[PRO Long Room book in 'Lists & Indexes' series called 'Court of Requests' See complete transcript]
Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings before 1714, Whittington
Transcript of PRO documents is available
Brief for prosecution
for J G Wynne Griffith
& a full bench
Fined 30/- including costs 5 May 91
Vaynol 1866
Isaac Davies
Sep 29th 1883
[?] game trespass
fined 5/- & costs
10/- & costs
Oct 2 1886
Fine 10/- & costs
nets to be forfeited
3 previous convictions
The deposition of Morgan Gumbleton of Foel Rhiwen in the parish of Llanddeiniolen in the said county gamekeeper, taken on oath before me, the undersigned, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said County of Carnarvon, this ---- day of ----, who saith that William Hughes of Rhiwen of the parish of Llanddeiniolen in the County aforesaid is likely to give material Evidence on behalf of the Prosecution touching the matter of the annexed information. And that this Deponent verily believes that the said William Hughes will not appear voluntarily for the purpose of being examined as a Witness.
[signed] Morgan Gumbleton
Carnarvon County Petty Session
Saturday May 5th 1891
Vaynol Estate
Morgan Gumbleton
Keeper at Foel Rhiwen, Llanddeiniolen
against
Isaac Davies, farm servant, at Wm Hughes, Rhiwen.
Brief for prosecution
Morgan Gumbleton:-
On Saturday night the 2nd of May I found 2 snares set on runs in a field at Rhiwen a farm in the occupation of Wm Hughes & the property of Mr Assheton Smith
The snares were not set as for rabbits they were put too high. They were set for hares or pheasants set very high.
I watched the field till Monday morning to see if any one went there. On Monday morning at 20 mins past 6 I was there with Ross. Isaac Davies came & he took up one of the snares. We got over the wall & took it from him. I asked him if he had any paper or permission from the farmer -- He said no -- I said then you are a poacher & will have to suffer the law. I said I thought this was your work. Ross said you have another down here. He walked straight down & took it up -- he knew better than I did -- I took the snares from him.
He made no denial.
I produced the snares & a plug[?]
Hugh Ross:-
I am a keeper with Mr Assheton Smith & live at Caermynydd[?] & was with the last witness I corroborate the last witness in every particular.
William Hughes:-
I am the tenant of Rhiwen. I gave no authority to the def[endan]t to take rabbits
Police C[onstable] Jones:-
When I served the summ[on]s he said I will tell the truth. I set the snares at 8 on Saturday night & took them up on Sunday morning
Database ID: 36000
John Gumbleton , was indicted for stealing one linnen handkerchief, val. 2 s. the goods of Richard Salvay , Esq; privately from his person.
Richard Salvay . About 11 at night, as I was going home by the watch-house in Leadenhall-street, I heard somebody behind me say, You dog, what do you want to follow that gentleman; you mean no good. I turn'd about, and saw John Grant had hold on the prisoner by the arm; the prisoner was standing in a posture up against the wall, as though he was making water. Mr. Grant told me, he had observed him to follow me up some part of Gracechurch-street, and by what he observ'd he thought he intended to pick my pocket. I put my hand into my pocket, and missed my handkerchief, I charg'd the boy with it, who said, he had not got it. We were then a little from the place where Mr. Grant had first hold on him against the wall, to which place we went, and there lay my handkerchief on the ground where he stood, (produc'd in court and depos'd to) so we took him before Sir Henry Marshall , who committed him.
Q. Did he confess any thing?
Salvay: He said there was some other little boy there, who might drop it and run away, and excused himself in that sort.
Q. What is the value of the handkerchief?
Salvay: Two shillings, it cost 4 s. 6 d. and has not been used much.
Q. Had you observed the prisoner to follow you?
Salvay: No, my lord, I had not.
John Grant did not appear when call'd.
Salvay: He intended to be here, but he can say no more; he told me, he did not see the prisoner pick my pocket.
Prisoner's Defence:
I was walking home along the street, and Mr. Grant came and laid hold on my arm, and said, I had some design to pick that gentleman's pocket, but I had no such design.
Verdict:
Acq.
Database ID: 36001
CHARLOTTE GRUBB was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 28th of December, privily from the person of Robert Gumbleton, three guineas, half a guinea, a seven shilling piece, two promissory notes, for the payment of five pound each, value 5 l. each, a promissory note of one pound, value 1 l. one banknote, value 30 l. and three other bank-notes, value 1 l. each, the property of the said Robert Gumbleton.
ROBERT GUMBLETON sworn.
Q. On the 28th of December, where had you dined that day? - A. I had dined at an eating-house in the Strand; I was drinking there for about three hours with some friends.
Q. What had you drank? - A. Spirits and water.
Q. What time did you set out from your company? - A. I went down Charing Cross about ten o'clock in the evening; I went by the Horse Guards into the Bird Cage walk, I was going to Pimlico; I was accosted by a girl, I could not swear to her person, there was no lamps, it was quite dark; she thrusted herself against me, and asked me to go home with her, I was detained about a minute with her; I asked her the way to Buckingham House, I was about the third part of the way through the Park, when I found I had lost my purse.
Q. When did you perceive your purse in your pocket? - A. I felt it in my pocket at Charing Cross; I am confident I had it then.
