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 Families: Thomas Hargreaves in Arborfield

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Arborfield Hall

The Schooner 'Ianira'

Social Life at The Mount

Thomas Hargreaves' death - and afterwards

Thomas Hargreaves established himself at Arborfield Hall between 1855 and 1870 as a pillar of the community, first becoming a Magistrate in 1859, then a Sheriff of Berkshire in 1864 and a High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1867. In 1870, he set up a new home at Bishopstoke in Hampshire after his affair with a Mrs. Warriner was exposed in a court case.

These articles are from the local newspapers of the time, and give some flavour of his life as a local squire.  

Reading Mercury, 22 Oct 1859. BERKS MICHAELMAS SESSIONS.

ABINGDON, MONDAY, October 17.

It is now several years since the Sessions business of this county has excited such an intense amount of interest as on this occasion. The proceedings of the last three Sessions have tended towards closing the Gaol here, and as this was conceived to be in violation of certain rights which the authorities of Abingdon are reputed to enjoy by virtue of a deed executed between the town and county in 1803, a strong effort has been made during the last two or three months to arrest the progress of any measure having that effect. Accordingly, upon the representation of the facts to the Earl of Abingdon, his Lordship gave notice of a motion to rescind the motion for closing the Gaol. A controversy has also been going on in the shape of pamphlets, and the interest in the question has increased as the day for the discussion and reconsideration of the whole matter approached.

The Magistrates in this district arrived some time before the opening of the court, and the body of the hall was occupied by inhabitants of the town, who are largely interested in the matter. The mail train from Reading brought also a considerable number from that division of the county. The attendance of the magistrates was larger than known for many years. Of those present we observed the following:-

Viscount BARRINGTON, Chairman, Earl of Abingdon, Right Hon, E. P. Bouverie, M.P., Sir R. G. Throckmorton, Bart., Sir Charles Russell, Bart., […], John Walter, Esq., M.P., […] Thos. C. Garth, Esq., […].

NEW MAGISTRATES.

Benjamin Buck Green, Esq., of Midgham; Nicholas W. Throckmorton, Esq., of Buckland; Edward Wells, Esq., of Wallingford; and Thomas Hargreaves, Esq., of Arborfield, took the oaths as Justices of the Peace for this County.

BUSINESS OF THE COURT.

Owing to the lateness in the arrival of the train, bringing a large number of magistrates from the eastern part of the county, the Court commenced business by requesting the Clerk of the Peace to read the reports of the surgeon and governor of Abingdon Gaol. […]

Reading Mercury 09 Jun 1866: BURGLARY AT ARBORFIELD.

During the night of Tuesday last, Arborfield Hall, the residence of Captain Hargreaves, was broken into, and a gold watch, gold ring, and shooting-coat were stolen.

At present the burglar has escaped detection.

Reading Mercury 02 Mar 1867: BERKS LENT ASSIZES.

The Commission for holding these Assizes was opened at the Assize Court, Reading, on Monday last. The judges were Sir Colin Blackburn, and Sir Gillery Pigott. At 10.45 a.m., Mr. Baron Pigott arrived at the Great Western Station from London, and was met by the High Sheriff, Thomas Hargreaves, Esq., of Arborfield Hall, and the Sheriff's chaplain, the Rev. Sir John Hayes, in a handsome carriage drawn by four horses. His Lordship immediately proceeded to the Assize Court, and opened the Commission, and afterwards attended Divine service at St. Lawrence's Church. At 12 o'clock, his Lordship took his seat in the Crown Court, and proceeded with the trial of prisoners – a course which has met with general approbation. The High Sheriff – who was in uniform – the Sheriff's Chaplain, the Under Sheriff, (Mr. W. F. Blandy), and several County Magistrates, occupied seats on the Bench.

The Court was excessively crowded, and the calendar contained the names of 36 prisoners – 14 of whom were from the County. Mr. Justice Blackburn did not proceed with the Nisi Prius business until Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock. After the usual formalities had been observed, the following gentlemen were sworn on the GRAND JURY.

Sir WARWICK MORSHEAD, Bart., Forest Lodge, Bracknell (Foreman)

After the proclamation against vice, profaneness, and morality had been read, the learned Judge delivered the following charge. [...]

Reading Mercury 13 Apr 1867: WOKINGHAM, MR. GARTH'S HUNT DINNER.

