Volume 2, Number 5

Welcome to another issue of The Newport Cornucopia where we dig through the newspapers archives for interesting news articles and adverts. All articles are posted verbatim and most headlines are original (headlines in quotes are my own).

Robbery

Last Wednesday evening, whilst Mr. Oldridge, boot and shoemaker, Commercial street, was taking tea with his family, some thieves entered the shop, and carried off 0 prty to the amount of £4 or £5. The police succeeded in apprehending the same evening, two suspicious characters, who were found concealed in the cellar of the Half-way Beer house, Pill-road. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 6th January, 1849

The Weather

Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning last the frost, which had set in for some days previous, became very intense, and some rain having fallen, which was immediately frozen over the roads and streets, became a it were one glassy surface, so that travelling not only became difficult and dangerous, but, in some quarters, absolutely impossible. Several slight accidents occurred in Newport and the neighbourhood, and we are apprehensive that more serious casualties have taken place in the country around.

Travelling by sledge would have been much more suitable than by carriage on Thursday, and the adventures of some fair ladies, returning from the bachelors ball, at Tredegar, would form interesting matter for a vaudeville. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 6th January, 1849

'Taxi Fares: 1895'

Street directories such as John's included all sorts of information about the people, the businesses and services of Newport including the cost of getting a taxi around the town and beyond.

Further Afield

Fare by time — First hour, 2s. 6.; above one hour and under two, 6d for every fifteen minutes; every hour after the first, 2s. Double Fare may be demanded between midnight and 5 a.m. Two Passengers one Fare; 6d. for each additional Passenger. 112lbs of luggage carried without extra charge.

For places not enumerated in the above list — Any distance under one mile, 1s; beyond one mile, 6d. for each additional half mile or fractional part of a half a mile. Return Fare. Half Fare in addition.

There are authorised Cab-Stands at High Street, Railway Station, Marshes Road (2), Austin Friars, Watch-house Parade, Charles-street, Queen’s Hotel, Dock Street (lower end), and near Post Office, Maindee.

The cabs are under the control and inspection of the Lighting and Traffic Committee of the Town Council.

* Source: Measuring Worth

'Annual Dinner at the Market Tavern, Griffin Street'

On Tuesday evening, Mr. B. Baker, of the Market-tavern, Griffin-street, gave his annual dinner. There was a very respectable attendance, and the catering of the worthy host gave great satisfaction. After the cloth was removed, the usual loyal toasts were proposed and responded to. The evening was spent harmoniously, and the company separated at an early hour highly pleased. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 6th January, 1849

'Stealing a Two-Foot Rule'

John Williams was charged with stealing a two-foot rule, of the value of 1s., from Robert Linton.

The facts of the ease are very simple. Robert Linton stated that he had the rule in his pocket on the 26th ult., at the Market Boat public house, and also at the Winning Horse. He lost the rule, and never saw the prisoner during that day, but Hemmingway was by his side. He identified the rule.

The landlady at the Blue Boar in Pentonville swore that the prisoner pledged the rule with her about three weeks ago, for two quarts of beer.

The prisoner, in his defence, brought forward Robt. Eard, a bricklayer, and James Leyson, a mason, both of whom swore that they saw Hemmingway give the rule to prisoner, in order to get some beer upon it, and that the whole of them were drinking together upon that occasion at the Blue Boar.

The magistrates consulted for some time and committed the prisoner to stand his trial at the next sessions for larceny. Bail was taken for his appearance, himself in £40, and two sureties in £20 each.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 11th January, 1845

'Alias the Doctor'

Anne Whistance (alias the Doctor) was the first prisoner arraigned, under the circumstances detailed in the following evidence:—

Ann Davies sworn: Is landlady of the Elephant and Castle (formerly called the Red Cow—by the bye, it is not even co) that can swell into an elephant), on the canal side, near Friar's Fields. On Monday night last the prisoner remained at the door when every body else had gone. It was then near twelve o'clock; at half-past twelve she found prisoner endeavouring to force open her parlour window. The servant came and said some one was trying to get the chain downcame out, and found the prisoner at the window with the chain which she had pulled out, in one hand, and a brick in the other; she went up to her and asked her who authorized her to take down her shutters? Prisoner answered, You d— b—, I'll1 have a regular smash if I pay for it, I have three sovereigns planted, and I can afford to do so." Witness does not know what planted means. Sent her servant for the police, and retained prisoner till she was taken; she was very tipsy; came in drunk to the Elephant and Castle, but had nothing there.

Prisoner asserted that witness had taken 5s. or 6s. at another time out of her bosom, and had received many pounds of her money at several times.

