The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-08-23 00:00:00

BLA !MFORD.

CsIMITT PLITT Hienlugs, Setarday.—Present :
Hon. W. 11. 1. Portman, IIP., Her. J. Watts,and J. C. Mantel,
Esq.
Aware Oscan, a well-known poacber,was summoned under
the Poaching Prevention Act, for basing In his possession •
irtui for the purpose of shootiuggrerse.-11r. Atkinson appeared
for the defence—P.& Hill Waal that on the 4th instant,about
Wi minutes post 9at Wahl he heard the report of a gun In •
field called n Routes," the property of Hrs. Michel. Directly
sitter he saw '.note ming Input where the report cents. As be
ii.g up the footpath he saw Dicker come along the top of
the furze from the same direction. and Into the footpath. Ha
was then about 150 yards off. Witness pot iied Dicker, and
found him with a gun partly concealed on his peren. They
hada Weal, and witnea succeeded In obtaining =ion of
the gun which he pnisitinti. The right band hod powder
in it, and • vitae of taper in the muzzle, reedy to be rammed
down. Ile fount • ptiteder flask on the accused.—Mr.
Atkinson. for the defence, contended that to convict the Pooch
inmt be quite certain that the gun was wad for the purpose of
taking game, and remarked en the aissenee of any shot being
found on Dicker.- The mogistrates, considered the charge folly
proved, aml flood Dicker 12 and ibt, tkl. costs ; In default two
mouths' imitriaitiment. Toe gun to be destroyed.
Rrltalte CIIRLITOPIIIM and Owns( Gimler pleaded guilty to
obstructing the publle footway in liryanston-stleet, 81..11,1f0rd,
and Chris orb.' to another chorgo of belief drool on the I Itli
August, In Bandford.-41•11op wad lined Is. and fa lid. Cod.;
and Cbrietepber te ed. end pe Tots.
_ . _

WHO was Mr. Stevens? Where did be come from?
are the questions that are being asked about the Mr.
Stevens who has kept the public mind for 12 years in a
state of tantalising hope in reference to the Wellington
Monument, and poclvited for the yet unveiled beauty
the trifling sum of .1:15,000. Some 30 years sines
Alfred Stevens was an embryo artist, living in the
m•rket torn of Birriford, Dormtsbien. Hit fatS,..? at
that time was a popular eign and ornamental letter
writer, and if mine host required a swinging bear to be
'minted, or a parading society its banners to be
emblazoned, or a pariah clessyman the ten command.
ments to t "put tip,' George Stevens was the only
man in request. The son's ambition took a loftier tone,
end quickly peasedfrore sign-painting and letter-writing
to the higher developments of historical and landscape
painting, and tnere are few houses at which the boy
artist was a petted visitor which have not their walls
at this time adorned with roughly-finished paintings
kept as in memoriam of the native-born genius. A
Mr. Best, living in the neighbourhood, fancying that
he detected in the immatured showings of the lad
indications of art genius, sent him at his own expense
to Italy, that he might there have an opportunity of
studying 1-1 the schools of art the higher phases of the
art to widish he seemed to have dedicated
After four or flva years spent in Italy, he returned to
England, and made London his permanent plisoel of
residence. During hi. stay, however, in Italy, the bent
and bias of his esk seem to have changed, end
instead of painting •delling sad sculpture seem to
have occupied his .• .ition. Since his return, we
believe, he has emp...v.sl himself in accordance with
the changed pumas, his art life, and the beautiful
ceilings of the Alliamlo a Courts in the Crystal Palace,
the frescoes in the H.,u4A of Lords, besides many other
works of high art—aplrt from his greeted, design of the
long-looked-for Wellington Monument—attest not only
the great getting of Mr. Stevens in designing, but his
great lidusraking in eaeauting the details of the many
elaborate works of art on which be has been engaged.