This event took place at the Town Hall, Wokingham, on Tuesday last. The season with Mr. Garth's well-known pack has been a very successful one, as many as 43½ brace of foxes having been killed, and the celebration of the termination of the season was a very brilliant affair.

Sir Charles Russell, Bart., V.C., M.P., presided, and was supported by Lord A. Hill, T. C. Garth, Esq., Captain Hargreaves (High Sheriff), the Hon. Spencer Montague, the Rev. A. Roberts, Capt. Robson, Captain Walter, Capt. Lloyd, Messrs. F. B. Webster, W. Holmes, S. Leveson-Gower, M. Kingsley, W. F. Kinnersley, John Simonds, T. Simonds, J. Sharp, J. Brown, Henry Vyse, - Williams, T. Croft, T. Hunter, T. Wright, G. Shackel, Weight, P. Finch, W. Cordery, - Cave, jun., F. Headington, E. Headington, J, Headington, Garraway, Pigott, Hicks, Allen, Butcher, Lane, Ruse, Mr. Wheeler, hon. sec., &c. - Micklem, Esq., occupied the Vice-chair.

The Dinner, which was of first-class character, was served by Mrs. Churchman, of the Rose Hotel, and an abundant supply of Champagne was placed upon the tables. The Hall was completely filled.

After dessert had been placed upon the tables, the CHAIRMAN proposed “The Queen.” (Cheers). This was the first toast upon their list, the first upon their hearts, and the first upon their lips. (Cheers). He was sure that in the Royal and loyal County of Berks they would not require any eulogy of Her Majesty from him; but he thought it might be permitted to them to express an earnest hope that the sad sorrow that had overwhelmed her might yet pass away. And that her Majesty might once more come amongst her loyal and devoted subjects. The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm.

The CHAIRMAN next gave the health of the “Prince and Princess of Wales, and the rest of the Royal Family.” (Cheers.) The happy union of his Royal Highness with the Princess whose entry into London created such a sensation, had happily supplied them with a direct descent to the English Throne, and, as far as human foresight could penetrate into the future, they had every reason to hope that the succession would remain unbroken. (Hear.) Of his Royal Highness he need only say that however great his ambition might be, there was no opening for him in that county as Master of Fox Hounds, nevertheless when the opportunity occurred, he continued to hunt the harriers his father had hunted before him. (Cheers.) Of her Royal Highness the Princess he was sorry to say that she had been suffering under a most severe and painful affliction; and he could state, on the best authority, that for many many months her Royal Highness must continue suffering and be shut up from those social enjoyments to which she so largely contributed. An, in drinking that toast, he was sure that all present would add an earnest hope that the young mother, placed as she was in such a painful and he might almost say dangerous position, might soon have her health restored to her. (Loud cheers.)

The Hon. SPENCER MONTAGUE said that he was told that it was contrary to etiquette for the gallant chairman to propose the next toast, which was “The Army, Navy, Militia, and Volunteers.” (Cheers). In proposing this toast he need not say one word in its favour, for it went to the heart of every one of them. They all knoew how these services had behaved, and how they would behave. (Cheers.) He hoped that God would grant prosperity to the country and to the British army (Cheers.) He would ask the gallant chairman to respond for the army, Capt. Hargreaves for the Militia, and Mr. John Simonds for the volunteers. (Loud cheers.)

[…] Capt. HARGREAVES (High Sheriff) said that he was a member of the 3^rd Lancashire Militia, and was afraid that he as a very unworthy member. (“No, no.”) They all knew that the Berkshire Militia were amongst the first to volunteer for foreign service.

Mr. J. SIMONDS, jun., responded for the Volunteers, and remarked that the Siege of Brussels (laughter) had been carried out with great credit, and he expressed a hope that the Belgian Volunteers would meet with a hearty and liberal reception in England. (Cheers). At present they were very short of funds. (Laughter and cheers).

The CHAIRMAN said that they were very unexpectedly and pleasurably honoured with the presence of the High Sheriff of the County, but he believed Capt. Hargreaves was better known to them as a fox-hunter. (Cheers.) He had great pleasured in proposing “The health of the High Sheriff of the County.” (Loud cheers). The HIGH SHERIFF briefly acknowledged the toast.

[…] [Many more speeches and toasts]

Berkshire Chronicle 03 Apr 1869: THE PROPOSED SEWAGE FARM AT LOWER EARLEY.

