Western Mail. Monday November 1 1926. No. 135.
FARMER'S SUICIDE.
A verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity" was returned at the inquest
held at Chepstow by Mr. Fothergill EVANS on Ernest Alfred STEAD 51, of Keynsham
Farm, Woolaston, who was found lying in a field some distance from his farm with
a wound in his throat, and died later in the Chepstow and District Hospital.
The widow stated that he suffered sleeplessness. He had no monetary troubles.
ABERTILLERY GIRL'S FATAL BURNS.
Beatrice SOUTHWOOD 10, of Abertillery, was admitted to the Abertillery and
District Hospital on Saturday with extensive burns received at her home in
Glandwr street, and died on Sunday.
She was looking after some young children in the kitchen when her clothing
caught fire.
TWO MURDER CHARGES
The charge of murder against Albert Thomas RUDGE, farm labourer, of Llandenny,
is fixed for this (Monday) morning at 10.30. The murder charge against Owen
CUMMINS, fitter, of Ebbw Vale is fixed for to-morrow (Tuesday) morning; and the
charges of forgery, fraudulent conversion, &c., against Albert Hepste CUMMINGS,
accountant, of Tredegar, for Wednesday morning, subject, as regards the last
two, to be part-heard cases from previous days.
MAD MURDERER.
Sidney SMITH 40, a Newport bricklayer, who was indicted for the murder of his
wife Sarah Elizabeth SMITH, at Newport on June 18 was found by the jury to be
insane, and was ordered to be detained until his Majesty's pleasure be known.
UNBLUSHING BIGAMIST.
Remarkable letters were read when George JOHN 40, an Ebbw Vale miner pleaded
guilty to bigamy.
Mr. Raglan SOMERSET prosecuted. Mr. W.H. WILLIAMS (instructed) by Mr. John C.
PRICE, Ebbw Vale) defended.
Mr. SOMERSET said the prisoner left his lawful wife in 1915, and in February
this year went through a form of marriage with a Miss Hilda PENNY. In 1924 JOHN
wrote to his wife saying he had met a young lady and they were very fond of each
other. "I intend to ask her to marry me soon , and I think she will," he said.
"I think the punishment for bigamy is about six months, and I have got
sufficient faith in her to stand it".
Mr. WILLIAMS read the wife's reply in which she said. "I am afraid the penalty
for bigamy is more than six months, and even so, you would not be legally
married, and the child would be illegitimate." She asked him for evidence which
would enable her to divorce him.
The Judge: If that letter were read in the Divorce Court someone would say
something about collusion. All the same there is a good deal of sound common
sense in her warning.
Passing sentence of nine months' imprisonment, his Lordship said it was about as
deliberately wicked in a case of bigamy as he had come across for some time. The
prisoner knew perfectly well what he was doing, and wrote unblushingly to his
wife telling her of his intention.
LLANHILLETH ARSON.
Joseph PROTHERO 53, a Llanhilleth labourer, pleaded guilty to arson by setting
fire to a barn in the possession of Robert WILLIAMS, of Llanhilleth. Mr. Raglan
SOMERSET (instructed by Messrs. BOWEN and Son, Pontypool) prosecuted.
Prisoner was sentenced to eighteen months's imprisonment, with hard labour.
CARDIFF GOLDEN WEDDING.
Mr. and Mrs. David THOMAS, of 108, Richmond-road, Cardiff, celebrated their
golden wedding on Sunday. Mr. THOMAS was born at Cardigan and Mrs. THOMAS at
Cwmbrinant, Llandilo, and have lived all their married life in Cardiff. Six
children survive and thirteen grandchildren.
John Patrick