The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-07-27 00:00:00

TRIAL OF PRISONERS.

George Thorne (23) labourer, was indicted for obtain•
ing of Andrew Diesoh, at Weymouth, by false pretenoes,
a silver watch and guard chain, with Intent to defraud
Diesch, on June 24.
Mr. Coccus prosecutel.
It appeared that the prisoner, who had been in the
employ of Mr. Ward, boatman, and was known to be so
employed by prosecutor, represented that he had
obtained a situation as warder at Portland Convict Eiteb.
lishinent, in which capacity he required • watch. He
said Mr. Ward recommended him to Fomenter to
obtain the watch. Prosecutor let prisoner have • watch
valued at Efl 31. 61, priaoner stating that his sister
would call with the money nest day. No money Game,
and prosecutor inquired at the Portland Convict Estab•
['aliment for Thorpe as a warder in vain. Superititen.
dent Lidbury apprehended the prisoner at Guernsey MI
July 2, and found the watch and chain at his lodgings.
The Jury found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sew
tensed to two months' imprisonment with hard labour
The prosecutor recommended him to uteroy on aooouut
of his previous good character.
George Reed, s young labourer, who was not in the
calendar, was indicted for stealing a basket, a salmon,
and a lobster, the property of Robert Dyke, at Gil.
lingliam.
Mr. Colo appeared for the prosecution.
The prisoner pleaded Guilty, and was eentenoed to six
weeks' bard labour.
George Pearce allow George Phillips (34) baker, in.
dieted for maliciously setting dre to a stack of strew be•
longing to Frederick Styling on July 10, at Lyteliet
Minster, pleaded Guilty.
Br, Young prosecuted.
The learned Jadp asielenood * primmer to 3 years'
penal servitude,
No Bill wee found against JIM Rase (21), servant,
eharpd with unlawfully killing liar UAW child at Altair,
bet for a misdemeanour.
Elba !fans (on ball), a girl, was indicted for stealing
• piece of petoliwork, a towel, and several pieces of
linen, belonging to Emily Morgan, at Beaminster, on
June 28. . . .

prosecuted, at the request of the learned
Judge,
Prueeoutrlx said she dwelt In a oottage at Beaminster,
and prisoner lodged with her for a week. On the 7th
inst, proseoutrlz inboard some linen, a towel, and a piece
of patchwork. P.C. Lavender went to prisoner's father'.
hones on July 9 and aearclied prisoner's bones, Therein
he found a small plea, of patchwork, A handful of white
rap- whloh prosecutor hod designated a roll of linen,
Proseoutrix identified the property. Prleoner at Ant
said slog had no towel belonging to proseoutrlx, whip
prosoeutriz handed • towel to the °Bluer, saying she
had found it under a bed In the room. In reply to his
Lordship, proseoutrix said ilie kept the patoliwork hi a
boo; the towel WY in the corner of another room,
Time patchwork was In the box the day before the prl•
sonar lodged with her, and the linen was in the same
box. Primer hod no business In the room where the
thing. were. When the prisoner left prosioutrix's
she said she wee going to her father's, a few yards off.
Prisoner said the had to go ovary day into proseeutrix's
room, In order to use a looking-glue, Ito., and proaeau-
trio invited her there every afternoon to work with her.
The learned Judge carefully summed up, desiring the
jury to satisfy themselves that the goods were taken by
the prisoner with A felonioua Intent, and
The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the pri-
soner was sentenoed to six weeks' hard labour.

Jane Rase pleaded Guilty to the conseahnent of the
birth of a child at Ahnor in !Groh.
Mr. Cooke was for the prosecution, and Mr. Stook for
the defines.

The young woman, who was rather good looking, ap-
peared to be deeply affected at her position, and was too
weak to stand. She pleaded guilty to the inisdetusanomi
on the advice of her counsel, who stated to his Lordship
that the evidence is far as concealment was concerned
was complete : but a surgeon had stated that the birth
was premature, and he knew that the prosecutor in-
tended to recommend the prisoner to the merciful con-
sideration of the Court on amount of her good
character.

His Lordship said he should reserve hie judgment.
The Foreman of the Grand Jury inquired of the
learned Judge if they could throw out a bill without
examining all the witnesses named on the back of the
Indictment? They had exainined all SIM one witneu in
particular cue, and it was stated that that witneu
who did not appear had missed the train.
His Lordship replied that if the Grand Jury on the
examination of certain witneuee were of opinion that a
bill ought to be ignored, they might, without wearing
all the witnesses, throw it nut. His Lordship would
look for the witness, and if he did not appear, would
consider in what way he should be puni,died. However,
as it had been said that the witneu had mined one and
wee coming by the next train, the consideration of the
bill might be postponed till the arrival of the train or
the appearanoe of the witneu.
The foreman of the'Grand Jury assented and with.
drew.

