The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-07-19 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER„ TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1864.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The country has recently been electrified by
what may be termed "the tragic romance of
railway travelling." In the first place a gentle-
man reports that on Friday, the Bth inst, he
was • passenger from Southampton by the 12.20
train; that he got Into a compartment where
waa put • man who appeared nervous and rest-
less ; presently he became violent, and ultimately
he brought his wildness to • climax by attempt-
ing to get out of the carriage window. The
gentleman succeeded in catching hold of his leg,
and held him fast by it, the maniac's whole by
hanging outside the carriage, until the guard's
attention being directed to the circumstance by
• follow traveller, the train was stopped.
A respectable young lady, Miss Moody, aged
20, sister to Mr. Walter Moody, sometime since
repotter on the It'estertt Plying Post, got into a
train at the Waterloo station on the 6th inst.
Henry Nash, a man of middle age, described as
a yeoman, followed her into the carriage. Nash
addressed observations to her which were
evidently intended to be familiar. Her silent
and indignant look, instead of checking him,
urged him to more offensive boldness. To get
rid of his importunities she went to the carriage
window, and stood looking out of it as she
passed along. Suddenly she found his bands
upon her, and in a spasm of terror ahe opened
the carriage door, by the handle of which she
held herself up, standing on the step of the
carriage, the train going at the rate of forty
miles an hour. A gentleman in an adjoining
compartment saw her in this frightful predica-
ment, reached out of the carriage window, threw
his arm round the waist of the young lady, who
instantly swooned, leaving him to carry her dead
weight a distance of five miles before the attention
of the guard could be called to the circumstance,
by the gesticulations of some terror-stricken
haymakers who saw it from a field adjoining
the rail. Nash has been fully committed for trial,
though for such a crime as his, English law
awards no punishment at all commensurate with
the offence.

The thud story is the most harrowing and
horrible that has dia.:raced our nation for many
a day. On the afternoon of Saturday week, a
Mr. Brtgo, a fine, hale, hearty old gentleman
of 69, chief clerk in the bulking-house of Roberta
and Co., of Lombard-street, left the bank at
three &dock. and went to Peckham to dine with
his mice. He rotiuntal to the city, and took his
seat in a train from Felichurch-street at about
19 o'clock, intending to pro end to Hackney
station, close by which was Ilia owu residence.
Toe train stopped at B oa and Victoria Park
atatatine At the latter 'Warm the floor of •
first-class carriage was opened by some person
iiitending to proceed by train, and it was dis-
covered that the dour. windows, cushions, and
floor were meaner with blood; and inside the
carriage were found a bat a walking stick, and
leathern bag. Some ladies in the next compart-
ment hereupon informed the guard that, on the
train leaving Bow station, blood was spirted
through their carriage window, on to their
dresses. The body of Mr. Briggs was found,
maturated with blond. lying on the six-foot way
between Bow and Victoria Park stations. The
injured man was not dead, but insensible. lo
10111 than twenty-four bouts he expired, never
having been able to give any testimony against
his murderer. His gold watch and chain had
been stolen; his hat taken in mistake ' • the
money in his pocket bad not been toothed;; the
leathern bag had evidently been examined, but
found empty and left in the carriage. Mr. Briggs
was barbarously murdered in a first-class railway
carnage, his pocket picked of his watch and gold
chain and his body thrown on to the line, all
within less than four minutes; and up to the
time of going to press the murderer has not
been found, although the police are using
every endeavour to discover the perpetrator
of this horrible murder. It is said they
am now in possession of two distinct clues
to which they attach great importance, and are
following up with great vigilance, hoping
ultimately to capture the murderer. were thee
we see that a virtuous female may be insulted
by a monster in human shape, or a man may
robbed and killed in • first class railway carriage
with as much impunity u • solitary traveller a
hundred yews ago used to be stopped and
plundered when crossing Hounslow or Hamp-
stead heath—with this difference, however, that
the highwaymen of those days was not usually
the bloodthirsty and savage fiends that the ticket-
of-leave men and the garrotters are of the
present time. What precautions are to be taken
under such circumstance*? One cannot be sure
of one's fellow-passengers. The smooth-faced and
innocent-looking men sitting opposite may be
the villain who is intent on robbery, and, if
neosesery, murder on the very first opportunity.
A qstein of coauiluieetioo with the goad hag

been suggested, bat would that be sufficient I
We think not. People would still le shut up
with one another, and nothing would be easier
for the murderer who has urrve enough for his
deadly work to cut olf the means of omstonnics-
tics), or to prevent his victim frum making use
of it. Still, that some;hing should be dolts, is
evident, and the subject is attracting a great
amount of attention not only in this country,
but also on the continent. An reply to a question
from Lord Broughiun on Thursday night, Earl
Granville promised that Government would
carefully consider the matter.
By recent advices from Canada it would ap-
pear that the ministerial crisis in that country
has terminated. The Conservative leaders of
the licuse base forded a coalition with the Hon.
George the leading Radical, and he,
with two of his own party, has consented to
take office. This movement is likened to Lord
Derby calling in the assistance of Messrs. Bright
and Cobden ; or if Lord Shaftesbury were Prime
Minister, his having Sir George Bowyer for
Home Secretary. But the scheme, it is said.
is likely to work and Lord Moo& has dissolved
Parliament in older that the country may be ap-
pealed to for support in the construetion of a
strong government. The policy of the new
ministry is the adoption of the Federal principle
for the Upper and Dower provinces in the first
instance, and ultimately the union of all the
British North American colonies in One
federation. _ . .

