The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-01-10 00:00:00

T COUNTY EXPRESS AND AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE, TUESDAY, JANUARY 10. 1871.

ALLILGED SHEV STEALING.
The grand jury ignored the bill Mr. Charles
Worm, farmer, of Mardi wood, with ate.iling 13 sheep,
e property of Mra Jane Taylor. who occupies the
ailjoininiz farm. It was expected that this would be
a great ease.
Mr. Pole and Mr. Castle were engaged for the pro-
secution, and Mr. W. Ffooks and Mr. Collins for the
defence.
Mr. Fooks subsequently applied to thr court to
make the mend ordee for the restitution of the sheep
to Mr: Warren: It was shown by the act of the grand
jury that there was no ground for ssying the sheep
belonged to the prosecutrix, and ho aliket for an order
tor the rerlelivery of the goods.
Mr. Collins added that Llo. sheep wet-, taken privies-
sloe of by the policeman, who iiveht with pr •,:ecatrit
and selected those she said were (or property, and
from that time they had been in the con." ty of the
law, and they asked for the usual ordt r when there
was no bill or • prisoner was acquitted.
Mr. Pole said the sheep were in prdseentrit's I'l4l,
and it would be • trespass to remove thorn.
The Chairman said if that were so, the sheep wen.
not under the control of the court.
Mr. }looks said one of the constables went with
proseciiti is to defendant's field, and took poseessiou of
theni.
Mr. Pole : That is not so. - -
The Chsirtnan : If! recollect tho evidence, the sheep
were driven to pro:sentries by collie of her servants.
Mr. Hooks said Mr. Loggin spoke to Superintendent
Wilale about the sheep, and the officer said he would
be responsible for them.
Mr. Collins said that if the court took posarssion of
property which it was said was stolen, and then on the
allegation falling did not restore it, injury was done.
All they required Was UAL the court should make au
order; if the officer had not the sheep they would have
a remedy.
Mr. Pole urged that the court had no right to
order giving up what they had not in their possession.
The chairman said that its the sheep were in prom:-
cut:lies field, the court would not make any order.
_ . '

Mr. Hunk; said he would call P.C. M'ortimer who
took the sheep—
The Chairman : No; I don't think wo can make an
order.

ALLEGED minim TO ETEAL TIMBER AT BLANDFORD.

An elderly in named John Churchill, carpenter,
on bail, was indicted for reoeiving a deal, value 75., the
property of Mr. Augustus Green, builder, of Blandford,
knowing it to have been stolen. Mr. %V. Ffooks prose.
egged and Mr. Collins defended. . _

Alfred Hicks' carpenter, in the service of lifr.Green.,
was charged before the SW:Word in igistrates with
stealing the deal, and pleaded guilty; but he was dis-
charged in order that Churchill might he prosecuted.
He now said that on the 26th October Churchill caked
him to get him some timber, saying he would pay him
well for it, and he agreed to do it! Nett morning
Churchill met him as be was going to breakfast, and
urged him to get the timber as he wanted it for a job,
That day he stole • piec- 9by 4 cod about 13 feet long
from his master's yard, and put it where Churchill told
him—bv the side of Mr Rolla'e house. He told
Churchill of it, mid be (Churchill) said be would send
it to the pit to be cut, subsequently told him he had
had it cut, end on November lit gave him 2a
Crees.examined : Knew Mr. Hideout; was never
I charged with robbing him; nor did his father oar
money to settle the charge. Was never charged with
stealing breams from Mr. Sharp, millwright; did not
sell or give brasses to Mr. Jones. Plral.,l nifty
before the Blandford magistrates to stealing two
other pieties of wood. Them he took a week
after he stole the deal for Churchill.—Mr :
Who incited you to steal the other two piece, 7—A.
That's nothing to do with this—Q. Rut I want to
know ; tell me!—A. Mr Pike, carpenter, of Keynes-
ton.—Q: When did he incite you to at-al them
The week after Churchill had his:—Q. Did you 50t
accuse Mr. Easter of inciting you to steal the deal ?—A.
No. Q. Didn't you tell Wells, • milkman, no —A. No.
Ohl not offer the deal to the prisoner, sarng lie
had it to makes hox. Didn't esti at his 110Oge two or
three times before he would buy it; but called there
twice after. Churchill did not ask me where I bad put
the deal, because he had told me where to put it.
—Mr C Alias quoted from Hick's deposition before tip,
magistrates that Churchill asked him where he bad
put it—Mr. Easter, sawyer, proved sawing the deal
under Churchill's directions • Mr Green wan called to
speak to the value of the wood; and Sept Underwood
spoke to apprehending prisoner, who freely to ik him
to where the wood was.

