The Durham Chronicle Friday April 24 1868.
DURHAM COUNTY COURT.
MATTHEW PEACOCK, of Trimdon, butcher v Robt. Crosby of Cassop, butcher. This was an action brought to recover the sum of £2 19s 3d, for a quarter of a beast sold to defendant. Mr. Brignal appeared for plaintiff; Mr. B. Marshall jun., appeared for defendant. Mr. Peacock said in February last, on returning from Newcastle market, defendant agreed to buy the hind-quarter of a beast at 6s 10½d per stone. He delivered it to defendant’s mother at Cassop on the following Thursday. It was in good saleable condition when delivered. On the following day it was returned to him, but he declined to take it back. John J. Clarke said he was present when Crosby was bargaining for the beef, but did not hear the conclusion of the bargain. Robt. Crosby examined by Mr. Marshall, said plaintiff asked him if he wanted the hind quarter of a beast. He (witness) said he could do with it if it was good. 7s per stone was asked. He (witness) said make it in saleable condition and he would take it for 6s 9d per stone, but plaintiff did not agree to this. On return to Cassop on Thursday night, he found the beef had been left with his mother, and he returned it to the plaintiff on Friday. Cross-examined: The hind quarter had been very much bruised and crushed, and was not fit for food. P. C. Thornton said he saw the beef on the Thursday night, and it was not then in fit condition for food. Mr. Nesbitt, surgeon, Cassop, said he saw the beef in dispute on Thursday night, and on examining it found it was not fit for human food, it was all extensively bruised. Mr. Brignal contended that the meat was saleable and good, that if bruised it was slight, that part might easily have been removed from the sound part. His Honour found for the defendant, with costs.
The Durham County Advertiser Friday August 8, 1873
CASTLE EDEN.
ALLOWING DOGS RUN AT LARGE.:- Matthew Peacock was charged by P.C. Craggs with allowing his dog to run at large, near Wingate, on the 20th ult. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, and suggested that as there was another charge against him for a similar offence, on the 24th ult., they might as well be both heard together, which was agreed to. The officer proved both cases. The defendant, in defence, contended that he was a farmer, and had about 70 acres of plantation ground. He could not do without a dog. He had endeavoured to fasten him up, but he frequently eat the cord, and had got loose. Mr. Burdon informed him that he should fasten him up properly. He had not done so, or the dog would not have got loose; but as the costs were very heavy he would be liberated on payment of them.
The Durham County Advertiser Friday, Aug. 22, 1873
DOG ACT.
Matthew Peacock was charged by Sergt. Harrison with allowing his dog to run at large in Trimdon,Grange on the 10th inst. The defendant said that he had since sent the dog away. Discharged on payment of costs.
The Durham County Advertiser Friday July 20 1877
DURHAM COUNTY COURT.
DISPUTE CLAIM FOR WORK DONE.
This was an action brought by William Snowdon to recover the sum of £9 form Matthew Peacock, farmer, Trimdon, for work done. Mr. Brignall, jun., appeared for the plaintiff; and Mr. Granger for the defendant. Plaintiff said he was the sanitary inspector of Sedgefield. On the 24th August the defendant consulted him about making a road opposite his dwelling, and witness told him it would have to be lowered to the extent of 21 inches, and that he would be able to do it for 3s 6d per yard, and put a covering of slag upon it. Witness explained, however, that making a drain and footpath would be a separate account, and the defendant then and there authorised him to do the work. The other owners of property residing near the defendant also directed witness in make the road, and he now claimed for doing half the width opposite the defendants houses, which was his share. Witness employed the defendant’s horses and carts to lower the road, for which he charged £10. The particulars of account were 33 yards lowering and making road at 3s per yard, 12 yards of curbing at 3s per yard, and 16 yards of sanitary pipe drain at 1s 6d per yard. There had been a meeting of owners of property, and a deputation from that meeting waited on witness and requested him to do the work. The defendant offered him £6 in payment of his share of the work, which witness refused to accept. William Horseman, contractor, said he was present when the defendant engaged the plaintiff to do the work. James McGregor, surveyor to the Durham and Chester-le-Street Highway Board, spoke to the reasonableness of the charges. In defence, Matthew Peacock, the defendant, was called, and denied authorising the plaintiff to do the work. The plaintiff engaged a horse and cart of witness to do the work, but the latter did not know who was going to pay for it. His Honour found for the plaintiff for £9 and costs, to be paid in 14 days.
