THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
Archive of Reports and Anecdotes
Reports Page 11
Green, James
Arthur Warren, Holly Beds, Castlemorton, sued James Green, of Castlemorton, for £6. 18s. Id., for goods detained. The goods were put into defendant's house for keeping, and plaintiff now claimed for this amount, saying he could not get the goods back. Defendant swore that he removed the goods on plaintiff's order. Verdict for defendant with costs.
Published: Saturday 26 April 1884
Newspaper: Worcestershire Chronicle
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Green, William
William Smith, of Castlemorton, was charged by P.C. Brian with having a flock of 30 sheep astray on the Marsh Road, on the 26th of January. Fined 5s and costs 8s. Thomas Green, of Longdon, for having eight sheep astray at the same time and place, was fined 1. and costs 8s and William Green, of Castlemorton, similarly charged, was also fined 1s and costs. James Hart, of Castlemorton, was charged with stealing two chickens, on the 2nd February, the property of William Hicks, of Castlemorton. Ann Hicks said the day named she lost two chickens and gave information to Sergt. Walker. Sergt. Walker said he went to the house of defendant and there found two chickens. Defendant said he did not know how they came in his pocket, but they were there when he got home the previous evening. He had had a drop cider and be fancied someone had put them in his pocket; he intended to have returned them if witness had not come. The Bench took lenient view of the case, and dismissed it. Published: Saturday 16 February 1884
Newspaper: Worcestershire Chronicle
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Gunnell
In 1865, 11 February. Worcester Journal. Upton-on Severn. At the Magistrates’ Office, on Saturday, before the Rev. J. H. Clifton, Adam Gunnell and Job Wagstaff, both of Castlemorton, were charged, the former with stealing and the latter with stealing or receiving twelve fowls, two ducks, and one turkey, on the night of the 31st of January, at Castlemorton, the property of Wm. Cook. Mr. Gregory, Solicitor, defended the prisoners. Frances Cook said: I am the wife of Wm. Cook, who is a farmer, living at Castlemorton; we had some fowls and ducks, and a turkey; I saw them all right on the 31st; on the following morning I missed six couple of fowls, one couple of ducks, and one hen turkey; I had marked one of the ducks which were stolen; I have since seen two ducks in the possession of P.S. Hardman, one of which I will swear to as being my property, it being marked the same as other ducks I have, one of which I now produce; I could not swear to the fowls, as there was no mark upon them; I was also shown some turkey’s feathers, now produced, which resemble the colour of my turkey; the duck’s feathers (now produced) also resemble the colour of ducks. Charles Hardman said: I am a police-sergeant, residing at Welland; in consequence of information I received I went to Mr. Cook’s and examined the fowlhouse, on the floor of which I found a quantity of blood; I afterwards examined the outside of it, where I found a footmark in the snow, which I covered over; I afterwards went to the Robin Hood beer-house in that parish, here I found the prisoner, Adam Gunnell; I called him out of the house, and asked him where he stayed the night before; he said was at home; I then asked him what time be got home; he said he got home in good time; I said what time, which question be refused to answer; I examined his trousers which was wearing, and which I now produce; on the legs I found marks of blood, and also on the knee marks of dirt, corresponding with that in the fowl-house, which was the droppings from the fowls: I then asked him how accounted for the blood on his trousers; be replied, What’s that to you. I then took him into custody, after a severe struggle, in which I hurt my knee very badly; I then took him to Mr. Cook’s, and compared his right shoe with the mark which I found on the outside of the fowl-house, and found it to correspond exactly; on the road to Mr. Cook's, in company with Gunnell and Mr Smith, the Parish Constable, we had to pass Job Wright’s house, when my attention was directed to a smell of feathers burning. I then went in to the kitchen of the house where there was a quantity of feathers burning in the grate; the feathers now produced are some that I got out of the fire; they are duck’s turkey’s and fowl’s feathers; there appeared to be a great quantity burnt; I afterwards searched the house, and in the room used as a dairy I found two ducks dressed; I afterwards showed the ducks to Mrs Cook, one of which she identified; they were on the floor of the dairy; I also found a dressed fowl in the dairy; the prisoner Wagstaff was present, and said that the ducks were two of his own which he killed; in an upstairs room I found a quantity of feathers of various sorts, of ducks, fowls and turkeys mixed, a sample of which I now produce; I afterwards found on the floor of the fowl pen a mark where some person wearing cord trousers had knelt in the fowl droppings in the fowl house; I have since compared it with the prisoner’s trousers and found it corresponds. Samuel Michael, a Police Officer, stationed at Hanley, said I went to Castlemorton in company with P.C. Reynolds and saw Wagstaff near his house in a cart, and apprehended him, charging him with receiving or stealing a quantity of fowls, two ducks, and one turkey. The property of Mr Cook; he said I’ve not stole any ducks; I haven’t had a turkey in my house for I don’t know when; that the ducks which were found in his possession were bought of a woman named Hannah Young; I then made a further search in Wagstaff’s house; and found a room with a quantity of feathers in it of every description; I picked out a sample which afterwards we afterwards showed Mrs Cook, who said they resembled those of the turkey. The feathers appeared very fresh, the quill parts being very supple. When he saw the feathers, Wagstaff said I think it is six or eight weeks since we had a turkey; I then brought him to Upton. I made further examination of the fowl-house and took up the mark of the corduroy, which corresponded with Gunnell’s trousers. I never knew that Wagstaff dealt in poultry. I afterwards questioned Hannah Young in the presence of the prisoner Wagstaff, who said she sold Wagstaff two ducks about six months ago. Mrs Cook was recalled and said she never sold Hannah Young any ducks of any kind. Mr Gregory reserved his defence and the prisoners were committed to the next Worcester Sessions, bail being accepted, two sureties of £10 each and one in £20.
