Page 189 - Reading Mercury

whole regiment was assembled in the riding school, drawn up in the form of a hollow
square, to witness the infliction of the punishment, agreeable to his sentence. The man
upon being ordered to strip, walked nimbly up to the halberds, took off his cap and
jacket with the utmost coolness, throwing them on the ground, and said, in a firm, he
was quite ready. The whole of the 100 lashes were then inflicted, which the man here
with the greatest fortitude, never once, during the whole time, uttered a word. Upon
being released, to be taken to the hospital, he turned round to the officer in command,
and said: “I have now received my punishment, and I repeat, as I have said before, I
am innocent.”
After some 30 or 40 lashes had been administered, one of the officers fainted away,
and was ordered immediate restoratives by the medical officer in attendance.

nd
Sat 22 July
“ROYAL FOREST LODGE” OF ODD FELLOWS
“Royal Forest Lodge” of Odd Fellows, L.O., M.U.—was the scene of much life and
gaiety on Thursday last on the occasion of the first anniversary of the above Lodge of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The members mustered in good numbers at an
early hour and were joined by many worthy brothers from other lodges in the district;
st
a procession having been formed, accompanied by the admirable head of the 1 Life
Guards (which, by the kind permission of the Captain of the regiment were allowed to
stop at Wokingham on their return from Bristol where they had been engaged the
previous day at the launch of the Great Britain), the members proceeded to the Parish
Church in which an excellent and appropriate discourse was preached by the Rev. T.
th
th
Morres from the 5 verse of the 12 of Romans. The procession then paraded the
town with their splendid regalia, and colours flying, and, shortly after 3 o’clock began
to assemble in the Town-hall where a substantial dinner was provided by host
Churchman of the Red Lion. About 140 sat down in the Hall which, of course, was
completely filled; a considerable number of the party having failed in their
endeavours to procure comfortable seats adjourned to the Lodge House and partook of
a hearty feast by themselves. The Chair in the Hall was ably filled by F. Soames, Esq
who was supported by Mr. Dehay, the vice-president of the Lodge.
Among the guests who honoured the company with their presence, were John
Walter Esq., of Bearwood, J. Tyns Esq., the Revd. T. Morres, W. J. Hayes, P. C.
Marshall, &c. The ordinary toasts were given, and followed in quick succession
pertaining more strictly to the object of the meeting; and some excellent and
humorous speeches were made on the occasion by the Chairman, Mr. Walter, Rev. T.
Morres, Mr. J. Tyns and others present. Nothing but good feeling and sociality
prevailed throughout the evening; indeed the members only regretted that
“anniversaries” of this kind were limited to once a year. We understand this Lodge
has prospered well since its establishment, almost a year ago.

Our readers in this neighbourhood will probably recollect the circumstances of two
men being apprehended at Wokingham some months ago, on a charge of horse-
stealing. They were conveyed to Bristol, and there committed for trial, and on
Wednesday se’nnight [week] the case was heard at the Bristol Quarter Sessions, as
will be seen by the following notice of the trial:--James Stone, 61, and Francis Creech
were indicted for stealing a gelding, the property of John Courtenay. Mr. Stone
appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Prideaux for the prisoner Stone. The gelding
was stolen from a field in St. Philip’s and at half past two in the morning prisoners
were seen riding along Cadbury Heath, the prisoner Stone upon the gelding and

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