INFLUENTIAL MEETING IN OPPOSITION TO THE SCHEME.

The proposal of the Reading Local Board of Health to obtain a farm at Lower Earley for the utilization of the town sewage, is likely to meet with strenuous opposition from the landowners and inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Earley being essentially a residential neighbourhood, studded with gentlemen's seats, and one of the most salubrious portions of the suburbs of Reading, great astonishment was expressed when it became known that the Board of Health had selected that particular spot for establishing a sewage farm. It was considered that if this portion of the sewage scheme were carried into effect it would be highly detrimental to the parish of Earley. On Tuesday an influential meeting of the landowners and inhabitants of the parish was held at the “Three Tuns”, Earley, convened by circular, signed by Mr. Thomas Porter, of Whiteknights. Among those present were: -

Captain Hargreaves (Arborfield Hall), Rev. Sir John Hayes, Bart., (Arborfield), Captain Cobham (Leighton Park), Colonel Blandy, Captain C. Stephens, Captain Versturme, Messrs. Thomas Porter (Whiteknights), John Hargreaves (Maiden Erleigh), J. J. Wheble (Bulmershe Court), A. C. Cobham (Shinfield), W. Willes (Goodrest), Charles Easton (Whiteknights), Alfred Waterhouse (Whiteknights), H. Vyse (Wilderness House), Jefferies (Lower Erleigh), W. W. Cowslade, F. W. Cowslade, J. Galsworthy, F. Galsworthy, George Sharkel, junr., W. H. Fuller, D. Haslam, J. Minty, W. Bishop, Goddard, &c., &c.

Mr Thomas Porter occupied the chair. Mr. Easton explained that proposals had been made by the Reading Local Board of Health to Sir Francis Goldsmid, Bart., for a lease of the farm at Lower Earley, for the purpose of the utilization of the sewage; but if Sir Francis found that the scheme was opposed to the feelings of the residents in the parish, he certainly would not agree to the proposal. Mr. Porter, Mr. Easton, Mr. Galsworthy, Mr. J. Hargreaves, Mr. Willes, and Mr. Vyse spoke strongly in opposition to the sewage being brought to Earley, and there was a unanimous feeling pervading the meeting that every legitimate means should be used to prevent the scheme being carried out.

Mr. J. Hargreaves proposed the following resolution:- “That this meeting views with alarm the project of the Corporation of reading for establishing a sewage farm at Lower Earley as being highly detrimental to the property in the neighbourhood; and that a committee consisting of Messrs. T. Porter, J. J. Wheble, H. Vyse, A. Waterhouse, J. Hargreaves, Captain Hargreaves, Captain Cobham, Messrs. C. Easton, A. C. Cobham, W. Willes, and Geo. Shckel, jun., be formed for the purpose of preparing a memorial to be addressed to the Corporation of Reading and the Home Secretary, on the subject; also to put themselves in communication with Sir Francis Goldsmid, Bart., with a view to enlisting his opposition to he proposed scheme.”

The above resolution was carried unanimously, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Reading Mercury 05 Feb 1870: WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2.

(Before John Leveson Gower, Esq.) - John Plant, a labourer, of Barkham, was brought up in custody charged with stealing five standard rose trees, value 7s. 6d., growing in the pleasure grounds at Arborfield Hall, on the night of the 23^rd ult., the property of Thomas Hargreaves, Esq.

The trees were missed on the morning of the 24^th ult., and information was given to P.C. Thos. Haynes, of the Berks Constabulary, who made enquiry, and subsequently found them planted in the prisoner's garden at Barkham, and took him into custody.

He now admitted the offence, and was fined £2. 1s. 6d., to include costs, which he paid.

Last, but not least, the following civil court case introduces us to some of teh domestic life at Arborfield Hall, featuring Thomas and Sarah Hargreaves, their coachman, a footman and maid, and their bailiff, not to mention a Wokingham brewer, a manager of a brick kiln, a draper, assorted policemen and others.

It appears that Thomas Hargreaves had brought a civil case in order to head-off another civil case that had been brought against him. It reminds us of present-day motor insurance claims and counter-claims, and was an early example of the "blame game". Unfortunately, after a very detailed report, we read that Thomas Hargreaves finally settled by paying damages and costs.

This transcript attempts to unpack and format the text to make it easier to read:

Reading Mercury 04 Mar 1865: BERKS SPRING ASSIZES, TUESDAY FEB. 28.

