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REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS…

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

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TIVY-SIDE STEEPLE CHASE,

♦ CARMARTHENSHIRE ASSIZES.

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♦ CARMARTHENSHIRE ASSIZES. (Continued from our last). FRIDAY. His lordship entered the court at nine o'clock. Thomas Powell, John James, John Thomas, Thomas Tho- mas, John Thomas, Evan Davies, and David Evans, charged with having, on the 11th day of August last, at Pantyfen, in the parish of Llanfihangel-ar-arth, in this county, unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled, with divers other evil-disposed persons, and there unlawfully entered the dwelling-house of one Daniel Harries, and feloniously stoKat, taken, and carried away therefrom one current coin of the realm called a sovereign, of the value of one pound, the prc perty of the said Daniel Harries, and David Thomas, charged as having been accessory to the feet. The witnesses on both sides were ordered out of court. Messrs. E. V. William, Chilton, and J. Evans conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Richards defended the prisoner t David Evans, David Thomas, and Thomas Thomas. Mr. Chilton addressed the jury for the prosecution, and stated this was a case arising out of the late Rebecca riots. After stating the circumstances which occurred on the night of the robbery, he called the following witnesses :— John Davies examined: I am son-in-law of Daniel Harries, of Pantyfen. I lived there in August last. I and my wif", a'nd father-in-law slept there on the night of the 11th of August. 1 was disturbed about 12 o'clock, by stranger* calling on us to rise, and knocking. I went down, through fear, and opened the door. They had threatened to destroy the old man's property, unless the door would be opened in fiYtt minutes. After I opened fhe door, I saw about 12 men in strange dresses, and their faces painted. They told me tha they were coming for money to Gwenllian Lewis and that they had sent two letters to the old man, from Beeca. They came into the house, many of them. Two had guns, one a pistol, and another had a sword. I saw nothing tike a red coat about one. My father-in-law got up, and said he- had no money in the house that night. They demanded £ 20. He 6aid he had only a sovereign and a shilling. They ordered me to light a candle, or else they would destroy his goods. The servant girl lit the candle, and put it on the table.. One of the men took out a note for £20, and read it, and asked the old man to sign it. The old man said he would, and did sign it. They said I must sign it also. He laid hold of the old man's hand. The men with guns were both sides of the kitchen door. We signed the note both of us and one of them said he should have two months to pay, according to his own request. One of them said he should have three months. He asked them where he was to pay ? and one said to Mor- ris's bank, and another said to vV ilkins's bank. The okl man paid a sovereign and a shilling, and he had the shilling back to get tobacco. One of them had asked for the sove- reign. They told him to mind to pay. I cannot say whe- ther the note was stamped. They were not long in the house, as they were very active. By going out, they desired me not to tell that Becca had been there that night. Daniel Harris's examination on oath was then read. It contained nearly the same account of the outrage as detailed by James Davies. Mr. Chilton read the information given by John Thomas. This information was taken by John Lloyd Pnce, Elq.; bat the information was not on oath. Mary Titus examined: I was a'servant at Pptyfen on the nignt of the 11th of August, and James Davies ordered me to get up from bed and light a candle. I saw all the strange men- in the house, and went back to bed, because I was frightened. The son went out through the window. My mistress is too ill to come here to give evidence. The old man, Daniel Harries, was about 77 years of age. Evan Davies examined: I live at Abergwilly. I have known David Thomas for eight or nine years. He came to me on Thursday before August fair, and asked me if I wonM come with him to Pantyfen, to get money. He said he had agreed with Gwenllian Lewis to raise her X40 of money. If I would come, he would divide X5 between the company. I went to his house, at Penlan where I found several men, and others came afterwards. The prisoners were all there and some other persons besides, who are not in custody. We agreed to go the next night. David Thomas said he would not go himself, as he was the roost forward about the money; but would go to Blaenpant to buy a horse, and would take a witness with hin, to prove where he was. We met again next night, at David Thomas's house. The whole of the prisoners were present at the time. (They were all named and pointed out by witness.) We blackened our feces, and disguised ourselves. I bad a gown belonging to David Thomas's wife and the others were disguised in all manner of strange dresses. I know John Jones, Caerffilly,—he was present the first night, but not on the second. We then went off together. John Powell had a red coat on. DavM Thomas went towards Blaenpant. We started about ten o'clock, and were all on foot. We saw several persons near Glangwilly. We were armed with -something like a bayonet, two gung, a pistol, &c. We arrived at Pantyfen about twelve o'clock. We told th§ old man that Becca had come there. to jet the money which he owed Gwenllian Lewis under a wilL Cross-examined: We met about nine o'clock at D. Tho- mas's house, the second time. I was not working with D. < h Thorny but he came to me to Caeaugwynion. He told me then about dividing the £5. I did not go for the sake of my share Itf. the £ 5 but lIe threatened me unless I went, and I was afraid. I did not promise.to go before I heard of the £ 5. I rfesolved to go the first time he «ime to me. I mtiH before the magistrates that, he promised £5. I can't say when I was first before the magistrates I am not sure I told them then about the £5,bnt I thought to do so. I am sure thère was only two guns there; and they were fired after we came out of the house. I never had any money with D. Thomas, nor a share of the sovereign. I drank a drop by coming home, at Pencader. I saw the servant-maid in the kitchen at Pantyfen.; and we were in the house about; half an hour. Cross-examination continued I saw a pistol in the house. The men with the arms were near the old man when he- signed the note. He was not abused. Left the old man in the passage, with James Davies. I had no arms. The old man was thankful for the shilling he had back. I did not see them shaking hands with him. I was in some fear, not of the old man, but of the consequences. The £ 5 was not enough to cover that. I don't know whether £ 500 or X50 would do that. I heard of a reward many times, for- information on Becca. £500 reward, if I had them, would not take away my fear. My wife made me give information, and I also had compassion on the state of the country. Went of my own free will to Mr. Price, who did not send for me.. I maintain myself by my work, and had no money from anybody else. I never spoke a word to Margaret Richards about this business. I know that I never did. r never told Margaret Richards that Mr. Price was giving me • £ 50 for swearing against the people at Pantyfen. I told Benjamin Jones, about a fortnight ago; he said, "I will settle that man, if a white man can do it." I never told Mary Richards, of Priory-street, about this business, nor about Becca. I never told her there was a great reward for taking Becca:; and I never told her I would aay who were at Talog, if I knew as well as Mary Richrvrds. I don't know Stephens, of Craigddu. I never told him I had been served with & subpoena,"and had money for appearing at tho assizes against-the prisoners. I never told anything of the kind to any man living. Never said I had nothing to say, but what John Thomas, one of the prisoners, had told me and that I offered myself as witness to the prisoners, but they could not p&y me. David Davies examined I live on Crugmelya mountain. I saw John Thomas, one of the prisoners, before August fair, and he asked me to come with them to Pantyfen.that night, that they were going there. I had seen him ^somo days before, when he told me if I would go to Pantyf qa, for X40

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