Page 238 - Reading Mercury

We had a good supply of fowls on Tuesday last, for which very high prices were
obtained, Mr. W. Lane, of Evendons Farm, Wokingham, sold one basket containing
twelve fowls for 72s.—an average of 6s. per head.

th
Sat 20 June
ROBBERY AND INGRATITUDE FOR KINDNESS
About half-past five o’clock on the morning of Thursday night, as Police-constable
Riddiford was passing near Bill Hill, he saw a man in a field changing his clothes. So
unusual circumstance induced the constable to watch him, when the man observed
that it was all right, and that he was changing his trowsers, as his others were too
warm. The constable, after a few unsatisfactory answers, accompanied the man to the
field gate, when he took to his heels, pursued by Riddiford, and after a sharp run
across the country for a mile, the constable ran him down, and brought him to
Wokingham.
He was wearing a pair of black cloth trowsers, and had with him three waistcoats,
two handkerchiefs, a scarf, and a razor. These articles were soon identified as the
property of Charles Dawkins of the “Anchor,” at Wokingham, who had kindly kept
the prisoner at his house for more than a week on account of his destitute condition.
The prisoner having the previous night ascertained from Mrs. Dawkins that her
husband would not be at home that night, took the things from the bedroom where he
slept, and absconded, as Mrs. Dawkins discovered soon after five o’clock, on going to
his room for the purpose of calling him up. Prisoner gave the name of Charles Neale,
and was by the Alderman committed for trial at the next Sessions.

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Sat 4 July
During the past week we have had two detachments of the Land Transport Corps
billeted here, one night each, en route to the Camp at Aldershot. Each soldier had the
charge of two horses; and the innkeeper complained, and not without reason, that so
many horses should arrive at once, there not being adequate accommodation for them
without much inconvenience, and in some cases expense.

FIRE
On Saturday afternoon last, about five o’clock, a shed belonging to T.R. Harman,
Esq., situate a short distance from that gentleman’s residence, was discovered to be on
fire. Assistance was promptly rendered, and, with the help of the engine from Bear
Wood, the fire was confined to the shed in which it originated, which was destroyed,
as well as a quantity of hurdles, poles &c., near. A hayrick standing close by ignited,
but by cutting away the burning part, the remainder was saved, although much
damaged by the water. A little boy named Richard Cheeseman, having been seen to
leave the shed just before the fire broke out, he was apprehended, and on Monday
brought before J.E. Leveson Gower Esq., when he stated that his parents sent him for
some lucifers, that he took some into the shed, struck one on a piece of wood, and
threw it down on some furze there, which caught fire, when he was frightened, and
ran home. The boy being scarcely eight years of age, and there being no doubt as to
the truth of his narrative, he was dismissed, after the magistrate had suitably addressed
him, pointing out the dangerous consequences that might have resulted from such
heedless conduct; the father of the boy was also cautioned, for permitting so young a
child to have access to such dangerous things as Lucifer matches.

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