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Drunken militiaman

Source: Aberystwyth Observer 29/04/1865       Date: 1865
Copyright:       Type: Newspaper
Description:

Transcript:
ASSAULTING THE POLICE. John Evans, a pugnacious character, was charged with the above offence. P.C. Hayes, sworn, said that on Saturday night he observed a great crowd opposite the Nanteos Arms, in which the prisoner Evans was most disorderly. Witness told Evans to go away. The prisoner not only refused to comply with his request, but struck witness a violent blow. Witness closed with him and they both went down together. Witness very much abused whilst he was on the ground, his hair being pulled and parties about kicking him, so that be could not get fair play at all. The prisoner broke from him twice, but at the corner of Market- street he succeeded in capturing him with the assistance of Sergeant Thomas.

Beyston, landlord of the Nanteos Arms, said there was no row in his house, but the prisoner was there and very disorderly. Witness, who was in the cellar when prisoner commenced his annoyance came up and turned him out. Prisoner wanted to come in again, but witness would not allow him to do so, and in preventing him he was severely kicked by the prisoner, who also struck witness's wife. Witness applied to the constable Hayes, and asked him was be to be maltreated by prisoner in that manner. When Hayes interfered, the prisoner struck him and knocked him down. Witness saw him do so. At first the prisoner came into witness's house begging, and then he wanted a glass of ale for a penny. Witness's wife gave it to him at length, but he refused to take it, because he said it was not full. The prisoner said he had come up to join the, militia. He would not deny the charge that was made against him, but he was very drunk on the occasion, and had no recollection of how it had occurred. He was very sorry for it, and hoped the bench would overlook the offence. In reply to the bench, Sergeant Thomas said that prisoner was a notorious character; that during all the last training he was fighting, and was scarcely ever without a black eye. The Mayor said that the prisoner was evidently a great annoyance to the town, and be thought the best thing to do was to get rid of him. He should, therefore, fine him £2, and in default sentence him to one month's imprisonment, with bard labour, in Cardigan jail.
Notes:
Linked to
Beyston, Thomas and Mary [-]
Nanteos Arms , Great Darkgate Street, Aberystwyth

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