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« on: Monday 26 February 18 22:02 GMT (UK) »
I can't find out what a 'portean jet' is - as written up in the following newspaper article. Any ideas?
Roger...
Ambleside Petty Sessions - Monday, Oct 15 1860 (Before J. Davy, Esq.)
- William Thompson, who had the appearance of a tramp, was brought up in custody of Mr. Superintendent Hibberd and two other officers, charged with stealing a copper kettle, the property of James Dodd, of Troutbeck, and a portean jet with fittings, the property of Mr. Wrigley; and John Heaps, of Kendal, tinner, brazier, and grocer, was subsequently charged, at the instance of Mr. Hibberd, with receiving the above mentioned articles knowing them to have been stolen. Mr. R.F. Thompson, solicitor, Kendal, appeared to watch the case on the part of Mr. Heaps. James Dodd said that, to the best of his belief, the kettle now produced was his kettle, that he saw it on the 19th of August last, at his bog house, where it was left. Police-sergeant Hoggarth deposed that he found the property at Mr. Heaps's. He produced the kettle, but said that he had nothing else from the prisoner. He found the prisoner in one of the lodging houses in Kendal, and on asking him where he got the property, he replied that he had bought it at Bowness. He told the officer he had bought both copper and lead, and that he had sold it all to Mr. Heaps for 7s. The officer then took the prisoner into custody for stealing them. He next went to Mr. Heap's shop and told him that the prisoner was apprehended, and that he must give up all. Mr. Heaps appeared excited and trembled, and said to his wife, "Go and fetch them up." Mrs. Heaps went into a room and borought out the copper measure produced. He next went into the cellar, followed by witness and police-constable Fawcett, when the lead produced was found in a corner under some shavings. Witness asked if that was all. Mr. Heaps said yes. Witness then took the articles away in his posession. By Mr. Thompson. - Mr. Heaps was a respectable man for anything he knew. On a former occasion some time ago he assisted to search Mr. Heaps's premises under a search warrant, but found nothing. Did not search under a warrant this time. Did not hear police-constable Fawcett say anything to Mr. Heaps about transportation or imprisonment. In the second case, Mr. Bonney, a plumber at Ambleside, proved selling the portean jet to Mr. Wrigley; that he had used it; and that the one produced, thought broken and incomplete, was to the best of his belief, the one sold. Thomas Holmes, under gardener to Mr. Wrigley, further identified the jet....................etc...etc