1856 Cornwall Quarter Sessions and Assizes
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1856 Cornwall Quarter Sessions and Assizes Table of Contents 1. Epiphany Sessions ........................................................................................................................ 1 2. Lent Assizes. ............................................................................................................................... 21 3. Easter Sessions ........................................................................................................................... 46 4. Midsummer Sessions .................................................................................................................. 55 5. Summer Assizes. ......................................................................................................................... 65 6. Michaelmas Sessions .................................................................................................................. 99 Royal Cornwall Gazette 4th January and 11th January 1856 1. Epiphany Sessions These Sessions were opened at the County Hall, Bodmin, on Tuesday the 1st of January, before the following Magistrates:— J. KING LETHBRIDGE, Esq., Chairman. Sir W.L.S. Trelawny, Bart. E. Stephens, Esq. Lord Vivian. F. Martin Williams, Esq. N. Kendall, Esq., M.P. N. Kendall, jun., Esq. T.J. Agar Robartes, Esq., M.P. S, Borlase, Esq. C.B. Graves Sawle, Esq., M.P. John Borlase, Esq. Gordon W.F. Gregor, Esq. R. Johns, Esq. J. Tremayne, Esq. J.B. Messenger, Esq. R. Foster, Esq. W.R.C. Potter, Esq. F. Howell, Esq. J.F. Trist, Esq. Augustus Coryton, Esq. J.P. Magor, Esq. C.G.P. Brune, Esq. Thomas Hext, Esq. W. Hext, Esq. Hon. and Rev. J. Townshend Boscawen. W. Williams, Esq. Rev. Vyell Vyvyan. W. Morshead, Esq. Rev. T. Phillpotts. W. Braddon, Esq. Rev. C.M. Edward Collins. R. Gully Bennet, Esq. Rev. John Glanville, R. Davey, Esq. Rev. Arthur Tatham. E. Coode, jun., Esq. Rev. – Glencross. J.T.H. Peter, Esq. Rev. R.B. Kinsman. M.H. Williams, Esq. Rev. J.J. Wilkinson. H. Thomson, Esq. Rev. J. Perry. Rev. R. Buller. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand jury:— Mr. W.P. Keast, Liskeard, foreman; W. Bennett, Bodmin; W. Coppin, Cardynham; Jonathan George, Endellion; Warwick Guy, junr., Endellion; J. Gilbert, Lanreath; J. Harris, Bodmin; John Kendall, Liskeard; Thomas Kendall, Liskeard; T. Lean, Blisland; J. Hawke, Liskeard; E.H. Liddell, Bodmin; T. Langsford, St. Neot; Thomas Martin, Egloshayle; John Martin, St. Teath; Thomas Moon, Liskeard; E. Norway, Egloshayle; R. Nute, St. Teath; J. Parkin, Liskeard; Nicholas Stevens, Bodmin; W. Searle, Lanreath; F. Tamlyn, Lanreath, W. Verran, Lanreath. The following gentlemen also answered to their names:— Mr. R. Willcocks, Egloshayle, and Mr. H. Williams, Lanreath. After the Queen’s Proclamation had been read, the CHAIRMAN delivered his charge to the Grand jury [not transcribed] CORONERS’ BILLS.—The following Bills for the past quarter were allowed. £ s. d. Mr. Carlyon, for 28 Inquests £94 10 5 Mr. Hichens, “ 17 “ 56 18 7 Mr. Hambly, “ 11 “ 39 18 10 Mr. Good, “ 8 “ 27 15 10 Mr. Jago, “ 12 “ 37 10 6 256 14 2 For the corresponding quarter last year, the Coroners’ Bills were as follows:— Mr. Carlyon, (for two divisions of the County) 118 10 10 Mr. Hichens 90 10 5 Mr. Hambly 31 3 4 240 4 7 This quarter, therefore, there was a slight increase on the total of Coroners’ Bills; whereas, last year, there was a considerable decrease—as much as the difference between 378l. and 244l. VISITING JUSTICES’ REPORT.—The Visiting Justices of the Gaol and House of Correction reported the continued cleanly state of the prison and the general health of the prisoners. Some daring instances of insubordination among the female prisoners had been brought under the notice of the Visiting Justices, which the Governor’s power was found insufficient to check. Increased power was accordingly given to the Governor and order was restored. GOVERNOR’S REPORT.—The Governor reported that since his last report, continued insubordination among the female prisoners had compelled him to ask the Visiting Justices for increased power, to restrain it; and that had the desired effect. In other respects the prisoners had been orderly; and the hospital continued unoccupied.—The Governor certified, that, as far as practicable, the rules and regulations for the government of the prison had been complied with. Several of the airing yards and passages required re-paving; some of the roofs continued in a bad state, and some of the floors and partitions of the dormitories required repair. GAOL EXPENSES FOR THE LAST QUARTER:— £ s. d. Subsistence 319 14 0 Clothing 88 3 8¼ Fuel 55 11 10 Sundries 61 4 10½ Salaries 303 3 0 Pensioned Warder 6 0 0 Paid prisoners on discharge 6 5 0 Expenses of Michaelmas Sessions 18 8 8½ Removal of Convicts 43 10 8½ Paid Surgeon for examination of Catherine Stephens, a criminal lunatic 0 10 6 Burial of a still-born female child 0 2 6 Female singers 1 0 0 Whipping 0 5 0 Incidental expenses 0 14 3 Total 904 14 0¾ Credit cash received for maintenance of 12 military prisoners 7 15 6 896 18 6¾ Repairs 8 6 3 Total 905 4 9¾ Hall expenses, £7 0s. 9d. Expenses on account of the new gaol, 164l. 3s. 3½d. —The CHAIRMAN read a comparative statement of prisoners for trial at these sessions and at the corresponding sessions of 1855. The general result was that in 1855 there were 51 prisoners for trial; and in 1856, there were 24. EASTERN DIVISION OF BRIDGES.