ACTION FOR DAMAGES – HARGREAVES V. BAKER.

This was an action brought by Captain Hargreaves, of Arborfield Hall, against Mr. Baker, brewer, of Wokingham, for damages sustained to his carriage, through the alleged careless driving of Mrs. Baker. The damages were laid at £10, 6s.

Mr. Huddlestone, Q.C., and Mr. Dowdeswell were for the plaintiff; and Mr. Powell, Q.C., and Mr. Griffits [sic] for the defendant. Mr. Huddlestone said the action was not brought there so much to recover the small amount in dispute, as to try a principle. There was another cross case to be brought at Oxford for substantial damages sustained by Mr. Baker. The great point was whether the carriage was on the right or the wrong side of the road.

Henry Wichelo said he was a coachman to Captain Hargreaves. He had been for many years as coachman to several highly respectable families. His present master lived at Arborfield Hall.

• He went to meet his master coming by the train on the 30^th October, with a carriage drawn by two horses.
•  There were three lamps on the carriage.
•  The footman was with him, and when his master and mistress got in he drove them homewards.
•  When he got into the main road towards Reading, and just before he came to King Street pond, he observed a man with a donkey cart, and he hallooed to him, and he said he was all right.
•  He (witness) kept on the near side all the way home. About 20 yards from the donkey cart, he saw another vehicle coming, and he hallooed, and instead of pulling the left hand rein the driver pulled the right, and ran into him, right across the road, and the shaft caught the wing of the carriage and pulled it off.
•  He had his horses under perfect control.
•  He heard a female speak, and she said, “I beg your pardon; I pulled the wrong rein”.

Cross-examined. –
•  He had been waiting at the station for about half-an-hour for his master;
•  could not undertake to say that he left the station before a quarter-past seven o’clock.
•  He met a man before he came to the donkey-cart. There was nothing took place between witness and that man.
•  There was a man and woman at the cross-roads.
•  He did not know whether they were walking or riding. He believed they were in a trap.
•  A man came to him and said he had a trap.
•  Did not hear anybody hallooing out to him before he met Hawkins.
•  Did not hear anybody cry out that he was driving furiously before he met Hawkins.
•  He kept his horses in the proper track all the way.
•  He did remember meeting a four-wheeled vehicle before he met Hawkins, and he pulled suddenly out of the way.
•  Could not say how far it was after that before he met Hawkins.
•  Hawkins was on his proper side, and so was witness. He did not touch Hawkins’ cart.
•  Hawkins did not say anything to him. Hawkins did not draw his donkey on the sward on the road-side to get out of witness’s way.
•  He did not hear Mr. Baker halloo before he came up.
•  Mrs. Baker said she pulled the wrong rein when the collision took place.
•  She was thrown out directly.
•  It was just as the accident happened she made use of this expression.
•  Mr. Baker was not so polite. He called him a vagabond, but did not ask him why he was on the wrong side, nor did he ask him to come down and give an account of himself.
•  He did not hear Capt. Hargreaves say, in reply to Mr. Baker’s questions, that he was a magistrate of the Wokingham bench.
•  He never told a man named Paul that he should get out of this trouble by saying that they pulled the wrong reins.
•  He had been with Capt. Hargreaves ever since, and was not under notice to leave.
•  He had not understood that his remaining in his present position depended on the result of this trial.

William Henry Matthews, who was at the time footman to Captain Hargreaves, said he now lived in Scotland, but he was with the former witness on the night of the accident.
•  He saw Mrs. Baker fall out of the vehicle on to the grass on her own side.
•  The carriage was stopped immediately. Mr. Baker's vehicle went on to Wokingham.
•  When the collision took place, Mr. Baker's vehicle was knocked back, and the passengers thrown out.
•  Hawkins came up, and witness observed to him that there was plenty of room to pass.
•  He accompanied the bailiff and the Superintendent of Police to the scene of the accident next morning.
•  The Superintendent found some splinters, a strap, and a screw.
•  Some of the pieces were in the middle, but the majority were on the near side of the road.
•  He noticed the track of a wheel, and it came round askew.

Cross-examined. –
•  He heard a person halloo before they met Hawkins.
•  The coachman did not pull up when they overtook that person, who had a four-wheeler.
•  He did not hear the man halloo more than once.

