-house, Swansea.
Robert GLASS, cook on the steamship Lady Brenda, gave evidence of putting his
coat and hat in the smokeroom, whilst other witnesses said they saw BATTYE in
the room just before the house was closed.
Constantine STERIO, a lodging-housekeeper, said that when he saw BATTYE he
greeted him with " Where did you get that hat?" as he was wearing a light trilby
hat. BATTYE said his brother had given it to him. He offered to sell witness an
overcoat.
Detective-constable GORDE said BATTYE admitted having given the hat away, but
denied any knowledge of the coat. The hat was the only property which had been
recovered.
BATTYE was remanded for seven days in order that the police might find out
something more about the overcoat.
DEAD BESIDE A GUN-Tragedy Of Farmer In A Saundersfoot Field.
A shooting tragedy was discovered near Saundersfoot on Tuesday afternoon when a
popular farmer was found lying dead in a field with a single-barrelled gun by
his side and a bullet wound in his head. The unfortunate man was Mr. James
Hughes DAVIES 35, of Trevane Farm, and he was last seen alive at 11.45 in the
morning after completing his milk round in Tenby.
The body was found by Mr. Leslie DAVIES, a partner on the farm.
SIXTY-YEAR-OLD HERO- Saved A Drowning Man At Aberystwyth.
The Royal Humane Society's certificate for bravery was presented to Mr. Enoch
EDWARDS, a seaman, at Aberystwyth Town Council on Tuesday.
A number of persons was bathing in the sea, off the Marine Parade, in June, when
suddenly one got into difficulties. Mr. EDWARDS, who is over 60 years of age,
took off his coat and vest and jumed from the lifeboat slipway into the sea,
reached the man, and brought him safely to shore.
CALLED HOME BY RADIO-Dash From Lincolnshire To Skewen Bedside.
An S.O.S. message broadcast from Swansea Broadcasting Station summoning Mr.
Herbert J. WELLS, B.A., L.C.P., principal of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School,
Alford, Lincolnshire, to the bedside of his dying mother-Mrs. James WELLS,
Stanley-road, Skewen, had an immediate response.
The following morning the family received a message that Mr. WELLS was starting
for home, where he arrived at eleven at night. The mother recognised her son,
and was overjoyed to have him at her bedside.
CRUELTY CHARGE FAILS-Divergence Of Evidence At Caerphilly.
At Caerphilly on Tuesday Edmund ISAACS 28, haulier, Bargoed, was charged with
working a horse in an unfit state at Abertridwr, and Arthur ISAACS 34, haulage
contractor, Gelligaer, with permitting the horse to be worked.
Mr. T. Price THOMAS (Ystrad Mynach), defending, pleaded not guilty.
Evidence was given by Police-sergt. J. SULLIVAN that Edmund ISAACS was in charge
of a horse attatched to a cart laden with about a ton of bricks. Under the
saddle witness saw two wounds, one the size of a 5s. piece and another from
which matter was discharging. Edmund ISAACS said he did not know the wounds were
there. Arthur ISAACS said. "I admit the horse was not fit to be worked. I did
not know the sores were there."
Arthur ISAACS said there was only a small wound, which had dried up. He denied
the statement attributed to him by the police.
Edmund ISAACS also denied the statement attributed to him by the sergeant.
The Magistrates inspected the horse, and their return to court dismissed the
case on condition that horse should only be worked in chains in future.
An undertaking was given that this should be done.
AQUITTED OF BIGAMY-Porth Wife Not Heard Of Since 1905.
At West Wales Assizes, held before Mr. Justice FRASER at Carmarthen on Tuesday,
William MURRAY 53, collier, committed from the Ammanford Court, pleaded "not
guilty" to having bigamously married Florence May MILLARD on August 1 1924 at
Bridgend.
Mr. John MORGAN (instructed by Mr. Meirion JONES, Ammanford) prosecuted, and Mr.
Joshua DAVIES defended on a dock brief.
Edith MURRAY, 128, Aberrhonddu-road, Porth, to whom MURRAY was married in 1900,
said she left her husband in 1905 in consequence of his ill-treatment of her.
Counsel: What was his conduct like?- He knocked my teeth out and broke up the
home.
According to further evidence, MURRAY went through a form of marriage with a
woman named Mary Jane MASTERS in 1914, and again with another woman, Florence
May MILLARD at Bridgend in August, 1924, and in a statement to the Ammanford
Police made an admission to this effect.
Mr. Joshua DAVIES submitted that MURRAY not having heard of his wife since
1905 was justified in presuming her to be dead.
The Judge directed the jury to return a verdict of "Not guilty," and MURRAY was
discharged.
John Patrick