The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-30 00:00:00

NORTEINOOR GREEN DDITURB‘NCES.

At the Bridgwater County Folios-enurt on Thursday,
the Rev. James Hunt charged Mary Ann Langford and
Mary Grace Stone (two tonmed women), William Care,.
George (alias "Turpin")Kitch. and Albert Fear, with
dieing guilty of °retain rintous behaviour in Northmoor
Green cbureh. on Good Friday laat, daring the per.
forwent* of divine Nervier. Mr. Fryer, of Exeter, axe
µwell to proaerure ; and Mr. Reed appeared for the
defendants. Just after Mr. Hunt commenced to give
evidence, a consultation took place between Mr Reed
and Mr. Fryer, after which the former g.ntleman said
that be had nivisrid his clients, in order to promote
;mace in the pariah, to plead guilty, and they were
willing to be bound over to keep the peace. Mr.
Fryer, on the part of the complainant, consented to
this arrangement, and the defendant, were, acoordingly,
hound over to keep the pesos for six month., each in
his or her own surety of 1:10, and another surety in a
like earn.

Joseph Langford, jun., was next charged with assault.
ing the Ser. James Mont and Sophia Cotley, st North-
moor Green, on the 24th March, be riding a donkey
against them, and compelling it to kick them. Thi, de-
fend Ant was also bound over to keep the peace for six
months, in one surety (that of his (ether) of E2O.
Mary Ann Langford and Mary Orace Stone were next
charged with indeoently assaulling Sophia Cods', is
Northmoor Green Church. on Good Friday.
. . . . .

The complainaut deposed that sbe was a .inglie woman,
living at Northtnoor Green. 81.• was at Berixt,....
Church on Goad Friday, the 19th April. The de-
fendants catne into the church. Langford came to
where witness was sitting miter the service had own.
meneed. She looked at her in • threatening manner.
Complainant went to soother seat nearer the altar, and
Langford followed her. After that she went to • seat
within the chancel rails. Whilst there hoth defendants
mine to her. Longford said to her, " You have been
here long enough ; I am tired of waiting. now you shall
tome out." and struck her. Both defendanta then
rushei at her. seised her by the arm. and palled her out.
aide the chancel Tim, threw her down upon the altar
steps, pulled her petticoats up, and assaulted her in a
most disgraceful manner. They afterwards pushed her
out of church, and threw her down between two graves,
an' a woman named Hannah Macey tome and hi tad
her up.
Crom-examined : She was • single woman, and eras
stopping at Mr. Hates for the pr meat. 11•41 been living
there sine. Lis. Friday.
Mr. Ite. d You say that you were thrown down.
Were you wearing crinoliue?
Mr. Hunt (to witness): Don't answer.
Mr. Reed : I beg your pardon, she will answer.
The Chairman : Yon must not interfere, Mr. Hunt,
'to bad better leave it in the hand. of Mr. Fryer.
Mr. Fryer: But I mast ask whether the Bench 'ou-
tdoor it • proper question.
Mr. Strangways : 1 sippose the object of the question
let. show that in falling down she exposed her person,
and that the defentlents did not raise her dress.
Mr. Reed said that was no, and again put the question.
Witness (hit•ting): I was wearing one.
The Betioh There is nothing to be ashamed of in
wearing of a crinoline.
Cross-examined : Did not fall down in consequence
of her foot getting entangled in her crinoline. Stone
had no baby in her arms. There were between 40 and
50 persons in the church when she was no indignantly
unsuited.

Henry Richards the sexton at the church, and who
was present, depo;ed to having seen th. complainant
down upon the altar steps with her clothes up. The
defewlants were around her, and they appertred to be
assaulting her.

Mr. Reed : Had you any cider that lay'
Witniss : I tasted the cider that they brought in.
Mr. : What
.you, the seston, ha ringer, clerk,
and grave digger, drinking cider in church?
Witness: I tasted it because I would know what it
was they brought in in the bottle.
The Rev. Junes Hunt wee called in corroboration.
He said he distinctly now the clothes of Cotter lifted by
the two drfendanta, and be saw them strike her. Tht y
waved their buds to amiss men, and oiled out, "Come
up here," and as they were surrounded by live or sic
haiku, he wont for the woman &NOV, and she went
and rescued the complainant

Cross examinod Wbd,t going down the aisle, and
whilst pulling the be-11, be kept his eyes upon thr com-
plainant and the defendants. He did not see Cottey
throw any eggs.
The Chairman : Is the woman injured ?
Mr. Hunt: Her arm, are very much bruised, and
Cottry's sister tells me that her body is much dis-
coloured from braises.

The complainant was recalled. and eaposed one of her
arum, which was eery much discoloured, and she .toted
that ihey were bruises caused by the defendants on
Good Sevier.
Samuel Lowe was called on behalf of the defendant,
and be swoie that Stone had • baby in her arms in the
church. She went up ai Cottey and said to her. "If
you mean to preach enothir sermon, Sophia, speak out
• little louder." Cottey picked up part of an egg from
the harmonium and threw it at Stone, strikins her on
the left side cf the fare. Langford went op to take the
baby from Stone. and Cotter "dewed" her bonnet off.
Cross-examined: Some one put some paper round hie
neck wino he wee in the church, and be walked up the
aisle with it on.

The ina‘istrates fined each of the defendants 40s. and
coats, or, in default, two months' imprisonment. Thu
Chairman said they had been guilty of a most indecent
and aggravated 41114101 f , and the Bench wished them to
understand that they had been leniently dealt with
because they happened to be women. Hui the assault
been committed by men, them .gistrates wool•I have sent
them to prison with hard labour, without the option of
paying a fine, and if any further eases of &similar nature
were brought before them the judgment would be im-
prisonment instead of a one.
Mr. Hunt said be should charge Lowe with perjury.
Samuel Fear and John Fear, two boys, were next
charged with malicioualy breaking windows in North.
inner Green Church, but the only witnesses Hr. Hunt
brought into court in support of the charge were two
little boys aged respectively seven ani eight yearn,
the magistrates refused to swear them. This cage was
therefore disclaimed.

-.
Sophia Cottey iras glen summoned forums-tilting Nary
Grace Stone n Northmoor Green Chord', en G.,rell
Friday, by throwing • rotten egg in her face, bet this
gammons wag withdrawn.