Captain Hargreaves said, the train on this evening was punctual, and he left by the coach for home four or five minutes afterwards.
•  There was a sharp turn from the station road to the main road, and they were obliged to take a sweep there.
•  When they came to King-street pond they were not going more than at the rate of six miles an hour.
•  When the collision took place the carriage stopped instantly.
•  There was an incline down into the pond.
•  He got out of the carriage and saw Mr. Baker between the wheels, and if the carriage had not stopped instantly his head would have been taken off.
•  Mrs. Hargreaves asked them whether they were hurt.
•  Some person told witness Baker’s name.
•  He “pitched into” Mr. Baker for running into his carriage.
•  Mr. Baker appeared to him to be so tipsy that he could answer nothing that was said to him properly.
•  Witness told him that he was a magistrate of the Wokingham Bench, and he should hear from him to-morrow.
•  The carriage was on the proper side of the road.
•  There was no pretence for saying that Wichelo was going to be turned away.

Cross-examined. –
•  It did not occur to him that Mr. Baker’s condition might arise from injuries sustained.
•  He could not say whether Mrs. Baker was lying on the ground or standing.
•  He thought she was standing and not hurt.
•  He believed Mr. Baker asked him his name. Somebody did.
•  He did not give his name. It was an omission on his part.
•  He never heard anybody complain that his carriage was on the wrong side.
•  They had a pitched battle in words on both sides.
•  He left Mr. Baker on the road after telling him that it would do him good to walk home.
•  He did not know how long Mrs. Baker was confined to her bed afterwards.
•  Hawkins did not point out the position of the carriage, and tell him that he had no business on the wrong side of the road.
•  He did not remember saying to Mr. Baker that there was plenty of room to pass.
•  No one pointed out to him that there was plenty of room on the other side of the carriage.
•  Hawkins did not say to him that he had nearly run into him.

Mrs. Hargreaves gave corroborative testimony.

Mary Hawk (Mrs. Hargreaves’ maid) also gave corroborative evidence.

Superintendent O’Neil deposed to having gone to the scene of the collision on the following morning, and found the splinters produced about the middle of the road, and some rather towards the pond side.
•  The road measured there about 19 feet.
•  Could see a track of a wheel that came from the north side in an oblique direction, and then it had gone back a little, and was afterwards lost among the others.
•  The distance between the north side and the place where he found the splinters measured 10 feet two inches.
•  Mr. Baker came to him after he returned from measuring the place, and told him about the accident, and said he wished him to see the place.
•  Mr. Baker said the accident occurred opposite Mr. Walter’s cottages, which were 500 yards from the spot.
•  He did not tell Mr. Baker that he had been to the spot, as he was curious to hear his account of it.
•  He told Mr. Baker that he could not go then as he was busy.

James Complin, bailiff to Captain Hargreaves, corroborated the superintendent as to the finding of the splinters, the width of the road, and the slanting direction of the wheel tracks referred to.

- Willits deposed to having seen Capt. Hargreaves’ coach leaving the station, and shortly afterwards he saw Mr. Baker’s trap coming into Wokingham, with no person in it, and with the wing of a carriage sticking on the off shaft.

Mr. Geston, coachmaker, Longacre, said the damage done to the carriage, with the railway fare of the carriage to and from London, amounted to £10 6s.

Mr. F. G. Fuller, surveyor, gave evidence as to the correctness of the plans referred to in the course of the evidence for the plaintiff.

This concluded the plaintiff’s case.

John Wigg, surveyor, residing at Binfield, made a plan of the road at the scene of the accident.
•  The green sward was 18ft. on the one side, and 12ft. on the other.
•  There were gutters on both sides.
•  The part of the road pointed out by Mr. Hawkins at the pond was 23ft. wide, and it was 19ft. 6in. at the other points.
•  There was nothing to prevent a vehicle driving up to the sward.

