Machynlleth
Crime and punishment
  Rabble trouble in 1847  
  Sometimes there are entries in his journal that remind us that there were just two policemen to cover a huge area, and no means of calling for backup ! On more than one occasion both the Machynlleth constables were faced with an angry mob.  
  Policeman's journal entry
 

The entry shown above was made in 1847, and it reads:
"... took into custody Richard Jones drunck [drunk] and disorderly in the streets - on the way to the Lockup we were obstructed by a Rabble of People and the Prisnor [prisoner] taken from us".

The ringleaders of this rabble were arrested the next day, and later fined. One of them was fined £10, which was as much as some people earned in a year in 1847.

See more about Constable Jones on the next page...