Samuel Walbridge (not in the calendar), was indicted
for obstructing the Brhlport Hilway, near Poorstoak.
The prisoner wise diminutive boy, only nine years old.
Mr. Templer prosecuted.
&MUSA Wilson, a navvy, working on the line, said
that between two and three o'clock on the 12th he saw
the prisoner on the Bridport Railway below Whittley
bridge. Prisoner was playing with a stick, and on
seeing witness prisoner laid the stick across the line and
ran off. Witness was 20 yards off walking between the
rails towards the lad, near Smokehain Station •(Poor.
stock.) There was another boy just over a hedge.
Proem:niter's counsel stated that there were marks on
the stick of a train having passed over it, and atones also
Indicated the seine. . . .

--Th—el;o1;;;:erd-JUilge In summing up said, the bill had
very properly been preferred IR • misdemeanour and not
as e felony, because it would be impoasible to believe
that so young • prisoner could commit a felony of the
description indieated. Hi. Lordship wee willing tu
regard carefully all offenoes against railway., inasmuch
at the lives and properly of every one travelling by a
railway train were involved in the act of thou who
endeavoured to obstruct the carriages,
The Jury windily,' the prisoner.
John Thompoon (17), labourer, wee Indicted for en
unnatural oriole with au mat Winterbourne fiteeplelon
on April IS.
Mr. Counts Appeared for he prosecution, and Ur.
Cole defended,
PM. Hill flitted the cue, saying that lie had formerly
been a gmnekeeper, and that on de mouton named he
followed- the iwiconer 400 yenle from Porteshatn, and
when within 90 yards, empeoling the prieeller was about
to do something wrong, he crept *pond for two minutes
stood but two yards; off the prisoner while the canes
woe committed.
The leered Judge Ito the vellum) ; That le no duty
of a pollorman, If you could prevent the 001141111114014
of a 'rime it In mull; more your duly,
Mr. Cole, in addremins 'the jury dwelt on the in,,.'
dible mature of the evi ens. offered. There wee MI
proof of a aapital
The learned Judge look great palm In suinniins up
and the jury found the prieoner Oullty of 111111111 ht,
he p_rlitonsr wee m1114;14,4 to two yowl' hard labour
In time Ileum of Correetion,
No bill wee found Wallet Am; Ytment for the wilful
twirler of her male histerd chilli at Illirrinr.
No bill wail found apptinst JuJin Mery Mop (40),
Oh hall, miler Wein?, charged with the man ughter of
Robert Coulee at Mlle rne, April lIA,
No ri wee folio againet Mury Ana. Mireaema
alierp with the %cling murder via Niel, smut brid;
port ut for the minor ;ARM of mitmaltnent,
HMV 01,0414111 takturerovaa shamed with Wm;
niittineury o at WiMborne,
Kr, I and r, lospite appeared for the proms. I
dm, r, Cooke de ended,
Tiii ii P,aw lee, ;mirk to the wimbertie
trAtee, eald a wmpresent during the Weil* ul time
Imo RAMO ;oily Clend on May who, with two
other ring women, ererrilitoill with talkies:Non
My; valgh&p.l4l4 tfl4 oft lm
witneinal whim he Minim! tiA4 ha in, he prietther
depoel)igon wilts 1411111. elated that Min lOR out Me
MU Ay telly 0411011 AM Willi towing barley In
sinal AM adjoining hie hoitia t woe linpossOde for
her la have been &Went tojeleal wood hi Mr, Irryerie
plentothsti, Primmer Now Milftlie COMO*, WO, Ile
eeknowledged to having onee been shafted with pooMp
Ine, but ampilited, end he lied milahlted for eight yeas;
with Mindy Cleneh, The three women, Mmily Utensil,
Martha Coombe, and Ilridget Osborne, were @deleted '
Anil ordered to he imprieoned for 11l days' old in Dor,
'hater Owl, The 'Molina mated repeatedly that "his
woman," an he milled Clench, woe w,11; him on the dm
named—a Thursday, anti Southampton fair day, South;
stupid fair day, It sparred, we. on Friday AR well lie
Thuntday, Mr, fryeee iteWaril maid prietiner's garden
will about an sere In 'Mont, eontaining SO ing of krley
In ear, some potatoni, seine wheet, an a blank retell;
but he had not dug up that part to Rae if barley war
there, Witnemes proved that prisoner we. at Wood.
lends, four mils' from his hones, "oak ripping" from
April 97 to Mt); A. One witness (Wilemj, on April 47,
mid to priaoner, while working at Woodiatole, that the
bark rinding had some too soon for him, as he had not
done hi. potato. planting. Prisoner esid that yesterday
(April MI) he finished all ids work, barley cowing and
all, On May hi prisoner Moe working with Wilma at
three different places In Woodlands and Horton, end
prieoner said it win a Moe fine day for Southampton
fair. Prisoner was not out of Wilcox's sight more then
an hour and a half that day—between 11 anti half-past
12; and witness believed he heard prisoner may on the
7th that "hi. woman" and come othets had been taken
or soinething for stealing wood. Several witnesses
deposed to the prisoner eing engaged barking from
April 27 to May 8, etating that prisoner was working
four miles from his house on the Oth of May. Although
the prisoner had been absent for • short time on the day
mimed he had, contrary to rule, given no notice of his
prooeeding to his fellow workmen. The prosecution was
instituted by the Millburn" Bench.
Mr. Cooke having addreued the jury at oonsiderable
length in defence,
His Lordship Bummed up, remarking that the jury
must consider whether or( not the prosecutors had
satisfied them that, on all the evidence, it could not
have been true that between II and 2on the 6th of
May Clenoh was In the prisoner's field sowing barley •
that that statement was not tuade in error, but wilfully;
It was not necessery for the proaeoutors to make out all
the allegationl of perjury usigned in the indictment
to be true, hut it was needful that one should be ea-
tablished, but the statement of the prisoner must be ab-
solutely falsified by more than one witneu.
The jury having deliberated for Dome lithe 0 thn , re-
turned a verdict of Guilty, and
The learned Judge sentenced the prisoner to nine
months' hard labour.
The Grand Jury having concluded their laboon were
dieclarged by his Lordship.