Mrs. Roselina Baker, the wife of the defendant, said she went to Reading on the 20^th October last, with a four-wheel chaise, and she had been accustomed to drive for the last 14 years.
•  Before she left Reading, she had some tea, and her husband was with her, and then they went to where the trap was, and Mr. Baker had a glass of brandy and water.
•  He was suffering from erysipelas, and had been so for some months, and was under medical advice at the time of the accident.
•  After they had started from Reading, and had got about half-way, she took the reins, as her husband wished to wrap up.
•  She was driving at the rate of about seven miles an hour.
•  She had been in the habit of driving along that road three or four times a week.
•  She saw a carriage coming along with lamps near the pond, and she drew in as near to the turf as possible.
•  She had been keeping to her own side all the way, but observing that the man did not draw out she drew nearer in.
•  Her husband shouted, but the carriage did not draw out from the wrong side until it touched their vehicle, and then it turned round, and they were both consequently thrown out.
•  She was thrown a little distance on the turf, and Mr. Baker was thrown under the hind-wheel of the plaintiff’s carriage.
•  Captain Hargreaves called out to the coachman, “Where are you driving us to now?” and the plaintiff and the ladies got out.
•  One lady came to her, and witness told her she was very much hurt.
•  Mr. Baker was seriously hurt, and quite insensible from the effects of a wound in the head.
•  Hawkins came up, and assisted Mr. Baker.
•  Witness was unable to get up without assistance.
•  Captain Hargreaves said he was a magistrate of Wokingham, and asked “Who are these people?”
•  She told him that it was Mr. Baker, the brewer, of Wokingham.
•  Hawkins then said that he (the plaintiff) had no business on the wrong side of the road, and that there was not room for the chaise to pass, pointing to the hind-wheel of the carriage, there being not four feet between it and the side.
•  Hawkins measured the road out, and said the carriage had nearly run over his donkey and cart; and also said there was more than half the road on the other side.
•  Mr. Baker asked Captain Hargreaves’ address, and he said he was a Wokingham magistrate.
•  Mr. Baker said that would not do for him, and then said to the coachman “Come down, you vagabond, and give an account of yourself”.
•  The carriage drove off directly after that.
•  She was taken to a cottage nearby. A person named Cooper kept that cottage.
•  After some little time her chaise was brought back to her.
•  She was ill for six weeks afterwards, her back injured.
•  Mr. Baker had not been drinking that day.
•  He had one of his teeth knocked out by the accident, another loosened, which came out since, and he was injured in the head and leg.

Cross-examined. –
•  She could not tell the height of the pony which she drove.
•  It was some distance from the spot of the collision that she drew the rein.

Re-examined. –
•  She pulled aside when she saw the lights approaching.
•  When she was thrown out, the shock was very violent.

Francis John Baker, the defendant, said his pony which his wife was driving, was about 14 hands high.
•  At the time he started from Reading, he was perfectly sober. He had been under medical advice.
•  His wife advised him to wrap up as it was a cold night, and she then took the reins.
•  He was about 40 yards or so from the pond when he saw the carriage.
•  The carriage was coming very fast.
•  He was on his own side, and when he saw the carriage he told his wife to be careful, and she drew still nearer his side, and he hallooed out for the driver to keep on his own side, and it came right into them.
•  He was thrown into the road.
•  He found a mark on his leg as if a wheel had gone over it.
•  He was rendered insensible.
•  His wife did not draw the wrong rein, nor did she say so.
•  He was picked up by Hawkins.
•  After he got a little better, he heard the plaintiff say, “Who are thes people?” and he was told, and the defendant asked plaintiff who he was, and he said he was a Wokingham magistrate.
•  Defendant said that there was no answer to him, and said to the coachman, “Come down you vagabond; who are you?”
•  It was very evident that the carriage had drawn out just as they came to them.
•  Hawkins pointed out the position of the carriage.
•  He was seven or eight inches from the sward, and the carriage was close to his chaise.
•  He went to the spot the next day.
•  He went to Supt. O'Neil previously.
•  He went and measured the gorund himself, with four others, including a police-constable.
•  He pointed out the spot, and he could see where his chaise had been, and where the plaintiff's horses had been plunging about. Hawkins pointed out the tracks of the wheels of the carriage, and they were on defendant's side considerably.

Cross-examined. -
•  He did not stop on the road to have anything to drink.
•  The carriage came straight into them.

By a Juryman. - He did not touch the reins at all.

By Mr. Huddlestone. - He had met with an accident once before, and owing to his not being able to obtain his witnesses on that day, he was fined for driving improperly.

Mr. Gray said he was on the Wokingham road on the night of the accident.
•  The carriage when it passed him was on his side of the road.
•  He called out several times as loud as he could call, but the coachman took no notice till he came near to him and witness was obliged to pull his horse and vehicle on to the green sward.
•  The carriage pulled right into the middle of the road when passing, but if witness had not got out of the way, it would have gone clean over him.
•  The coachman was going at a rate of 12 miles an hour he believed.
•  He met the carriage about a mile and a half from the King-street Pond, on the Wokingham side.