Mr Collins, for the defence, urged that flicks w
totally unworthy of credit that he worrnd Churchill
to buy the wood. saying it was his own. and he had
it to make a chest, but he wanted money ; that he
bought the wood bona fide, and in no way oouoealed
it.
The jury acquitted the prisoner.
MISDIM lANOU

Jan Turner, 19, labourer, wain found guilty of .a
lemeanour at Netherbttry.
hir• Collins prosecuted
-
Prisoner said be was going through the orchard, and
saw a sheep on its back, went to set it up, and having
had a drop of drink, fell down upon it.—Sentenoed to
nine months' bard labour.
FRAUD BY • DRAY AND DUMB MAN.

Charles Gloatlimp, 24, heraldic painter. was indicted
for obtaining by false pretences 51. from Mr. T. Hodder,
of Weymouth, also an umbrella, a waterproof coat,
sod • bat, from Mr. Obed Carter, of Meleoinbe Regis.
Prisoner is a respeolabledooking man, and he ia deaf
and dumb. While the court were considering how to
proceed, he and his ester were in constant c .minunicia-
tion by signs on their fingers. The poor fellow seemed
in groat distress.

_
As pnsoner did not plead to the indietmenta tho
jury were sworn to enquire whether he wee mute by
the_viaitation of God or from malice:

Mies Jane (Jostling deposed that she was Prisoner's
sister, and he was born deaf and dumb. She could
communicate with him by signs:
Upon this the jury found him mute by the visitation
of Cod, and Miss Goatling was sworn to interpret oor-
rectly the preceding', She then informed him the
charges. and he pleaded guilty:
Mr. Collins. who prosecuted, said they did not wish
to press the ease. He was • man of very fair character,
and the learned counsel suggested that as his friends
were ready to take care of him, he should be net free.
He was very clever, and had taken several prisas at a
deaf and dumb school. A Somerset superintendent
said prisoner's father was a very respectable innkeeper,
but be had bid some trouble with his son; though he
(the seperlntendent) thought the two mouths prisoner
had bad would be a warning to him for the future.
Prisoner's uncle wan present. He sail be was a baker,
and would take charge of prisoner if he were liberated:
The Chairman sald the court could not pitas over
two charges of this kind without some punishment,
and sentenced him to two weeks' imprisonment for
each offence with such labour as was suitable to
him.

Miss Oostling : " Oh ! do be merciful to him; he
is so afflicted," and she burst out crying.
The Chairman said they were afraid that it was
necessary to give him some punishment : his infirmity
was no excuse for these offenoes.
Being told the sentence, he cried violently, and it
was a long time before he was pacified.
He was removed below, and his sister was told she
could see him there. The uncle was informed that the
sentence was light in consideration that afterwards his
friends would take we of him.

he had lost some blond. and a clasp knife was taken
from the prisonrr, with which he had indicted the
wound.
Prisoner said that prosecutir fell upon him, and
struck him several tarries. Flo (prisoner) had the knife
in his hand for cutting his food, and in the struggle
lie sulipood the knife must have struck Friend acci-
dentaltv, hut be did not know it till an hour after-
wards. lie himself wM OLO Of the grcatcst cripples in
the Union, sial if be hail been an able-bodied man,
and capable of taking his part, Friend would not have
struck him.
The jury immediately acquitted the prisoner.
Tile vaii_Datvalt AND HIS CHRISTMAS GOMM

Mir r•y, cab driver. was initiated for
feloniously brctkiug and entering a budding and stealing
;Tome, tlu . woo. rty of William Cox, at Portland, nu
Deorinher 23, 1870.—Mr. Castle uro-oented, prisoner
pleaded guilty.
Harvey ml I the btuno on the" drop of drink" he had

Tot. e.i.orto .0 st 4 I they ha 4 had • good deal of
experh.oer to wimt. tho "drop of drink" led to.
Time womb.' herd laboar.
Tile NAD•WOWAN.

Hull. Fhpruote, Ihavardalias Sarah Westwood. with
many otl,er olioses was indicted for attempting to
übiAib by f4o• pretences bedstead from George
tl,ui.,, ClAline- W.T..euth ois October V., 1870 ;
alto from Warm bindle, a Lenin of sherry, six
imprrial bottles of FlOl3l. Mal P.l/111.1 of bisitaite, and
various other articles ; ad.o an umbrella. water proof
anil Ito% front Ob. 41 C.U.101% on the 31t Oct..
la7o. ih. W. yiiieuth trwiesin.ri who were on the
jury wer...lioeb r.d. to prevent any priiitilice on their
o
purl. off. cti 'n prisoner.
n. 4 guilty in a firin
Mr. I :optic priowcut. et.

Th. fir,t ch.argu was tikil seloAr Iv.
Mr. Chalker, ~pls,shiterer, U Mt. blikry.strwt, Wry.
Inqutb, hiving iletalle I how the ',moiler tried to get
Lb e bechgtewl.
_ _ . .

