The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-01-09 00:00:00

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The Royal proclamation against vice, protanenas,
and immorality was read by Mr. Jocelyn rfooka.

THE CRAILOL

In charging the Grand Jury the CHAIM/in sail:
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury, —Before 1 advert to the
usual business which occupies our attention at Quart sr
Sessions I think it right ti inform you that when the
Court sat yesterday, when the magistrates were
assembled forth. ,iiitcharge of business, in consequeno,
of the vacancy In the chair which we all so &et:4y
regret, and which you gave such propir expremion to
at the lam. Quarter Sessions, the magisirates &mem hled
did me the very great honour of electing toe to fill the
vacant chair, and at the same timelmy colleague Hr.
William Portman, was elected to the deputy-
chairmanship. I take this opportunity of asking
you to continue to me in my hitcher position the
same kind assistance and support which you have so
long given me through so many years in my other
position all fi ling the chair in one or other of thew
Courts, and I trust with your good aid to be able to
conduct the business, sal hope we have hitherto done,
to the satisfaction and advantage of the county. The
calendar, which is now before you, contains the names
of 19 prisoners—rather a larger number than we have
usually to deal with at the time of the year. The
ordinary number has been for some years past about
14 or 18; but, lam happy to say, on looking over the
cases, I do not find any of a very serious description.
There is not one case (arid that is a very great enuree
of eatiefaction to us all) if we except the very peculiar
cheep of attempted self -destruction, of personal violence
or attempted persona violence, for your consideration.
Now, I think this is a very good point. Injury or
depredation upon property are matters that ordinarily
are, if not easily remedied, still do not carry with them
say of that terror and sometimes of lone personal
suffering which attacks upon the person carry with
them. We read often in the papers of violent out-
rage. and personal assaulta, which are quite a stain
upon the condittoa of the social body. Happily we
do not so frequently meet with them in this county as
is the case in the more populous districts of England,
I but we have, from time to time, came of personal
violence and assaults ; and, therefore, it is a gratifying
thing to me to be able to remark to you that this
Weider is without any charge at all of that descrip-
tion. There is another feature of the calendar to
which I will advert for a moment, and that Le the
comparative youthful age of the larger number of the
prisoners—only two over 50 years of ego, and two
over 30, and the remaining number—namely 15, are of
a comparatively youthful age—one 15, another 17, and
the rest all average about the age .1 20. Now, this
too is satisfactory In one point of view, because we
have no aged °Mindere to deal with, no habitual
criminals ; and that, perhaps, so far, gives us
reason to hope that the operation of the laws in
InflictMg punishment upon crime is bearing
its fruit and producing that influence open the
criminal population which deter. them from repeating
the commission of their crime. With regard to the
I other portion of the prisoners, those of a more youth-
ful age, perhaps it might at first sight appear rather
docouraging that so considerable a number of young
persons must have been, or ought to nave been, at
school since the greatly improved system of education
has been Introduced; but the chairman pointed out
that all the prisoner', with the exception of two, to
whose names was attached the sianificant "N,"
were of imperfect education. Therefore it was not
the educational system that was at fault, and he nr.ed
upon thee who belonged to Boards iif Guerdians or
Sc oil Atteadance Committees to endeavour still more
to see that all children should be brought within the
range of the improved system, and if poseible to bring
them all into those schools which were DOW prepared
seeryerbere to receive .hem; and they might hope ea
their education improved the youthful classes of the
community would be still less disposed and still lees
liable for the commission of Clime. The Chairman
then briefly alluded to one or two cases in the calendar.
. . . .

Before the active boldness commenced,
Mr. WALDIN, the oldest barrister present, said, on
behalf of the members of the bar, he wished to con.
gratulate the Chairman upon the fact that the Court
wee to remain under the same presidency as that to
which they had been so long sooner.° lied.

The Cdttnitan said it w—n"s very Rraiiiing to him to
receive the congratulation, of the bar upon his promo-
tion to the bocourable position be now occupied. He
had received so mach assistance and such invariable
courtesy and every mark of kind feeling from the
Bar for the long period of over 20 years, during which
be had acted as Deputy•Chaliman and he was
confident he should still enjoy the same kindly good
feeling, and the same valuable aid he had so long
received from the members of the Bar.

TRIALS OF PRISONERS.
STILLING • LIG OF MOTTOS AT BLUDFOILD.

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Joseph Cram, on bail, and George Adams, were
indicted for stealing • leg of mutton, value Bs., the
prepaty of Marche Bennett Groves, at Blandford
Forum. on December 20th.

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Mr. E. R. Pe tics pr•iescuted.
Adams p'eaded guilty.
Henry Foot, a carrier' Living at Blandford, maid
on December 20th last he saw Cross and Adams
go into the yard of Mrs Grow's. Cross risme out
brat, and Adams ab,ut fire minute, att.rw.,,de. To.
latter had something under him arm. He followed
the prisoner up Orcbard•strest, end saw both ti up
a leg of mutton in • cloth or handkerchief. They took
it into the Whits Horse Inn.

-13: Lute t—r.", 000 k at Mr.. Groves', said on Decem-
ber 20th she saw Cross ant Adams go into the yard.
Cross came out about flee minutes before the other.
She saw Adams had eotnething under his dm. She
followed them up Orchardetreet, and then saw both
prisoners tie up the leg of mutton.
P.C. Goddard said be went to the White Hord Inn
and there saw &lama. He asked blue for the leg
of mutton. He denied having it. Witness saw Foot
take the leg of muhon from behind the door. He
then charged Adams with dealing it.
Crowe denied all knowledge of the theft. When he
met Adams be said he had "just fell up against this
here," meaning the lee of mutt'''. He did a, t know
where he got it. POI' the defence he called the brother-
indaw of Adams. who heard him ( Vides) say he
had been very fo .lish. It was all through drink,
sad Croon had nothing whatever to do with it.
The prisoner Adams was oiled as a yr toed by
Cross. and he swore the latter did net steal the mutton,
nor did be asei.t in tying it tip.
The jury returned • ver dot of not guilty against
Cross, and he woe discharged.
Adam., who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to two
months' imprisonment with hard labour.