a history
Local Intelligence: Yesterday, a valuable horse attached to a dray belonging to Messrs. Pinsent and Son, brewers, dropped dead in Exeter Road, Newton, just after leaving the brewery.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
The tragic death of Mr. Harry Brealey by poisoning himself with morphia the Constitutional Club on Saturday last caused a profound sensation, and this profound sensation, we may add, was further intensified by the verdict given at the inquest of “felo-de-se” on the following Monday. We do not know who the jurymen were, we would rather not know, but to return such an unkind and cruel verdict, almost suggests that they too must have taken leave of their senses. It has since been said by one of the jurymen that he did not know what “felo-de-se” meant or he should not have consented. He might just as well be trying a capital charge, find an innocent man guilty, thinking the accused would not be hanged as to think the verdict in this instance would not be terrible reflection on the memory of the deceased, and be occasioning unnecessary pain and anguish to a grieved mother, brothers, and other relatives. This verdict is a painful illustration as showing the necessity for legal power, for its being challenged and a fresh and more enlightened jury being sworn to retry the case. Fortunately, it seldom occurs that an erroneous verdict is given under such circumstances. By this verdict the relatives have been deprived of legally recovering a hundred pounds from an Insurance Company, and from Club benefits. It is to be hoped, however, that in this instance the Insurance Company and the Club will wink at their rules and pay over the sums morally due to the deceased’s relatives. It is not necessary for us to go into the pros and cons of the case for if any intelligent person will only take the trouble to read the evidence, he will see there was an entire absence of motive so far as pecuniary difficulties, or any other troubles were concerned which could have prompted the deceased to have committed such a rash act. The fact was, he was insane to all intents and purposes and was not at the time responsible for his actions. We remember some years ago a man being brought before the Crediton magistrates charged with attempting to take his life by cutting his throat. When asked for his defence he said he thought he was cutting a rasher of bacon instead of his own throat. Might not the deceased in this instance, being labouring under a similar delusion. We deeply sympathise with the deceased’s mother, brothers, and other relatives, and we believe the Newton public do as well, for he was a sober, intelligent, religious, and consistent young man. From his boyhood upwards he was a member of the Highweek Church Choir, and for many years secretary of the Mid-Devon Constitutional Club, when he resigned for fields fresh and pastures new, he was presented by the members with handsome testimonials. On Sundays, since the death of his revered father, he was in the habit of accompanying his mother to Church, and at home was most devoted in comforting her and lessening her domestic duties, and clerk to Messrs. Pinsent, he was attentive, dutiful, and trustworthy, private life being courteous and obliging to all. he had no enemies. These things only intensify the erroneous verdict given at the inquest.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
Newton Abbot: Young Man’s Suicide at the Constitutional Club: A Mysterious Case: The inhabitants of Newton in general, and the members of the Newton Constitutional Club in particular, were shocked to learn last Saturday afternoon that Mr. Harry Brealey, a young and well-known member of the Club had been found poisoned in the Secretary’s room on the Club premises. … The sadness of the event was intensified at the inquest on Monday, where no reason was forthcoming to account for the terribly sad event. Industrious and persevering, his books at Messrs. Pinsent’s, Highweek, where he was employed as second clerk, were found alright and his private finances were sound. … discussion of inquest … Mr. W. S. Pinsent stated that the deceased had been in his employ as second clerk for about six months. He came to the office Saturday about nine o’clock and left again about 25 minutes to ten and never returned. Witness had been through ail his books and found them all perfectly correct. Deceased had the handling of money, and everything was found to be alright. The coroner: Has he got into trouble lately? Witness: Not that I know of. He had not been threatened with dismissal. — No, in fact he was doing his work satisfactorily. Witness added that the last time he saw the deceased alive was on the previous Friday when he paid him his wages. He was the same as usual then. At this point the coroner asked Mr. John Brealey if he could tell the jury anything that would throw any light on the matter. Mr. Brealey; l am sorry I cannot help you in any way. … continues …
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
The managers of Bearne’s British School held their first meeting a few days since; when Messrs. C. Blake, Watts, W. S. Pinsent, J. H. Beare, A. J. Murrin, and J. Prowse were in attendance. Mr. D. Blake was elected chairman, Mr. J. H. Beare correspondent, and Mr. A. J. Murrin, the representative on the Attendance Sub-Committee; and Mr. Prowse to represent the managers of the Pupil Teachers Centre.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
We regret to record the death of Mrs. Beer, wife of Mr. J. G. Beer from the Railway Hotel, which occurred on Saturday morning last, after a long and painful illness. … (description of funeral) … Beautiful floral tributes in the form of wreaths and crosses were sent by the following: … (a long list includes) … Mr. Swain Pinsent …
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