Samuel Harlow: Is a police sergeant. Was sent for by Mrs. Davies found prisoner drunk and disorderly. Was obliged to get police constable Hopkins to assist in removing her. Continued disorderly for an hour after being locked up. About a week ago was sent for to Gregory's to take "The Doctor" into custody. While at the station-house she swore she would be revenged on Mrs. Davies.

The prisoner was committed to the House of Correction at Usk, with hard labour for two months. By Mrs. Davies' statement, it would appear that her house was open on Monday night till near 12 o'clock and the company could not have been very select when "The Doctor" was their boon companion.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 11th January, 1845

'Breaking Ornaments'

Charles Gibbs was charged with threatening Martha freed, and breaking several ornaments of her property, Complainant admitted "She kept a house for girls," upon which the clerk remarked that the affair was one of the accidents of her trade." The case was dismissed. Henrietta Sweedman, an "Astrologer" was summoned for assaulting Isaac Fienburgh. Ordered to pay costs, 2s. 6d.

— The Cardiff Times, 14th January, 1860

'The Three Cranes'

William Dare of the Three Cranes, was summoned for keeping his house open after hours. He pleaded that it was a small Christmas party, and as the house bore a good character the case was dismissed without costs. 

— The Cardiff Times, 14th January, 1860

'A Month for Stealing Currants and Raisins'

John Williams was sentenced to a month's hard labour for stealing currants and raisins, belonging to Mr. Allen, grocer, Risca. The prisoner went into his shop, asked to be supplied with the fruit, and then ate it, and walked out, refusing to pay. 

— The Cardiff Times, 14th January, 1860

Gig Accident

A serious accident took place on Stow-hill at about 5 o'clock on Sunday afternon last, by which one person was much hurt. Mr. Hicks, landlord of the Royal Ann, Llanarth-street, was returning with his wife in a gig from the direction of the Handpost towards the town, and at an easy pace, and when opposite the Six Bells, Stow-hill, one wheel mounting a small heap of dry mud, the vehicle was upset, throwing the occupants into the road. Mrs. Hicks, who fell upon her face, was stunned by the fall, and remained in that state for about ten minutes. Mr. J. Morgan, and Mr. and Mrs. Folk, of the Six Bells, whither Mrs Hicks was conveyed, were unremitting in their attentions. Mrs. Hicks still suffers very much, her face being much lacerated, and her limbs and body bruised.

— Cardiff Times, 2nd April, 1859

'For Sale: King's Arms, Christchurch Hill'

Interesting to see read in the advert that there was also a shop and a substantial orchard of over 200 trees which could be used for making cider.

The tithe map from a few years after the advert shows the orchard surrounding the pub.

Fire at a Draper's Shop

A fire broke out, at about half-past seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, in the shop of Mr. Curnew, draper, Commercial-street, which rapidly 'spread in every direction amongst the ignitable goods. An alarm was immediately given, and with, their usual promptness the police with the hose-reel from the Town-hall station hurried to the scene of conflagration. Inspector Williams. Sergeants Wilcox and Curtis, and several of the constables, under the command of the superintendent, rendered active and judicious services to extinguish the iiames, but so inflammable were the materials that nearly the whole stock in trade with the fixtures were destroyed.

While the police were attaching the hose to the plug, near the West of England Bank, a party of men in the street injudiciously broke open the window, which admitted a strong current of wind, and fanned the fire into a "fierce flame".

However, the police by their exertions succeeded in confining the fire to the shop, so that the rest of the house was uninjured. It is supposed the fire originated in an escape of gas, but as yet there is no proof of its origin. 

— Cardiff Times, 2nd April, 1859

Gambling

On the first day of the Newport Races, a gang of those villainous-looking thieves who frequent races for the purpose of plundering fools at roulette, had very comfortably installed themselves in a part of the grand stand, when Mr. Hopkins, the Superintendent of Police, interposed by direction of the magistrates, and put an end to all the golden hopes they had entertained.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 2nd October, 1841

'Missing £100 Notes'

In 1841, an advertisement was printed in the Monmouthshire Merlin for 3 x £100 notes which had been sent to J. J. Cordes & Co. but went astray. The following week an update was printed in the Merlin.

We are happy to perceive that the letter containing three notes for £100 each, advertised in our paper of last week, has duly come to hand. The delay which occurred did not arise from any negligence on the part, either of the General or Newport Post-office, the letter having been (by mistake), directed "Messrs. J. & J. Cordes, Liverpool," instead of "Messrs. J. & J. Cordes, Newport."

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 2nd October, 1841