Aberystwyth Observer


Aberystwyth Observer

3 October 1907

LLANIDLOES COUNTY SESSIONS.

These Sessions were held on Thursday before Mr Edward Davies (chairman), Colonel J. Davies Jenkins, and Mr Gwilym Edmunds. D.C.C. Williams was also present.

JURORS.

The lists of jurors for the parishes of Llanidloes Within and Without, Llangurig, and Trefeglwys were presented by the assistant overseers, and signed by the Bench.

THE TREFEGLWYS TRAGEDY. PRISONER COMMITTED TO ASSIZES.

Stephen Bennett Owen (17), of Hiriaeth, in the parish of Llanidloes, surrendered to his bail and was charged that on the 23rd inst he did feloniously kill and slay Alfred Owen, his nephew. —The evidence given at the inquest by the prisoner’s brother and Dr Owen was repeated, and appears elsewhere. —The case for the prosecution was taken by Supt Williams. — P.S. Lewis produced the voluntary statement made by the prisoner, which was as follows:— “I had been around the fields with my brother, and was coming home carrying the gun. My nephew was in the window and he laughed, so I pointed the gun at him for a joke. I did not know that there was anything in it, so I pulled the trigger and the blow went off accidentally. I looked up at the window, but could not see him so I went to the house and my brother had brought my nephew down. There I saw him, and that is all. I was frightened and went upstairs.” — P.S. Lewis also gave evidence of arrest. He read the warrant over to prisoner, and cautioned him, in reply to which he said nothing. —The prisoner’s father, an old, grey-haired man, in a feeble voice, told the Bench that the fatal gun was a borrowed one, and he did not know it was in the house. Many times Stephen had been forbidden to use the gun.— The prisoner, who keenly felt his position, wept continuously throughout the proceedings. In reply to the charge he stated he was not guilty. -The Bench retired, and after about 15 minutes’ deliberation returned into Court. — The Chairman stated that the Bench could not exonerate the accused who would be committed to the next Assizes for the county of Montgomery, which would be held at Ruthin on October 16th. -Bail was allowed in two sureties of £50 each in the name of the father and that of Mr D. Jones, Van Shop.

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3 October 1907

ALLEGED PERJURY AT LLANIDLOES.

A special Police Court was held yestertay morning before the Mayor (Mr Richard George), Messrs Edward Davies, James Grant, N. Bennett Owen, and Colonel J. Davies Jenkins. D.C.C. Williams was also present.. when Elizabeth Jones, wife of Mr William Jones, landlord of the Belle Vue Inn, Trefeglwys, and John Smith, Pencoppy, Trefeglwys, were brought up under warrants charging them with committing perjury at the Petty Sessions held at Llanidloes on August 29th, in which they were concerned in a case of permitting drunkenness during prohibited hours. — P.C. Parry, of Trefeglwys, gave evidence in support of the case, and was supported by Supt Williams. The prisoners were defended by Mr Martin Woosnam, Newtown. The Court was crowded, and considerable interest was taken in the proceedings. — The prisoners were committed to take their trial at the next Assizes to be held at Ruthin on October 16th. Bail was allowed. Mrs Jones upon the recognizance of two sureties of £58 each and Smith in the sum of £25 and another surety of £50 which was forthcoming.

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12 December 1907

NORTH WALES ASSIZES.

A MONTGOMERYSHIRE PERJURY CASE DISMISSED.

Elizabeth Jones (35). wife of a publican at Trefeglwys, surrendered to her bail on a charge of committing perjury at Llanidloes Petty Sessions on August 29th. The charge arose out of a prosecution instituted by the Montgomeryshire police against a man who, it was said, had been found on the premises during prohibited hours. — Mr Ellis Griffith, M.P., appeared for Mrs Jones, and produced a letter stating that the police did not intend to proceed with the charge. By direction of the Judge, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and Mrs Jones was discharged.

18 June 1908

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR TREFEGLWYS.

On Monday, Mr J. T. C. Gittins, district coroner, an inquest into the circnmstances of the death David Robert Owen, age 22, son of John Owen, farmer, Penyborfa, Trefeglwys, which took place previous Saturday. – Mr R. Davies was foreman of the jury.

John Owen, deceased’s father, said that on Saturday witness was at Pontdolgach with a horse and cart. When nearing home deceased met him. They were both walking along, when the horse was frightened by some sheep which came on the road, bolted. As the horses swerved, the front of cart caught his son, who was knocked down. The wheel of the cart went over him, and he thought, over his neck. He was lying flat on his face. Witness examined him and found he was dead. Blood came from the mouth, nostrils and left ear.

David Pryce Smith, Oerle, said that be heard the last witness call for help on Saturday evening, and ran to him. He found deceased lying in the road with his face down. He saw blood coming from his left ear, and on the ground.

Cornelius Jones, Brynowen, and P.C. Parry, Trefeglwys having given evidence Dr Vaughan Owen, Llanidloes, said that he saw deceased on morning, about 10 30. He was of opinion that there was a fracture of the base of the skull, that this was the cause of death with external hemorage, causing syncope. A verdict according to the medical evidence was returned.

14 October 1909

A TREFEGLWYS TRAGEDY.

On Tuesday evening at Trefeglwys, Llanidloes, Mr J. T. C. Gittins, coroner, and a jury inquired into a pathetic domestic tragedy. The subject of the inquiry was Ann Price, 36, a married woman, who, with her five children, lived with her parents, Mr and Mrs Owen, at Waenlas, while her husband earned their livelihood as a collier in South Wales.

Margaret Owen, the mother of Mrs Price, said her daughter, the wife of Isaac Price, a South Wales collier, had lived with her and her husband for two years or so. She had five children. She had complained of pains in the head for some time, and a week ago she had been in bed. She had seen Dr Jones, Llanidloes, about the pains. She complained of the pains on Sunday morning, and at, 1 p.m. she (witness) left her in the house with her two little children, aged ten and four, while she and her husband went to chapel. Her daughter said nothing particular when she left home, but when she returned at four p.m. she found the children in the kitchen. She asked the children where their mother was, and the elder one said “She has just gone out.” She went in search of her, and at last found her lying head downwards in a rain-water barrel, with only her feet above the water. She did not try to get her out, but ran to Mr Woolley of Cwm for help. The barrel, which was full, was about three feet in height. – The Coroner: Was your daughter depressed? – Witness: No; she was right jovial and happy. She was on good terms with her husband, and he had been home lately. — By Dr. Jones: She searched for her daughter for an hour before she found the body in the barrel. The barrel was by som outbuildings.

The jury returned a verdict of found drowned.

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