At the Globe Hotel, Newton Abbot, on Wednesday, Messrs. Rendell and Symons offered for sale, to a large attendance, Widdicombe Manor with the manorial rights. The bidding started at £3,000 and reaching £5,350 was bought in by the vendors; £5490, Messrs. Racken, Ford, and Co., were the solicitors for the vendors. The Two Mile Oak Inn, situated on the Totnes Road, was sold to Messrs. Pinsent and Sons for £750. Bidding was again brisk, starting at £200 by Mr. Geo. Nicholls, late of Dornafield Farm, Newton Abbot. The solicitors for the vendors were Messrs. Kitson and Hext.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
An Offer: The Clerk read the following letter from Messrs. Hutchings and Co. M of Teignmouth: — We notice from the Press that your Council have now arranged for the purchase from Mrs. Cox of the property in Highweek-street adjoining No. 5 of that street belonging to Mr. Pinsent. You will of course appreciate the fact that you have purchased the property subject to the rights over the same appurtenant to No. 5, Highweek-street. Mr. Pinsent wishes to ask you to be good enough to request the Council to say whether they are prepared to sell to him the portion of the property purchased from Mrs. Cox which is not required for street improvement, and, so, is prepared negotiate upon the figures which represent the price given by the Council, less the amount paid for the good-will, which latter figure of course represents the sum for what is practically a compulsory sale.” Mr. Parker suggested that the letter should be referred to the Library Committee. The Chairman said Mr. Pinsent was very anxious to know something about the matter. Mr. Murrin: There will be no harm in negotiating. The Chairman: I think you should refer the matter to the committee to find out what Mr. Pinsent is willing to give. Mr. Parker: I think we must first of all make up our minds what we are going to sell. Mr. Prowse said the Council would be better able to ascertain what portion of the property they could sell when the public building was completed. Mr. Parker: I take it we are not prepared to sell the whole of it. Upon the motion of Mr. Chudleigh, the matter was referred to the Library Committee to report upon.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
Several of the statements made by Mr. Windeatt the Newton Abbot Brewster Sessions last week, on behalf of the total abstinence party being open to misapprehension we produce a few details this week as to the number of licensed houses in Wolborough & Highweek, and their proportion to the total population for which they are engaged in catering. There are 23 fully licensed houses at Newton Abbot, as well as six beer houses and one house kept open for the retail of cider. The estimated population served by the 30 houses where people can drink indoors is 12,518, a proportion of one licensed house at which drink can be obtained indoors to every 417 of the population. The Railway Station refreshment rooms, two confectioners’ shops or restaurants, and one house with off-license must be added to this list. Mr. Pinsent’s office and six shops, including Mr. Mills’s brewery office, bring up the total to 41. The off-beer license was created in October 1898. The office belonging to Messrs. Pinsent’s brewery holds a full license and is called the New Inn. At Messrs. Pinsent’s customers can be served just as they are at the ordinary public houses or hotels, but we believe half a pint of spirits is the smallest quantity retailed at their premises. Of the six shops mentioned above three are grocery establishments possessing off-licences. The smallest quantity of bottled spirits they can send out is a sixth of a gallon. They, however, possess power to retail small bottles of ale and stout. A simple long division sum will show that, given a basis of 41 licensed houses, there is one licensed house to every 305 of the population. How then does Mr. Windeatt obtain his estimate of one licensed house to every 260 of the people one or another of us are constantly meeting in the neighbourhood of Newton Abbot? The answer is that Mr. Windeatt has taken into calculation 7 of the chemists of the town holding licenses, making a total of 48 so-called licensed houses, or he may have referred to Wolborough alone.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
Mr. Meade-King’s visit to Newton Abbot last week to hold a Local Government Board inquiry as to the Newton Urban District Council’s application for permission to acquire certain properties for the Highweek Street improvement was not without special importance inasmuch as upon the result of his report depend on the uninterrupted construction of the new Free Library at a comparatively early date. Notwithstanding the importance of the inquiry, very little interest was taken in the proceedings by the general public of Newton Abbot. The only serious opposition was that of the Cox family, Mr. Pinsent, who has acted a generous part being merely represented for the purpose of protecting personal interests as to which there was so serious opposition.
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GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920
The Highweek Improvement: … Local Government Inquiry … Mr. J. Hutchings of Teignmouth (appeared for) Mr. W. S. Pinsent … long discussion about widening Highweek Street … … The width of the road opposite No 5, Highweek Street was at present 23 ft and it was proposed to expand it to about 30 ft … Mr. Watts: It is sufficient for the traffic. It is very probable we may take the land opposite. Owing to the generosity of Mr. Pinsent the Council will have no difficulty in acquiring a portion of the land they require … (discussion of road improvements includes) … Mr. Cox … The family has carried on the business of basket makers. … We rented a shed from Mr. Pinsent … John Johnson said: I am a carpenter and have been in the employ of Mr. Pinsent for 31 years. At that time, 31 years ago, the property belonged to Mr. Pinsent. I have repaired the property for him. I have passed through a passage to repair the property … (continues) …
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
GRO0911 Devonport: William Swain Pinsent: 1843 – 1920