Q. What sort of a purse was it? - A. A canvas purse.
Q. There was a good many people at Charing Cross? - A. I believe there were.
Q. Had you been drinking so as to be in liquor? - A. Yes.
Q. Pretty much? - A. Yes.
Q. What was in the purse? - A. A thirty pound bank-note, and three one pound bank notes, two five pound notes, and a one pound note, three guineas and a half or four guineas and a half, and a seven shilling piece.
Q. Have you ever seen any of the notes since? - A. Yes, the officer has them.
Q. How came you to have so much money about you? - A. I had just changed a check of thirty-three pound I had of Mr. Robins, at Messrs. Brown and Co. Lombard-street.
Q. Do you live at Pimlico? - A. I live at Deal; the country notes I received in the West Country.
Q. What were the notes that you received from Brown? - A. A thirty pound Bank of England note, three one pound notes, and two seven shilling pieces.
Q. This woman took the purse from you you say? - A. She thrust herself against me and was very forward.
Q. Did you perceive her take any thing at all? - A. No.
Q. Was the buttons of the pocket fast or safe? - A. They were open when I missed the notes.
WILLIAM ROBINS sworn. In the early part of the month of December, I received of Mr. Willis for the use of the prosecutor, the sum of thirty-three pounds, fourteen shillings, for which sum I gave him a check, I came merely to identify the check when it is produced.
JOHN COCKING sworn. On the 29th of December, I apprehended the prisoner; in her pocket was found two guineas, a seven shilling piece, and four shillings in silver, in searching of the room, in a box we found a new coat; we took the prisoner into custody: on the 30th we found between the sacking and the bed a thirty pound Bank of England note, two five Yeovil and Taunton, and one one-pound note of the same bank; the notes were rolled up in a stocking, and poked to the further end of the sacking.
Q. (to Prosecutor) Have you any means of knowing that these were the notes that were in your pocket then? - A. The thirty pound note was signed Bridgman; and I am confident that the Yeovil and Taunton notes were dated in October; I am confident of one of the five pound notes being dated in October, I believe both; I did not take the numbers.
- NEWEL sworn. I am clerk in the house of Brown, Cobb, and Stokes.
Q. Was a check presented to you on the 28th of December? - A. Yes, for thirty-three pounds fourteen shillings; I paid for it a thirty pound note, three one pound notes, and fourteen shillings in money; the number of the thirty pound note was 8425, we never take the number of smaller notes, here is the name of Greenwood upon the note, which is the name of one of our clerks.
WILLIAM JONES sworn. The prisoner bought a great coat of me, and changed a one pound note with me; the coat came to seventeen shillings.
EDWARD TAYLOR sworn. The prisoner bought three pair of stockings of me, I gave her change for a one pound note; she told me her name was Smith, I wrote Smith on the back, 29th of December.
Prisoner's Defence. When these gentlemen came on Sunday night, between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, I was in bed; I know nothing of the gentleman that has laid the charge against me, nor do I know any thing of the notes; I never saw the gentleman in my life till now.
GUILTY, aged 20.
Of stealing, but not privily from the person.
Transported for Seven Years.
Second Middlesex Jury, before the Lord Chief Baron.
Database ID: 36002
THOMAS CRAMP was indicted for stealing, on the 22nd of October, 3 pairs of shoes, value 6s., the goods of Josiah Gumbleton.
JOHN JAMES GUNNELL. I am an officer. On the 22nd of October I was in Berwick-street, about half-past nine o'clock in the morning; I saw the prisoner with a bundle, he passed me, and had two other boys in his company - I saw him run from the other boys, and went and took him; I asked what he had; he said three pairs of shoes which he had brought from his master, Mr. Jones, in the New-cut, and he had been to Somer's-town with them - that they did not fit, and he was going to take them home again; I took him, and found the owner; this ticket was on them.
JOSIAH GUMBLETON. I am master of the shop. These shoes are mine; I missed them from the door-way - this ticket was on them at the time; I made it myself.
Prisoner's Defence. A boy dropped them, and I took them up.
GUILTY. Aged 19. - Transported for Seven Years.
Link to Josiah William Dornford GUMBLETON
Database ID: 36003
JAMES GUMBLETON was indicted for feloniously stealing on the 4th of February, a silver watch, value 5 l. the property of Samuel Gibbs in his dwelling house.
SAMUEL GIBBS. I live in Crown yard, Swallow street, in the parish of St. James', Westminster, I am a coachman; I live in an apartment over a stable; the prisoner is a relation; he came there to see me on the 4th of February.
Q. Were you at home at the time - A. No, my wife was at home; I kept my watch hanging up over the fire place; I had seen it in the middle of the day, before I went out.
ESTHER GIBBS. I am the wife of the last witness.
Q. Were you at home on the 4th of February, when the prisoner came to your house - A. Yes, I let the prisoner in; he came to ask me if his aunt was there; he went into my sitting room; the watch was hanging up over the fire place.
Q. Did you go out of the room while he was in it - A. Yes, leaving him there; and soon after he was gone I missed the watch.
Mr. Knapp. This lad is a nephew of the prosecutor's - A. Yes.
Q. He came there for the purpose of seeing his aunt - A. Yes.
Q. You know of the watch being taken by him - A. Yes, he told me so; he took it by my consent.
NOT GUILTY.
First Middlesex jury, before Mr. justice Heath.
Database ID: 36004