"John Tarrant, a man who has been employed by the Corporation of the Poor on the North-road and elsewhere, was charged with stealing a shovel, their property, which had been lent him to work with.
"It appeared he parted with it to one Vicary, and received 1s.6d. and 'a quart;' but he asserted that he only lent it him.
"Mr. KINGDON - I know you very well; you are a most extraordinary drunkard, and the idlest man employed on that road - and yet you are the strongest man I know. Why your strength is like an elephant. If you liked, you could work harder than any man I know.
"Tarrant's wife here said he was troubled with fits, and could not sit long cracking stones; he did all he could to support his family.
"Mr. Justice KINGDON said he ought to support three families; he was strong enough, if he would work, to do the work of any two men. If they (the Bench) were desirous of giving a premium to villainy, they now had a good opportunity.
"Mr. BLACKALL said he considered that the man, even if he lent the shovel, was disposing improperly of the property of the Corporation. There was a penalty for this of not more than £5, or less than 20s.
"He was then fined 20s., with the alternative of taking a fortnight at the House of Correction. But strong as he was he could not raise even a single pound, and therefore he had to forfeit his liberty for that period."
It is noteworthy, perhaps, that although John Tarrant is before the Magistrates for selling a shovel that belongs to the Corporation of the Poor, the Mayor of Exeter who knows very well that John Tarrant is as strong as an elephant, is more concerned that the man breaks too few stones for the North Road and that, as a pauper given work, he never pulls his weight and that he drinks too much. I suppose it all comes to the same thing for poor John - a fortnight in the House of Correction.
And The Times' columnist has to have his corny pun.
Ah well!
Source: The Western Times, 13th May, 1843.
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