The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-13 00:00:00

iLtsb ire.

TI DCOM BE. —Cox vicrio—n OF A CLlonl tra u. —A t
the Wilts quarter Sessions on Thursday, before Sir
John A wdry and other justices, the Rev. Herbert
Williams, curate of Tidootnbe and Fakery, WU indicted
for indecently aosaulting Maria Beckingham a girl
about 17 year' of age, on the 26th of Nuveiner last
This case had excited a rest deal of Interest ia the
town and county. and the court was filled.--Mr.
Swayne, instructed by Mr. Rowland, of Hurixerford,
appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Herbert
Saunders, instructed by Mr. Holloway, of Feeney.
appeared for the) reverend defendant—The defendant
in this case is a married Sian, and prior to the alleged
commission of this offenses hat ofilciated as innate of tbo
parishes of Tideombe and Fosbury, where he was looked
upon with considerable respect. The rev, defendant it
appeared, lodged with • Mr. Barnes, who lived In the
parish, and was waited upon by the servants in the
house. The prosecutrix, a respectable-looking young
WRB a servant in the employ of Mr. Barnes, and
it appears from the statement or the girl that on the
26th of November she and the rev, defendant were
alone in the house, the girl's mistress having gone out
on haslness She took in his tea to him in the parlour,
end he then entered into conversation with her about
going to America, asking her if she would like to go, to
which she replied that she should not care about going
alone. The girl was nursing the bait, at the time, and
the rev, defendant pat his hand round her, attempted
to kiss her, committed an indecent assault upon her,
and souks most improper request, the nature of which
cannot be alluded to. She resisted the rev, defendant's
importunities, threatening also that she would tell her
mistress.. The defendant begged that she would not do
that, and promised her that if she wopld not he wottld
take her out to America with hits. After this the Rev,
Mr. Williams left the house and proceeded to the even-
ing school. When the girl's mistress returned home
she informed her of the &smolt committed upon her by
the Rev. Mr. Williams, and the mistress, as may be
imagined, became very angry, and at once proceeded to
the school, called the defendant, and acquainted lain
with the nature of the eharge made against him. The
defendant denied thts truth of the statement, and alleged
Opat it Wilt a trumped op charge by the girl. On the
following day the girl made a complaint to her father,
who, during his dinner hoar, had an interview with the
defendant, who said if be had done strong he MN very
sorry for it, and • mall could not do more than that.
He also said he hoped the father *cold forgive him, and
Kay nothing about it, as it would do him no good, and
it would ruin him (the defendant.) He also held out
kis head, and wished to shake bends with the father,
wbo, however, said he must take time to consider
whether he should take any proceedings agsiost this, de-
fendant. The key. Mr. Williams wished to know how
long lie would be in coming to • decision, and wished
the father to go up to his lodgings that evening. The
father did'not go, and legal proceedings were then com-
menced. On the application of the prisoner's counsel
be was allowed to sat at the table by the side of his
counsel, and not to appearfin the dock. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty, and the witnesses were ordered out
of court —Mr. Swayne opened the case to the jury, and
stated the facts as given In the above narrative—Evi-
dence having been given at oor.siderable length, the
Chairman summed up, and said he thought the macis-
trates were fully justified in sending the case for trial,
and he was awayn inclined, in cases of this kind, to
send them for trial by • jury. his should be very re-
luctant to expose himself to the imputation of trying to
suppress and keep quiet • matter of publie ecandal.
The learned Chairman then went through the evidence,
and left the ease in the hands of the jury.—The jury
almost immediately returned • verdict of guilty, and the
prisoner hawing been placed at the bar, the Chairman
addressed him, telling him he wu convicted on evidence
which left no doubt of his guilt, and his sacred position
would tend greatly to aggravate the punishment that
the court would feel it its duty to indict The sentence
of the court was that the prisoner be insorisoned in the
house of correction at Devisee for six calendar months,
and be there kept to hard labour.