The Court role about holf•past 8 and adjourned tai g

FRIDAY,

Mr. Baron CHAVNILL took his seat in the Crown
Court at 11 o'clock this morning.
Jane Bone was brought up to reoeive her ientence for
concealment of the birth of her ehild.
The learned Judge said that he had carefully nig
over the depositions in the case, the prisoner having
pleaded guilty, and he was pleased to believe that ints•
fortune suddenly name over her, causing her scarcely to
know whet she was about. Added to this the prooecutor
had recommended her strongly to mercy. Ilia Lordship
Elliould, therefore, commit her to prison for 14 days
without hard labour. •
•

---
Mary Ann Hitchcock (31), married woman, will in,
dieted for unlawfully endeavouring to comma the birth
of her child on May 6, at Broadwinser.
Mr. Stock prosecuted.
Sarah, the wife of Robert Spurdle, who resided hi
Spioket Dine, Broadwinsor, next door to prisoner, said
prisoner lived with James Hitchcock as his wife, but ha
had been away for many months. Witness thought
prisoner was enoiento for some weeks before May 6,
On May 5 on entering prisoner's house witness found
prisoner very poorly, and on saying she thought she
was going to miscarry, priscner denied being in the
family•way. Next morning but one witness found her
in bed very poorly. Prisoner said something had hap.
paned to her. Witness inquired where Prisoner said
beak there, pointing to the children's bed. No one was
attending to prisoner. On witness sitting on the bed, pit.
Boner said she had said, "she would be d— if anybody
should see the next, and nobody should." Witness got
some tea for the prisoner, and offered to wash her
clothes, but prisoner declined. She had known pri.
ennui. two years. Ani,, wife of Elias Philips, another
neighbour, said that she had suspicions similar to last
witness and went into prisoner's house on the evening of
the sth May, and inquired after her, and also the two
following days. Witness heard P.C. Hansford interro-
gate prisoner about her child, hut prisoner did not tell
him where It was. After he lied gone to get a con-
veyance to take prisoner to Bleaminster, prioner teld
witness the child was buried In the garden behind 'Ate
privy; and witness saw constable end the body of •
chili in the place pointed out by her.
His Lordship briefly summed up, and the Jury found
the prisoner Guilty.
Sentenced to one calendar month's imprisonment,
without hard labour.
The prisoner was then charged on the coroner's inqulai•
tion for the wilful murder of her child I and
.701111 Ross WU also brought up an the coroner's war.
rant for the manslaughter of her child; but no evidence
was offered against either prisoner and the learned Judge
directed the fury to acquit them, which was done.