Mrs. Gray said the carriage was going very fast, and she was frightened. She was in her husband's cart.

William Hawkins, a brick burner and manager of a brick kiln, said on the night of the accident he was coming along the Wokingham road with a donkey cart, with his wife and another woman and child in it.
•  He led the donkey.
•  He saw the lamps of the carriage in the distance.
•  He was a little on the Reading side of the pond. He was going to Wokingham.
•  He was walking on a kind of footpath at the side, and he was on his own side.
•  The carriage was on his side, and he pulled the donkey towards the grass, and when the carriage came within ten yards, he pushed donkey and cart and all on to the grass.
•  If he had not done so, they would have been run over by the carriage.
•  The wheel of the carriage was within two feet of his side of the road.
•  The women also hallooed out.
•  The carriage then went on, and he afterwards heard a smash, and he saw Mr. Baker's trap come between him and the fence on the greensward, and he was obliged to push his donkey towards the road again.
•  When he got to the scene of the accident, he saw the carriage was on the wrong side, and standing rather askew.
•  He found Mr. Baker with his feet in the water track, on his proper side, and his head near the off hind wheel.
•  He was trying to get up himself, but could not, and witness helped him.
•  Witness's wife then came up and found Mrs. Baker lying on the greensward.
•  Mr. Baker appeared to be quite senseless for a minute or two.
•  The plaintiff wanted to know who the people were, and he was told by more than one.
•  The plaintiff said there was plenty of room, and witness pointed to the front wheel, which, he said, was only five or six feet from the turf, and the hind wheel not more than four, and he directed plaintiff's attention also to the room on the other side.
•  The plaintiff made no reply to that.
•  The coachman never spoke when Mr. Baker addressed him.
•  Witness lost his donkey in the scramble, and he looked about for it till nearly ten o'clock, and at last he found it in a lane.
•  He afterwards brought a lantern and examined the road, and found Mr. Baker's whip, and traced the wheel mark of Mr. Baker's trap for some distance.
•  He measured the distance the wheel was from the turf, and it was only six or seven inches all the way, and on the proper side.
•  He measured also the position of the carriage, and the front wheel was five feet from the turf, the hind wheel was not four feet from it, on Mr. Baker's side.
•  He also went to the place next day, but it having rained during the night they could not trace the carriage wheel marks so well.
•  He pointed out the spot to the others.
•  The gravel was raised by Mr. Baker's wheel.
•  Mr. Baker was sober enough then.
•  Witness had been examined by Mr. Roberts, the plaintiff's solicitor.

Cross-examined. -
•  He had no interest in going to the spot, beyond merely to see the place, and to pick up anything that might have fallen out of the chaise.
•  He did not expect a barrel of beer if Mr. Baker won the case. (Laughter).
•  He had not been promised it.

Mrs. Hawkins corroborated the evidence of her husband as to the position of the garriage, the speed at which it was going, and the danger in which she was placed while in her donkey-cart.

Cross-examined. -
•  She saw Complin, the bailiff, and the footman the next morning, and she pointed out the green sward on the pond side of the road.
•  That was wrong. She was put out about it then.

Re-examined. -
•  It was on the other side of the road that the donkey was.

Mrs. Fearnall also corroborated Mr. Hawkins.

Louis Crew, draper and grocer, Wokingham, deposed to having caught Mr. Baker's horse, and put it up.
•  He found the carriage wing, and ascertained that the chaise was injured, and the horse cut.
•  He saw the wheel track which Hawkins pointed out, and it was only a few inches from the side, and that was the right side.

Thomas Radford deposed to having gone with Hawkins, and traced the tracks of the wheels, and gave corroborative evidence.

After the counsel had addressed the jury, His Lordship summed up, and said he had never known a case where the evidence was so conflicting, and irreconcilable.

The jury then retired, and after deliberating for a considerable time, returned with a verdict for the defendant.

This concluded the civil business, and the Court rose about seven o'clock.

The cross action of “Baker and Wife v. Hargreaves”, which was to have been tried at the Oxford Assizes, was arranged on Wednesday, by Captain Hargreaves giving £100 for damages, and paying all costs. 

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