Police News: Newton Abbot To-Day: Before Dr. Atkisson: James Follet, Jonathan Prowse, Richard Myhill, George Millman, Bargemen and John Frost, owner of a barge, were charged with having on or about the 13th and 14th December stolen a quantity of coal – to wit, about twelve tons, property of Mr. John Ball Pinsent, coal merchant of this town. Mr. Creed prosecuted. The facts were these. About ten days ago a vessel called the Fanny put into Teignmouth laden with coal for Mr. J. B. Pinsent. From the vessel it was weighed into barges which held about thirty tons each. One of these barges was worked by Follett and Prowse, and left Teignmouth last Saturday week and, on the Sunday, it was anchored near Netherton Point. On Monday morning the barge arrived at Mr. Pinsent’s cellars, and there it was seen by a man named Lang to contain less coal by five or six tons than when it left Teignmouth. The next barge worked by Myhill and another prisoner arrived at prosecutor’s Cellars and that also was short in quantity. On Monday Lang said he saw the lighter just abreast of Coombe Cellars, and near it was a boat that he considered belonged to frost. A man named Trust said he was employed by Frost to unload a barge of coal at Archerbrook, and it was carted away by Walter Morey and his man, of Coombe. That was on the 6th inst. Yesterday (Tuesday). P.O. White apprehended Frost and charged him with stealing a quantity of coal belonging to Mr. Pinsent. Prisoner said he picked up the coal on the banks of the river and sold it to Morey for 7s. 6d. per ton. Mr. W. Holmes, clerk to Mr. Pinsent, said he accompanied White to Morey’s cellars and there saw a quantity of coal, apparently of the same kind as that supplied to Mr. Pinsent. It was quite clean and fresh as if just taken from the vessel. Prisoners were then remanded to the Petty Sessions on Tuesday. The lightermen were admitted to bail. Frost was remanded in custody.
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Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901