The week's intelligence from America is un-
important in • military point of view. General
Grant has made no further movement, and has
not renewed the attack on Petersburg. Large
numbers of his veteran soldiers were leaving his
ranks, their term of service having expired,
they feeling no desire to fight for "Abolition
and the Union" any longer. Mr. Chace has re-
signed, and his resignation is thus explained:
It was the consummation of a purpose entertained
time the treasury department was so violently
criticised and attacked by Mr. Blair; but as a
committee was then appointed to investigate the
charges made against him, he could not
honourably retire until its report had been
rendered. The Committee has Just reported,
entirely exonerating him from the charges, and
he wee therefore free to withdraw from the
Government. It is added that his determina-
tion wee strengthened by the follies of his
fallow-ministers on the one hand and the un-
willingness of Congress on the other to provide
the mesas to sustain the public credit. Grant's
losses since the commencement of the campaign
are stated by a New York joureal at 52,000;
but this is exclusive of the cavalry and of
Hunter's command. The Confederate dovern-
ment hat prohibited the burning of cotton. It
Is to be taken to provide clothing for the
soldiers, and the planters are to be allowed
fifteen cents. • pound.
The Ministerial crisis in Belgium has been
followed by a more semi. us form of constitu-
tional embarrassment. The Conservative party,
unable to form a ministry in consequence of the
intrigues of their opponents, adopted the extreme
device of staying &Say from the Chambers
altogether, thereby reducing the number below
what was necessary to form a quorum, and thus
preventing any kind of legislation from being
done. The King wisely cut short the unseemly
squabble by clueing the session.
A Forester's fete wits held on the Leianter
race course on Monday last, and one of the
special attractions was to be the ascent of Mr.
Coxwell'• balloon. The ground being badly
kept, the peel* pressed around the aeronaut so
as to hamper his operations. His remor strut:es
were in vain, and the police refused to lend him
any aid ; and for the safety of those around, who
became impatient and unmanageable, he was
obliged to let out the gas This so incensed the
mob, that they tore the balloon to shreds, and
even threatened Mr. Coxwell himself with
violence. They would no doubt have put their
threats into execution had be not managed to
escape. It is to be hoped that those of the
Foresters who took part with the mob in this
shameful and disgraceful outrage, will be severely
taken to task by other brethren of the Order.

DORCHESTER. Prroten Conn Maims;
Saturday, July IC—Wilma in abort supply, must
of which was sold at an advance of is. per quarter.
Barley la. dearer. Cate at late rates.
Bunotion Sessions, Moaday.—Before the Mayor,
and B. Davis, req.
A Soaricous Cuanacria. Charles Bishop,
labourer, of Milborae, was charged with being
found is the yard of the Exhibition Hotel for an
unlawful purpcs, on likensiday sight. James
Dimond, the landlord, said that about 12
o'clock on the nicht in question, he bawd
the latch of the yard door moved about as if
some person was attempting to ovum in. He looked
out of window and saw prisoner getting over the door;
after which he tried to open both stable doors.
Thinking that lie had no bantams there at that boar
of the night he went for a police ()Moor, who, on
going Into the yard, found prisoner concealed behind
emus boards, and he took him in custody. —in de-
Janos, prirooer raid he went to the yard to look for
.ome one, and denied that be got over the wall. '
The tap room door was open.--P.C. Mitchell proved
taking premier in custody' and also examining the
duo,., wh,ch he found locked. On searching his at
the statics two small bags were found in his pour
mesion.—Saptinniendect Kerley stated premier
wei • weldknown character, and had been courichal
of felony once, and vagrancy several times; in foot
be had not been out of gaol long.—Prisoner
admitted the superintendent's statement to be
correct; he had only been out of gaol a fortnight,
where he had had Six months' imprisonment.—
Prisoner was sentenced to two months bard
labour. . .

Ditolll alto RIOTOUS. —Clotilaa Price, who said
she came from Wales, was charged with being
drunk and abadve.—P.C. Keats proved the mos.
It appeared that whilst on duty in High-east-street
on Saturday night, about half past 12, he beard
prisoner swearing and making use of very indecent
language. He went to her and found lier seated on
the steps of Mr. Morgan's door. He inquired who
she was, whoosh. was very abusive. She was
drunk, and he took her to the station.—Prisoner
was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment
A Reras.croar APPItENTICIL —Charles Lester,
an apprentice to Mr. Monday, builder, was charged
with leaving his employ without the moment of charged
=Wm.—Defendant pleaded guilty to the
and having received some salutary advice from
Mayor, the decision of tbe Bench was 'dimmed for
• month, in order to see how Lester would act, he
having promised to behave better in future.
Oa rridsy the splendid collection of will beasts sad
birds belonging to Mr. FAtedeici., late the property of
Mr. Wooliwvll, paid this town • visit. A very Ivrea
number of persons iosymeted the exhibdion, all df •Ihda
grouted &lighted with t .• obj eta that met thoir view.
The insignia eut baud cohnt coal with the eNta-lishmont
pia) ed at intervals throthitoot the esy. Audi were t •
means of drawing a considerable number of pearls
together.

Tax WILATHEIL—Tbs reading of the thermometer at
Dorchester for the pest weak is as follows :