Devon Intermediate Sessions: These sessions commenced at the Castle of Exeter on Tuesday, before M.B. Beare, Esq., (chairman), J. Sillifant, D.B. Davy, R.S. Gard, C. Gordon, Esqrs. and Rev. J. Huyshe … Thomas Ware, (25 r.), was charged with stealing, and John Pinsent (32, imp.), with receiving six pecks of chaff and bran, from Allen Searell, junr., his master: Mr. Holdsworth prosecuted; Mr. Carter defended the prisoners. The prosecutor was a wood-drawer at Buckfastleigh, and the prisoner Ware was a wagoner in his employ. On the 16th of January, Ware stopped at the Union Inn, Bovey Tracey, with his master’s horse and wagon, and placed the horses in a stable behind. In the evening a servant in the inn, named Harvey, was standing in the passage, when according to the statement, she saw Ware come from the stable with a bag half full of something, and hand it to the prisoner Pinsent, who carried it off. Harvey communicated this fact P.C. Otway, of Bovey Tracey, and that officer apprehended Pinsent with the bag, which he found to contain chaff and bran, and which Ware said were the sweepings of the manger. Horse droppings were afterwards found with the hay and chaff in the prisoner’s bag. Mr. Bere, (barrister) and Mr. Couch, innkeeper of Chudleigh Knighton, gave Pinsent, and the prosecutor gave Ware a good character. The prisoners were both found guilty, but recommended to mercy and the Court sentenced them to ten weeks’ imprisonment.
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Referenced
GRO0511 Bristol: John Pinsent: 1823 – 1902