The Newcastle Courant Fri. June 20th 1879
CASTLE EDEN.
A FARMERS QUARREL.
Matthew Peacock and Matthew Peacock jun. (father and son), were summoned for assaulting Henry Greenwood, farmer, at Trimdon, on the 3rd inst. Mr. Granger prosecuted. Complainant said that on Tuesday last he was in a plantation called Cleveland Gorse when the two defendants came up to him and asked him what he had done with their mare and foal. He replied, that he had turned them into the lane as they had no right in the plantation. The elder defendant then seized him by the whiskers, and struck him in the face with a stick. The younger defendant then came up and struck the complainant a violent blow on the nose which blacked both eyes. Complainant struck back in defence and they had a stand up fight, the elder defendant encouraging his son all the while. Mrs. Greenwood and another witness proved the case. In defence it was stated that the defendants were the tenants of this plantation and that the complainant had no right to turn their mare and foal out. An action for trespass had already been entered in the County Court. The costs being considerable they were only fined 5s and costs each, or serve seven days imprisonment..
Matthew Peacock and Edward Hardy were then charged with wilfully damaging the timber growing in Cleveland Gorse. Henry Greenwood the prosecutor in the last case, spoke to the defendants felling two oak trees to mend the fence with. The plantation was the property of Capt. Beckwith and the entage was claimed by both parties. The Chairman said that as there was a question of right set up, their jurisdiction was ousted and the case was dismissed.
The Durham County Advertiser Friday June 20th 1879.
CASTLE EDEN POLICE COURT.
A QUARREL AMONG FARMERS AT TRIMDON.
Matthew Peacock, and Matthew Peacock Jun., were charged with assaulting Henry Greenwood, at Trimdon on the 3rd last. Mr. Granger prosecuted. Complainant said that on the day in question he was in a plantation called Cleveland Gorse, when the two defendants came up and asked him what he had done with their mare and foal. He replied that he had turned them into the lane, as they had no right in the plantation. The elder Peacock then seized him by the whiskers and struck him in the face with the arm of a chair, and said to his son, “Mat. Take the B——‘s head off with the slashing knife.” The younger defendant then struck complainant a heavy blow on the nose with his fist, blacking both his eyes. Complainant returned the blow, and the younger defendant and he had a fight together, the old man encouraging his son all the while.
A witness named George Barrow, and also Mrs. Greenwood, wife of the complainant, proved the case. In defence, Matthew Peacock, sen., said he was the tenant of the plantation in question, and the defendants had no right to grass their horses there. They were trespassing, and an action for damages had already been entered in the County Court. Greenwood commenced the row firat by striking witness with a stick. The Chairman said that whatever question of right there might be in this case, the defendants were not justified in taking the law into their own hands. The costs were considerable, and for that reason the fine would be smaller than it otherwise would have been. They were each fined 5s and costa.
Matthew Peacock, jun., and Edward Hardy, were then charged with wilfully damaging the timber growing on Cleveland Gorse, on the 13th inst., the property of Capt. Beckwith. Mr. Granger, on behalf of the prosecution, this case may involve a question of right wherein the jurisdiction of the magistrates would be ousted, and if the defendants set up that plea he should retire from the case, and it might be tried in another court. Henry Greenwood, the prosecutor, deposed to seeing the defendants cut down two young oak trees, about 19 feet high, in order to repair the fence of the plantation. The defendants claim this plantation and witness also claimed it as being the sub-tenant of Mr. Hardy, who rented it from Captain Beckwith. The Chairman said, as there was a question of right leveled, their jurisdiction was ousted, and the case was dismissed.
The Northern Daily Mail August 22, 1881.
CASTLE EDEN PETTY SESSIONS.
ASSAULT AT TRIMDON:- Wm. Blakey, of Trimdon, was charged with assaulting Matthew Peacock on the 15th. Defendant did not appear, but was represented by his wife. Complainant at the onset expressed his wish to withdraw the case. Defendant was fined the costs 12s 6d.
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