Monmouthshire Merlin 1850

Saturday March 2nd 1850

USK

SUICIDES. – On Wednesday, the 13th February, melancholy suicide was committed near Usk. A man of the name of Thos. Eddy in the employ of Mr George Reynolds, of Lancayo, left his residence the Weir Cottage, about two miles distant from his residence, towards the river; he was followed by one of his children. He walked a short distance along the bank of the river, and threw himself into the stream. The child immediately ran home, and gave the alarm. The spot was dragged, and search made down the river. The body was discovered near Usk Bridge, about three hours afterwards. The deceased was about forty years of age, and has left a wife and several children. On the same day, John Williams, a labourer, living in the hamlet of Glascoed was found suspended by the neck from one of the orchard trees near his house. It is supposed he arose from his bed in the dead of the night, whilst his brother, who was in the same bed, lay asleep, and proceeded to the orchard, where he committed the fatal deed. (Research Note: This in all likelihood, the Mount Zion Baptist Chapel deacon of that name who hanged himself after a “biddle” he allowed in the chapel after a wedding became “a drunken affair”).

Saturday October 19th 1850

TRIAL OF PRISONERS.

PONTYPOOL.—UTTERING COUNTERFEIT COIN.

The first prisoner arraigned was Mary Crowley, an aged woman, who was charged with unlawfully uttering, to Wm Herbert, at Trevethin, four counterfeit shillings, knowing the same to be counterfeit. She was charged in a second count of the indictment, with having in her possession, on the same day, four false or counterfeit half-crowns —Mr. Daniel stated the case, and Mr. Rickards examined witnesses, on behalf of the crown.—The offence was clearly brought home to the prisoner, who had passed the base money in question, in the shop of Messrs. Davies and Potter, at Trevethin, on the 12th of September. The prisoner stated she picked up the coins, and had said that she had received them of a party at the Glascoed. Mr. Potter, on the bad money being handed him, sent for Mr. Roberts, the superintendent, who took the coins, and also received from the prisoner, voluntarily, four half- crowns, she saying, “That's the rest of em” He took her to Mr. Golding, silversmith, who pronounced the pieces to be counterfeit. Prisoner told Mr. Roberts she had received the money from her son at the Race; but afterwards said she had picked them up at the Glascoed. Mr. Golding now proved the coin to be counterfeit.- The Chairman summed up, and the jury found the prisoner guilty—Mr. Roberts recalled, said the prisoner was an unlicensed hawker in Pontypool and the neighbourhood, but he had never heard anything against her character previously to this offence. -To be imprisoned in the house of correction, with hard labour, for three months.