Subsequently Wagstaff was acquitted and Gunnell found guilty. Nine months hard labour.
The Cook’s were not in Castlemorton in 1861. Nor in 1871, so I cannot identify their house.
In 1865, 18 February, Worcester Journal. John Gunnell, labourer, Castlemorton, for allowing one sheep to stray on the highway, at Longdon, on the 5th of February, was fined 6d and costs.
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In 1867, 17 April, Worcestershire Chronicle. Upton-upon-Severn Petty Sessions. Adam, Gunnell and Thomas King were summoned by Mr Richard Lord for trespassing in pursuit of game on land in his occupation in Longdon on the 27th March. Fined 2s 6d with costs, or 7 days.
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In 1868, 9 May. Worcester Journal: Upton upon Severn. Police Court. At the Police Court, on Thursday, before the Revds A. B. Lechmere and G. H. Clifton. Major Peyton, E G Stone, H. Wlllan and J. W. Empson, Esqrs. Gunnell, labourer, of Castlemorton, brought up in the custody of Supt. Checketts, was charged with unlawfully killing and slaying Charles Jones, at the parish of Castlemorton, on the 2nd inst. Charles Wadley said: I live at Castlemorton, and work for Mr. J. R. Lane, of Cutler's Farm, in that parish. At about half-past six o'clock on Saturday evening last I was in my master's fold-yard near the stable door. The prisoner, Charles Gunnell, who was my master's cowman, went into the stable after a horse, and put a collar on it. The deceased, Charles Jones, the carter, said he should not have the horse. Gunnell replied that he should. Gunnell then went for the cart saddle and breeching to put on the horse, and while he was going Jones pulled the collar off the horse. The horse ran out of the stable, and Gunnell ran after it. It stood still near the mixen-hole and Gunnell went to catch it. Charles Jones was standing at the stable door; he ran towards the horse with a besom, and struck the horse across the head with it. He then flourished the besom-stick over Gunnell, and threatened to knock him down. Gunnell went up to Jones and pushed him into the mixen-hole. Gunnell then followed and caught the horse. Jones was in the mixen-hole lying quiet. Gunnell harnessed the horse to a cart and took it into the rick-yard to haul out some chaff straw into the cow-shed. When I saw Jones in the mixen-hole I went to him. I told him to get up, and caught hold of him by his shoulders to lift him up. He could not get up, nor could I lift him up. He asked me to go to his wife and tell her. I went to his home, about a quarter of a mile distant. The wall over which deceased fell is about 4ft. high. I was away after Jones's wife about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. When I got back I found Jones in the same place, and his wife standing by him. Gunnell brought a cart and assisted to put him into it. The deceased then said to Gunnell, now l hope you be satisfied, Mr. Gunnell. Gunnell replied, I didn’t intend to hurt you. This wouldn’t have happened if you had let me alone. Jones was then taken away in the cart to his own home, and Gunnell went on with his work. Gunnell and Jones were accustomed to quarrel with each other. James Wadley, brother of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. Mr H. T. Marsh said, I am a surgeon, and live at Upton-on-Severn. On Saturday evening, the 2nd inst., I proceeded to the house of Charles Lane (this should be Jones, an error in the Newspaper), at Castlemorton. I found him lying on a bed in a downstairs room. On examination I found the symptoms of a fracture of the spine. He was paralyzed in both upper and lower extremities. He died on the following morning. I have since made a post mortem examination, and found that death resulted from a fracture of the sixth cervical vertebras. Such an injury might have been caused by a fall into the mixen-hole as described. The magistrates consulted for a short time, and on returning into Court said they were of opinion that the evidence adduced was not sufficient to justify them in sending the case to a higher tribunal. The prisoner was therefore discharged with a reprimand.
(a mixen hole is a hole in a straw yard on a farm where urine drained instead of into a cess pool)
In 1875, 12 June. Worcester Journal. John Gunnell, of Castlemorton, and others were fined 6d and costs for allowing their horses to stray upon the highway at Welland.
In 1877, 25 August, Worcester Journal. Upton upon Severn Petty Sessions. Thursday. Before Lieut. Colonel Webb and Mr C. M. Berrington) Adam Gunnell, labourer of Castlemorton, was charged with stealing a fowl, the property of Mr Frederick Hicks, of that place, on the 9th of June 1876. A littlr girl, of 9 years of age, named Minnie Stanhope Jones, deposed that on the day in question she saw the prisoner in company with a man named Lutwich. Lutwich caught the fowl, put it into his pocket, and walked away accompanied by the prisoner. (Lutwich was convicted of the offence on 22nd June 1876 and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment, but Gunnell left the neighbourhood and was only taken into custody on Monday last). George Bradford Jones, the father of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. As there were two previous convictions for larceny against the prisoner, the magistrates decided to send the case for trial at the Assizes, and Mr Powell of Upton-upon-Severn, who appeared on behalf of the prisoner, said he would reserve his defence.