A charge of coal stealing of unusual magnitude was brought before the county magistrates at Newton Abbot on Wednesday. The accused were James Follett, Jonathan Prowse, Richard Mayhill, George Millman, bargemen, and John Frost, owner of barge, and they were charged with haring, on about Dec. 13 and 14, stolen about 12 tons coal, the property Mr. Pinsent, coal merchant of the town. About ten days ago, a vessel called the Fanny put into Teignmouth, laden with coal, for Mr. Pinsent. From the vessel coal was weighed into barges, which held about 30 tons each. One of these barges was worked by Follett and Prowse, and left last Saturday week, and on the Sunday was anchored near Netberton Point. On Monday morning the barge arrived at Mr. Pinsent’s cellar, and there it was noticed by a man named Lang to contain less coal by five or six tons than when it left Teignmouth. The next barge, worked by Mayhill and another prisoner, arrived at the prosecutor’s cellars, and that was also short in quantity. Wednesday, police-constable White apprehended Frost, and charged him with stealing coaL Prisoner said he picked up the coal on the banks of the river and sold it to Morey for 7s. 6d per ton. Prisoners were remanded.
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Referenced
GRO0518 Devonport: John Ball Pinsent: 1819 – 1901