The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

Watshire.

WILTS SPRING ASSIZES.
CROWN COURT .-BAnnumr.
(Before )Zr. B• 1011 MULTI/II

•
George Colley wee indicted for unlawfully throw.
ing • stone at an engine driver in charge of a train
on the Berke and Hants Extension Railway, at
Wootton Rivers, on the 20th October last. - Mr.
Herbert Saunders conducted the pressman's, the
prisoner tiring defended by Mr. Read.- John
Sweeney, an engine dnver, maid on tbe 20th
October as is was passing under Wootton Rio'
Bridge ho wee struck on the forehead by •
ferruhwichihicu. out
,t..6.rioz.dgfi hisAastyand.c.ausadpblo. A _eeowg
prisoner alone was on the brid- 'diet "id the
passed. Ilis lordship mows- Whet the train
ground there was no evidso..e "d the osas on the
e( a felony, sad the
prisoner was acquitted
f • inisciemran-i• " The primmer we. indicted or
..,
train, but tile ' -' in wr°1r1•11 • stone M • Pasting
jury retuned • verdict of not guilty.
mail-e • .onali was indicted for unlawfully and
•
...only wounding Richard Goolden, with intent
..4a hins peewee bodily berm at Bower Chalk, on
1
the 30th December last..-Mr. Snowden prosecuted,
the prisoner was undefended.-Tbe prosecutor is a
labourer living at Bowie Chalk*, and it appears that
on Use night of the 30th December lan be was at
the Plough Inn, Brost Chalks, in company with
the prisoner. They left together between tan and
eleven o'olock, both being rather the worse for
liquor. There were two other men with them. On
their way home • scuffle took place, and blows ware
ezchamed. Prosecutor knocked the prisoner down
twice, and at the third blow the Jwisco,retabb,dbim
in the breast, He was attended by Mr. Westeoit,
a surgeon, and was subsequently removed to the
Salisbury Infirmary, where he remained an inmate
for several weeks. A man named Gulliver saw •
knife in the prisoner's band after the prosecutor
had been stabbed. The jury found the prisoner
guilty of unlawfully wounding, and be was sentemed
to six mouths' bard labour.
Robert Greenaway, Henry Greenaway, Joseph
Greenaway, Charles Drury, Uriab Burchall, Joke
Burcball, and JAMS Tuck, were indicted with un-
lawfully and maliciously inflicting grevions bodily
harm upon John and William Selby, at Lydiard
Tase, on the 261 h December last.-Mr. &dila
, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. H. T. Cole de
I fended the prisosera-Tbe jury found all the pri-
semen guilty of a common awash, and his lordship
sentenced them to four months' hard labour. He
I intimated that the sentences would have been
'homier, but for the provocation given by the keeper
1 in Mooing the dog.
1 Charles Bailey was indicted for stabbing William
Gregory, at Trowbridge. on the 15th August.- Mr.
'Swarm promoted. By the direction of hie lord-
I ship the jury acquitted the prisoner, on the ground
of insanity, and be was ordered to remain in custody
daring Her Majesty's pleasure.
Tut Elsi.uumee KLOPICIUNT CASA. - JUDI'
Stainton, on bail, surrendered to take his trial on
an indictment charging him with stealing £5O in
money, and • quantity of ' appa.-; I, "le
property of Charles William Harris, dlor. '. ie
London Inn, Fullerton, Salisbury. -11 r. .. V.
Saunders prosecuted; and Mr. Proclaims 7 t'e .ed
the priaoner.-51r. T. W. Saunders aid' + p..• 61.
cuter lived at an inn, which was situ- ..- •be
Great Western sod Soetb-Weet‘re I'
panics' stations. The prisoner •
considerable time • clerk in the en . • li VW
company, and, se the Loudon feu a •
be was • frequent visitor there, so. , +.. very
friendly terms with the landlord and .. fe, A
person of about twenty-two years of age. r. sw+ fir
of Mr. Harris, for sonic reason or othr +n ~ ..1,
fit to leave her husband's home,
nesday, the 20th of January, an.. I e was
no doubt eli.i took with her • Large sum of
money. She gave the money to the prisoner, and
also instructions to send it, with various articles of
wearing apparel, to her in London; but before doing
so, the prisoner took out the sum of £5. When Mr.
Harris found that his wife had absconded, of course
he was in a state of great mental anxiety, sad the
prisoner appeared to sympathise with him in his
distress. Facts came to the knowledge of Mr.
Harris on Friday, the 22nd of January, which
iodoood him to have the prisoner apprehended, and
be was taken before the magistrates, and committed
for trial. There was this peculiarity in connection
with the relationship betvreen husband and wile,
that if the wife committed adultery, and handed
over to Um adulterer the property of her buabead,
then he might be, sail was to the eye of the law,
guilty of stealing it. Bat in order so to convict Mea,
it was neosesery to establish such adultery between
the parties. Bat, in justice to the prisoner, and in
justiceo also to the character of Mra Harris, he felt
to state that the evidence on the Nubian
was by no means of a strong and °manatee character.
That she went away to London was most clear;
but she did not leave with the prisoner • she did
not live with him; and he had no clear, cogent
testimosy that any improper intimacy existed
between them. The mosey was taken to the
prisoner at the railway-station, sad his act, there-
fore, was mitring more than • receiver. Ilee wife
could not be Merged with stealing her husband's
goods, and, therefore, if she could not Meal, the
party to whom eh* headed it could not be
with receiving it. He certainly found himself
some legal difilculty. He did not think be ought
wantonly to out imputmtasea upoa Me mediae of
the prisoner, when be mold not Mow anything to
justify the term "evidence" that Mrs. Harris was
guilty of adultery with him; and, therefore, if she
took the property and left it with the prisoner, that
state of tbinp which would make him guilty as a
thief did not arise. He (Mr. Saunders) had looked
at all the omea bearing on the subject with great
anxiety, and be knew of no case in which a party
I had been held guilty es • thief, unless actively or
I constructively peanut. Hs did not nay that the
' prisoner took the property, or that be was preeent
I when it was taken by the wife, and be
! was not in • position to show that any
' adulterous intercourse took place, or was in-
tended. He would, therefore, proceed with the case
lor not, as his lordship might suggest His lordship
- What do you say was stolen? Mr. Saunders -
£5O were taken by the wife. His lordship- That is
I not stealing. How about the taking of the £6?
Mr. Saunders-That Nommen to have been by bet
consent. The jude -Vi es it not • new stealing of
Use £5 out of the bulk? Mr. Saunders -it was
the wifs's emotion- Mr. Predate: mid no doubt
the wile gave it to bins. Mr. flanidien-Tbare was
• noes in the box from the primmer, in which be
mid-. Dearest-I have mken £5 beck for other
opportunities'; the rest is in the bus." I cannot
say with • consciemee that that was Meeting.
The judge-That is themed of it ; without that you
have no case. Mr. Saunders comarred, and the
prisoner was immediately am+ situ& My pm...a
mid it was des both to the primmer and Mrs.
Harris to sey that he believed no adultery wee com-
mitted, or wog ever intended.