—Mr. PEASE, inspector, reported as follows:—Looe Bridge.—The magistrates of the district have examined the new Bridge at Looe, and certified to its completion. The Looe Harbour Commissioners have also certified their approval of the work, and as they have undertaken to relieve the county from all future liability with regard to the approach roads, and repairs of the road over the bridge, as well as any contingencies which may arise from the removal of the old bridge, I only wait the order of the sessions to pay the balance of the 2,500l. guaranteed by the county.—I may mention with regard to the old bridge, that when, about 3 or 4 years ago, I presented a special report on its state, feeble as I thought it, I dared not suppose it was nearly so bad as, on taking it down, it proved to be. The piers consisted of narrow external walls, having the spaces between them filled with rubbish. I think it impossible that the bridge could have stood much longer. Tamerton Bridge.—The Magistrates of the District have certified to work done at Tamerton Bridge by order of the Surveyor for Sanitary purposes, at an expense of £2 9s. Clapper Bridge.—Some large stones require to be fixed to protect the foundations of two of the piers of Clapper Bridge; and some other repairs are required, the expense of which is estimated at £3. Rilla Mill.—A covered drain is much needed in front of the houses at the East end of Rilla Mill Bridge in a sanitary point of view, as well as for the improvement of the road; the cost of which would be about £4. Boyton.—When the river is low, the abutments in the Cornish side of Boyton Bridge should be examined, and the necessary repairs attended to, as I observed that one or more stones are wanting in the lower part of the abutment. Tregorrick.—A good bridge has been built across the St. Austell River at Tregorrick, which bridge I occasionally inspected during its erection; I now certify my approval of it, and see no objection to its being adopted by the County. [This being the last report Mr. Pease had to present to the Sessions as a Surveyor of the County Bridges, he appended to it some statistical and other information concerning the Bridges which had been under his care; and his duties in connection therewith.—We must postpone this document till next week.] —In the course of reading Mr. Pease’s Report, the CHAIRMAN read a letter which he received some time since from the Hon. G.M. Fortescue, on the subject of Lostwithiel Bridge, and, especially, drawing attention to the serious inconvenience that would arise from the Railway crossing the Turnpike road on a level within a few yards of the Bridge, and suggesting for consideration, whether in the projected repairs of the bridge, any thing could be done to remedy that inconvenience.—Mr. Fortescue states that it has occurred to him that if considerable repairs of Lostwithiel Bridge are necessary, and if the County is disposed to undertake them, a plan might be devised, which, with those repairs, might combine an alteration of the eastern approach, which would protect the public from an inconvenience and danger they never ought to have been exposed to on a turnpike road, viz.—a railway-crossing within 50 yards of a long narrow bridge on one side, and a steep winding hill on the other. Towards the cost of carrying out such a plan Mr. Fortescue has little doubt that some of the gentry in the neighbourhood would be willing to contribute. —Mr. E. COODE, jun., gave notice that at the next sessions, he will move that Tregorrick Bridge, the building of which had been inspected and certified by Mr. Pease, the County Surveyor, be adopted as a County Bridge. WESTERN DIVISION OF BRIDGES.—Mr. HICKES reported as follows:—Since the last Sessions I have had the side drains of Carnon Embankment stopped to prevent the water flowing on the road, and two drains made across the road to take off the surface water; the road is now quite dry; and I think the expense of raising the road, as was ordered at the last Sessions, may for the present be saved.—I have had several of the bridge roads not under contract put in good repair, and others are in doing.—There are some repairs wanted to the guard-walls at Perran, which will cost about 10 shillings. The road over this bridge, which does not belong to the County, is in bad repair, and I fear if not repaired this winter, the arch of the bridge will be seriously damaged.