The Chairman siihi the case was one for a civil. not
• eriotioal anat. and by his direction, the jury acquitted
the prisoner. . . .

The privoner wig then indicted on the Mew d charge.
'rho falae inetencl alleked wee that ohs had taken
lodging. at Belvidere Cottage, for ail months, el Mr.
Sanndera.

/dr. Frank Bunn, aasistint at Messrs. Gundie's, sail
that between fur and gee on the 214th October. prisoner
came into the slop, handed Liana written order and
wised it he could understand it. Ile asked if she wanted
anything more, and she said Dr. Smith had recom-
mended her to 11•VO SOW) stout ; bat it must be the
best. lie recommended the imperial stout, as it MRS
In better condition than the oilier. Ile let her have
the goods h. ciuso he thought they would be safe, if
Mr. Saunders bail let her the house for sit mouths.
The, generally !stunt from lodging houso keepers
wh.ther clstoiners were respectable.
Mr henry Saunders deposed to prisoner taking the
lodgings at Belvidere Cottage,when she said she might
stay a month. She mentoned the nanic of Mr Weaton,
of Dordiater. Ilia wfe wall the person w:.O actusl,
let tile lodgings, and she was at present ill, awl %Instils:
to come to the court.

_
Priaouer I have had nothing to do with this
peraon.
William Staples, in the employ of Messrs Rinolds,
dewi.ed to mis.iner coming into their shop, ord.:ring a
twolo of sherry, unclur tho name of Weathead, and
baying th•t In heed at Trim's the baker's, on the
Radipole-road• For that bottle of sherry she did not
pay.
Th hirman objected to this evidence being taken.
as th..: act was not tho subject of an indictment.
Mr Cullins intcred the court and on tho Cimino=
meatier 66 ll g the ;mint to him, be said they could pro-
duce evidence of what the prisoner did on the sum
dal. .

Supt. S. Vickery spoke to prisoner's being chsr.t,
erten she said she only came out of Dorchest_r prison
I .st Tuesday. She load been very unfortunate. as .111,
RA WA been not of prima for a week fore, ven para.
Prisoner limf been convicted at the Su.iions in the
name of Howard.

Mr Maunders woe re-c died. and said they very seldom
lot lodsiogs in Weymouth for six month., end would
require retcreoces if they let lodgings lout r than •
we. k

In defence prisoner Paid she took the lodsin,rs from
Mrs Saunders, and Mr Saunders was not pre.eut at all.
She took the house For a weck certain, and she was to
have them for six months if she like I them. She con-
sidered Mrs. Saunders should be called to say f..r what
term the lodgings were taken, as she did not IWO Mrs
Saunders till late in the evening. Hadn't Mrs Samplers
been told that prisoner was a swindler she would have
continued there. She never saw the bottle of sherry ;
it was taken away before she was taken into custody.
She never gave the name of Westhead, but that of
Westwood. She had been a very bail character, and
had been obliged to be placed in a lunatic asylum, and
that was why she didn't think such things should be
brought against her. She hat not done anything but
what she thought another person might have done, and
as she hail beau three times in a lunatic asylum, she
hoped that would be taken into 000sideratien, whatever
foolishness she might have been guilty of. She CAl-
sidered she had made no false pretence, for she only
gave the name of Westwood, and was in a position to
pay for all she had had.
At the end of her defence, prisoner sank into her
seat as if overpowered, and covered her face with her
hands.

The Chairman left it to the jury to icy whether the
prisoner was guilty of any false pretence.
Ti ~ jury after a short consultation, found prisoner
A previous conviction for swindling at lilandford
was admitted by prisoner, and when called on to say
why sentence should not be peel, pleaded her state
of health, having been three time in a lunatic asylum.
She had also been taken for another person, vino was
now suffering penal servitude, and had suffered on her
account. She dill not consider the present ease hail
been fairly prosecuted, as the prineipal witneini, Mrs.
sounders, who let the lodgings, was not present.
Prisoner then dropped on her seat ; but ruse again.
saying 'Of course, illy respectability can be proved
(I iughier.)
Her sentence was reserved tiil the conclusion of
the business, when she was again brought up.
She exclaimed with tears : May I ask you to be
merciful to me?
The Chairman: We do not wish to be unmerciful to
any one. It is clear you have been guilty of these
offences before.

Prisoner : Ah! but if you know all !
The Chairman: We know that you have been in „viol
a great many times, tor robbing poor tradtsinen in
this manner. I have been into the other court to c
suit about your sentence, and we are ob:iged to pa:a
upon you • sentence which may seem bard to you,
but which is really for your good. If you were cent to
prison here, it would be the worse for you, cud the
ecotonee is that you be kept in penal servitude for five
years.

