The earliest mention of the Mason's Arms that I could find is on the 1871 census where it is the home of Thomas Jones who was a widow living with his mother, Mary and Sarah, his aunt. His occupation was a stone mason so this is probably how the pub got its name.
Numerous inquests were held at the pub on unexplained deaths in Pontnewynydd. Many of them were babies such as the inquest on Laura, baby daughter of Rees Powell who was found dead in bed in November 1878.
In July 1879, an inquest was held on John George, aged 74 who had died suddenly and in October 1880 an inquest was held on Anne Radway, aged 75 who had fallen downstairs and broken her neck.
In January 1882 another inquest was held on Florence Watkins, one month old who had died suddenly. It was stated she was one of twins and had been sickly from birth.
In January 1886, an inquest was held on Nathaniel Rosser, aged 57, from River Row. He had been drinking heavily over the Christmas holidays and had been suffering from delirium tremens for several days. At 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening he left his house and did not return. A search was made and he was found dead in the river next morning. His throat was cut. An open verdict was recorded. He left a widow and nine children.
The most interesting case though happened in November 1874. A puddler, Joseph Evans, 33, known locally as Yankee Joe was found lying on a narrow part of Canal Parade overlooking the railway about a hundred yards from the bridge over which the road leads from Pontypool to Abersychan. He had been shot through the head and died the following day after lingering in an insensible state. A gun lay near him and it was thought he had attempted suicide but had first attempted to murder a woman he was pursuing, Ann Joshua. Evans had a wife in America and by coincidence, Ann had a husband in America and so the two became friends. Evans offered Ann money and free passage to America if she would go with him.
At the inquest, Dr. Thomas, surgeon of Pontypool said he had found a wound on the right side of Evans's head penetrating the temple bone and the brain. The wound was circular and the bullet had travelled through the brain, splintered the inside of his skull and rebounded back into the brain. There was no burning of the hair and Evans never spoke or recovered consciousness after he was discovered.
A witness, James Chaplin, stated he was returning home from work at 10 p.m. along the canal bank when he stumbled over the arm of Evans who was lying under the fence beside the railway. Chaplin called for help and a man named Campbell helped to carry Evans to his lodgings with Jane Snell and her husband.
Earlier that evening, about 9.30, Evans was having supper with Mrs Snell when someone knocked the door. Evans got up to answer but Jane jumped up and got to the door first. On opening the door, Jane saw it was Mrs Joshua. Evans asked who was there and then said 'Come in Annie, dear'. Mrs Joshua said she wouldn't and ran away. Evans then said that if she didn't come in he would 'have his revenge'. With that, he got up and ran out after her. Mrs Snell also ran out after them both, but paused to lock the door and in doing so lost them. She heard two shots being fired and someone scream.
Superintendent Macintosh stated on the afternoon of the 10th, Evans had gone to Newport and bought a six barrelled breech-loader revolver pistol at the shop of Mr Nibblett in Commercial Street. All the chambers of the gun were loaded at Nibblett's and Evans had a spare four bullets he put in his pocket. After the shooting it was found three chambers had been emptied, two were still loaded and one had dropped out.
Anne Joshua was questioned at the inquest and said Evans had offered her ten pounds to go to America with him but she never saw the money. On the night of the 10th she went to see Mrs Snell to find out when Evans intended leaving. She claimed she heard no scream and saw no more of Evans until his body was carried home.
Mrs Nash, Mrs Snell's neighbour stated that when Ann had heard of Evans injuries she behaved quite strangely. She said 'Perhaps he intended to shoot me' She would not go to see Evans but instead laughed about the situation and said 'Perhaps he is in labour, perhaps he is ill'.
The coroner concluded though that Ann's behaviour was not that of someone who had committed murder and there was no evidence to bring any suspicion upon her. She could account for her movements on leaving Mrs Snell's house until Evans was brought home. The coroner recommended to the jury to return an open verdict and suggested it should be that on the 10th, Joseph Evans was found insensible in the parish of Trevethin with a wound on the temple penetrating the brain and that he died the following day but there was no evidence to show by whom that injury was inflicted.
The coroner also remarked that it was strange that there were no marks from burning on Evans's head as would have been the case if the gun had been fired close to his head. To demonstrate what he meant, he fired the revolver at a piece of rag which was set alight and became blackened.
So what happened that evening to Evans. Did Ann Joshua shoot him? Did she run off from Mrs Snell's house knowing Evans would follow? Was there another person involved who fired Evans's gun? It remains a mystery.
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| The Pegasus Pontnewynydd, formerly The Mason's Arms. |
