Monday: Before Dr. Atkinson: … … William Picket, 18, was charged with stealing 30 lbs of barely of the value of 3s, the property of Mr. J. B. Pinsent, brewer of Newton Bushell. Prosecutor stated the the barley produced was “kiln dried.” He had-800 sacks of similar sort in his malt house in Bearne’s Lane He could not swear that the barley produced was his property. — P.C. Cleave said from information he received, was watching a malt house in Bearne’s Lane at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday morning. – The prisoner’s father went to the door of the malt house, unlocked it and went in; five minutes after the prisoner came down the lane and went into the malt-house. After staying a few minutes the prisoner came out but into the lane from the malt house with a bag on his shoulder, Prisoner went towards his home in Wolborough Street, and the witness followed him and overtaking him asked what the bag his shoulder contained. Prisoner replied it was something that his father let him have, down by the Oak Tree. The witness took him to the police station and charged him with stealing the corn. Prisoner said he was never near the malt house at the time stated and what the constable had sworn was false. He was remanded until Tuesday. Newton Petty Sessions: Tuesday – Before Capt. Cornish-Bowden, R.N., (in the chair), Capt. Hare, Admiral Wise, Dr. Atkinson and J. Vicary Esq.: … … William Picket, 18, was charged with stealing 30 lbs barley of the value 8s, the property of Mr. J. B. Pinsent, of the value of 8s on the 17th of January. – Mr. Creed for the prisoner: Prosecutor stated that he had a malt house in Bearne’s lane. Neither of the prisoners worked there. The barley produced was “kiln dried.” Kiln dried barley was not generally kept by maltsters of this town. Cross-examined: Mr. Gibbons, of Teignmouth, has not kiln dried barley this year. He had never employed the elder prisoner at work in the malt house. He had seen him there. Webber, the man who works at the malt house, let the elder prisoner have the key the previous night to go and do the work as Webber was not well. Would not swear the barley now produced was his property but was similar to what was in the malt house. – P.C. Cleave saw the two prisoners in the malt house on Sunday morning, and saw the younger prisoner leave with the bag produced containing the barley. Witness took him into custody on the charge of stealing the corn, and after locking him up went to the malt house and there saw the elder prisoner. Witness enquired for the maltster and the elder prisoner went to look for him but never returned. Witness went and got Webber and took him to the police station and showed him the barley. Had been watching the premises from five o’clock that morning. – Mr. Webber said he was a maltster and was in the employ of Mr. Pinsent. He was in charge of the malt house in Bearne’s Lane. On Saturday night last he was unwell and gave the key to the prisoner to do his (witnesses) work the next morning. He did not give the prisoner any authority to take away any barley. He had not been to the malt house on Sunday morning before he saw the policeman. The policeman took him into custody and had no right to. The two samples of barley produced were not alike. Cross-examined: Mr. Pinsent has seen Pickett at the malt house to work and had given him beer for it. Witness was not going to pay Pickett for the work he had done. There was some beer he could drink. The witness had told Mr. Pinsent that his work was too much, and Mr. Pinsent had said he might have a man when he liked. – Prisoners elected to be tried by jury. – Mr. Creed submitted that there was no case against the elder prisoner for stealing the barley. He was merely seen to enter the malt house to do his legal work and not to take any barley. There was no justification in sending him for trial on such a charge. He produced a good character from his employers, Messrs. Stavey and Rabbage, builders. For whom he had worked for 9 years. The Bench, after a short consultation, committed both prisoners for trial at Exeter at the next sessions: bail was accepted.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901