SWINDON PETTY SESSIONS – Nov. 30th.
Before Revs. T. H. Ripley, Goddard, and Giles Daubeney …
ASSAULT ON A POLICE CONSTABLE IN EXECUTION OF DUTY. -
Ro-
bert Telling, a mason, at Purton, was charged by Thomas Keene, a po-
lice constable, with assaulting him, at Purton. It appears Keene had
detained a girl named Earl, in custody on suspician of felony, and that
on the evening of the 13th Nov., defendant came to the constable’s
house in a violent and resolute manner, and demanded the cause of
the detention, and insisted on entering the house; and on being re-
fused admittance, shoved aside Keene violently, and committed the
alleged assault. A large mob collected round the constable in conse-
quence of defendant’s violence. - The defendant pleaded that he was
somewhat intoxicated, but he only wished to know what the
caddle (as
he expressed it) was about the girl? - The Magistrates expressed in
strong terms their astonishment at such disreputable conduct on the
part of a man who, holding a responsible station in life, ought to pro-
tect, instead of interfering with the police, and that he ought to be
ashamed of allowing intoxication to be an excuse for such an offence.
Fined £2, to include costs – the defendant coolly requested of the Ma-
gistrates sufficient time to pay the amount, and on being refused, pulled
out the needful instantly, and paid the fine.
Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday, Dec. 7, 1848,
PURTON,- The principal inhabitants of this parish
have presented police constable Thomas Keene with a very hand-
some Bible and Prayer Book, in testimony of the estimation in
which they held the services rendered by him to the extensive
parish in which he does duty, and in which he has been stationed
for 8 years. The presentation was made by the Rev. Canon
Prower, accompanied with a suitable address. A purse was also
given to his wife, and handsome presents to his children.
Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday, Feb. 26, 1852
