The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1870-07-22 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

WEDNESDAY.  OUTRAGE UPON A MARRIED WOMAN.  William Evans, 26, Evan Evans, 22, William Barber, 19, colliers, were charged with committing a gross outrage upon Rachel Dobbs, the wife of George Dobbs, charcoal burner, who lives at GlynNeath. Mr. Gwilym Williams prosecuted, and Mr. Bowen defended. On Thursday, the 7th April, the prosecutrix had been to Aberdare, and about twelve o'clock that night, as she was passing over Hirwain Common, the prisoners came out of the Llwyneelyn publichouse and followed her. She was seized by the men, all of whom violently outraged her. A constable, named David Evans, was coming from Penywain, and heard cries of "Murder." On going in the direction of the cry he found the prosecutrix lying on the common in a distressed and excited state, with her clothes all disordered. By the time the officer got up, Barber and Evan Evans had escaped, but William Evans was caught. The officer's evidence against William Evans was conclusive' and established the charge against him beyond doubt. From a statement which he made when taken to the police-station at Aberdare, the two other prisoner were arrested. According to the prosecutrix the night was so dark that she was unable to recognize either of the prisoners except William Evans. Evidence on behalf of the defence was called to show that on the night of the 7th of April the proaecutrix went to the Stag Inn, at Aberdare, and conducted herself in such a disgusting manner as to lead to the presumption that she was drunk i that she had said that her husband would have known nothing about the affair if it had not been for the " d— old police coming up ;" that she had offered to settle the matter for a money consideration; and that she had said that she would rather "spend 10s. in a public-house on the (lay of the assizes than go against the boys." The prosecutrix denied that she had made any offer to compromise the case, and the policeman who saw her directly after the out. rage had been committed said that she appeared to be sober. . . .  The jury, who retired to deliberate, returned after an absence of a quarter of an hour with a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners. They were each sentenced to ten years penal servitude.  CHARGE OF CONOLUMENT OF OIRTIt AT ABERDAnk;. Mary Ann Davies, 22, domestio servant, was charged with the murder of her illegitimate child at Aberdare, on the 4th of April last. Mr. Bowen prosecuted. I%e prisoner, who had not retained counsel, made an application to the Judge to assign her counsel. Mr. Michael, at the suggestion of his lordship, undertook the defence. Mr. Bowen, in opening the case to the jury, stated that the prosecution proposed to withdraw the capital charge, and to proceed against the prisoner for the concealment of the birth of her child.  Mr. Michael then had a oonaultation with the prisoner, after which he informed his lordship that, under Ins advice, the prisoner would plead guilty to the minor charge of concealment. His Lordship said he concurred in the course taken by the prosecution. He had gone through the depositions, and the evidence of concealment was quite conclusive against her. There was no mistake but the child had been thrown in the privy, for prisoner had admitted that herself; but the medical evidence would show that the condition of the child was quite conclusive with the statement made by the prisoner, that she found it dead. Formal evidence was then given, and the jury, under the direction of the judge, returned a verdict of guilty of the minor charge. Hie Lordship, in consideration that the prisoner had been already in gaol for three months, passed a sentence of only one month's imprisonment.