From the classified ads of the Cambrian (among others):
Murder — £500 Reward.
Carmarthen, .
Whereas Sarah Williams, when residing at the Hendy Bridge Toll House, in the Parish of Llanedy, in the County of Carmarthen, was, on , Shot by some Person or Persons unknown, — a reward of five hundred pounds is hereby offered, and will be paid to any Person or Persons who shall give such Information or Evidence as shall lead to the Apprehension and Conviction of any of those by whom the Murder was committed; and her Majesty’s most gracious Pardon will be extended to any accomplice, who may give the necessary evidence, so that such accomplice shall not be the person who fired the shot by which Sarah Williams was killed.
Geo. Rice Trevor,
Vice-Lieutenant County Carmarthen.
From the Cambrian:
Rebecca’s Proceedings.
By letters from correspondents residing in various parts of the country, we perceive that Rebecca’s hostility against turnpike-gates is far from ceasing.
Indeed, it does not appear that she is in any way inclined to permit of a truce, much less to make a declaration of peace, and a cessation of hostilities.
It was stated in our last, that the Pontardulais gate, at which the serious collision between the Rebeccaites and the police took place, had been carried away a few days after that occurrence.
Since then, the Trustees caused a bar to be erected there, as a temporary substitute for a gate.
In consequence of an intimation received by the authorities of an intended attack upon the bar on , it was sedulously watched on that night, and as a matter of course, Rebecca was not seen; but, on , when the military had quitted their posts, Rebecca removed the bar.
Since which, a chain, which had been placed across the road, has also been carried away, and on , another bar was removed.
On , a pair of new gates were erected there, but how long they shall stand, remains to be seen.
We fear they must share the fate of their predecessors.
Since the first destruction of the gate, no tolls have been collected during night, the collector deeming it the best part of valour to retire soon after sunset, and attend early on the following morning.
However, it appears that he was not at his post early on , as a number of farmers and others who attend Swansea Market, meeting with no obstruction in the shape of a toll gate or even a toll-collector, passed toll free.
In the afternoon, as the farmers were returning, the collector demanded payment from those who had paid no toll in the early part of the day.
The latter, like the lawyers, cited their free passage in the morning as a precedent, and contended that, as they had passed free in the morning, the same rule should be adhered to in the evening.
The collector decided the “precedent to be bad in law,” and demanded his toll.
Some persons paid, but others insisted upon passing toll free.
Since then, the collector has received a threatening letter from ’Becca, advising him to quit, or he must take the consequences of incurring her displeasure.
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We learn by our Llandovery Correspondent’s letter, that on , a party of Rebecca’s followers passed through the village of Cilycwm, in Carmarthenshire, and proceeded to Porthyrhyd gate, on the road leading form Llandovery to Lampeter, which they speedily levelled.
From thence these destructives passed onwards towards Llandovery, demolishing the posts of two bars which have not been in use for some years.
About , they halted upon Doldyhirion bridge, a mile distant from Llandovery, where they remained for a short time, awaiting, it is surmised, some signal to inform them that the military had retired to rest.
At the signal of command they set to work in right earnest with five or six saws, by which the gates, posts, and rails, near that bridge, were completely cleared away.
During the progress of the destruction of the gate, they fired several gun shots into the toll-house, for the purpose of intimidating the collector and his wife, both of whom are advanced in years.
When the work of destruction was over, a volley was fired, and all the rioters departed along the road leading to Cilycwm, having left a threatening notice with the collector, who, in consequence, has “resigned office” and removed his goods.
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A correspondent writing from Landyssil, Cardiganshire, says — “I believe the general feeling among the people respecting Rebeccaism is much the same as it is about Llanelly, Pontardulais, &c.
There is not a single toll gate in this neighbourhood, neither have we had any , when they were destroyed by the Rebeccaites.”
Rebecca and the Oddfellows.
On a large meeting of Oddfellows was held at the town-hall, Llanelly, attended by many of the most respectable and influential inhabitants, for the purpose of taking into consideration the “state of things” and of expressing their opinions upon the various topics which now agitate the public mind, especially in their own county, Carmarthenshire, and the adjoining counties.
“What passed during the meeting,” adds our correspondent — “I, of course, had no opportunity of knowing, as none but Oddfellows were admitted, but from the frequent signs of approbation which reached the ears of persons in the street, unanimity seemed to prevail.
After the business of the meeting was over, the members walked in procession through the town, their gay dresses producing a pleasing effect by gas light.”
It will be perceived by the resolutions agreed to at the meeting, and which are inserted in our advertising columns, that the members of this loyal and patriotic society, while admitting the existence of grievances, “view with feelings of deep regret the nightly outrages and destruction of private property which have taken place in the neighbourhood,” and pledge themselves to exert their influence to counteract such unjustifiable and nefarious proceedings.