•
Prisoner was removed weeping ; but was brought
up again. She exclaimed "Oh ! if you please will
you allow we to have my letters ?"
The Chairman said they had none, and Supt. Vickery
said he had two or throe letters which her solicitor
had writteu to her.

Prisoner, weeping: I want two letters, if you
please !
Chairman : I make no order:—Prisoner wu finally
removed, weeping bitterly.

_
HAT STBALING AT BAST STOIC,.
Benjamin Powell, who bad been out on bail, was
indicted for stealing 13113 e. of bay, the property of
George Jarvis, at East Stoke, on Dec. 27. Mr. W.
Ffooks prosecuted.—William Ricketts, the shepherd,
missed the bay from his master's field, and traced it
to prisoner's house by • bit dropped here and there, for
two miles. When the polioeman asked prisoner about the
hay,he did not conoeal anything.- P.C. George Purnell
corroborated. —Prisoner produced a good character,
and said be only picked this hay up in the road.—
Verdict: Guilty. Sentence : One month's hard
labour.

VIOLENT ASSAULT UPON A POLICE
SUPERINTENDENT.

John Lockytar, John Larigdowle. Thomas Brow,
Thomas l'arrhase. Henry Saint, John Ifetacti, Thwitas
Cliarks Brom, Sanaa Hewrit,
Car Lr. and Joseph Lock. all from the parish of Bere
Regis, were charged with maliciously wounding Supt.
Thomas Eeles, at Wareham. All pleaded not guilty.
Mr Collins prosecuted.

Mr Collin; said the men went to Mr Pelt's public-
house, would not go away, were determined to have a
row, and grossly asaaulted Supt. FAles.
Mary Ann Potts, said: I keep the Railway Hotel at
Northport, Wareham. On tbe 3rd January, my
husband was ill in bed. At half-past four in the
afternoon the man Purchase came in, and asked for
half-a.pint of beer. He had it, and then began making
a noise. I told him my husband was ill, and ask-sd him
to be quiet. He was then still for a time. Then Lock
came in with two or three others. They called for •
quart of beer, and paid for it. Some more came in,
so that all the prsoners and others were present.
Thounu Phillips raked for beer, but I refused hiw.
Some then came to my private bar, and were
very noisy. Moat of them bad sticks, were very
noisy, and fighting among themselves. I told
them I shoold send for the pollee. One of the
men not here said they 'neat to have a riot that night.
I asked why, and he said because " There's corn in
Egypt." lat least got them out, and locked the door.
Robert Parker laid: I am a labourer, and live at
North-post, Wareham, yesterday afternoon I went
into the IL iilway Hotel, and had a glass of beer with •
friend. I saw Purchase and Samuel Hewett there. As
I passed into the bowie, I saw his holding George
Twice the ostler up against the table. About 15 or lei
altogether were there. They all had sticks about 3ft
lung, and were hammering the table and dying their
stinks about. Purchase came up to we and got " fight-
able." They had been drinking but were not so very
bad. Purchase taid "he did.nt care for nobody." I
went for the police, and two came.

Puraha,n said whoa the witness asked him to go on,
he weut.

George roke deposed: I am ostler at the Itsilway
hotel. About half-past four yesterday afternoon I saw
Purchase in the taproom, and said to him "Well old
fellow, how are you r' and he said " I'm pretty near
drunk.' He stayed till the rest came in. They were
very noisy. I said don't make a 11061), as the governor
is ill. One was going to pull about the gas, and I
wanted to prevent him, when one laid hold of me. They
said they were up for a row, and anis welded to fight
me, but I said I was not a fighting man.
Sr John Bennett, auctioneer, of Illandford, said at
hall-past five yesterday afternoon I was at the hotel
on business. Prisoners were there, kicking up a row,
and Mrs Potts staked me to help get them out. Supt.
Pales come up. lhey swore at him, and threw stones.
I saw Thomas Brown throw a stone at the superinten-
dent. The ethers were flourishing sticks. Supt. Boles
called on me to assist him. Thomas Brown threw a
stink at Eden; atones were being thrown all the time.
Charles Brown was, I think, the worst in the lot: he
jointed the others to "Kill the --,ss They then had
Hales on his beak in the bank. I tried to get them
away, when Brown and three or four others struck me
on the head with sticks. I didn't see Purchase there.
They were hitting the superintendent with ground ash
sticks. I said "For (Jude sake don't kill the man,*
and as I pulled them away they knocked me down two
or three times. Biz or seven were on the supenntec.
dent at • time. [The sticks WWII produced; several
of them Were severed with blood.] Witness said my
oat awl hasdkotwhial wore wowed with blood, and

I was cut about. the head a good deal. [His head was
AI ever. He was going to show his wounds,
but the mediael man said he must not do so.] MT facie
Wer:t.ta, cothv:;eredwhweinth
tbhl
loon were in the kitehen, John Hewett rolled them on
satrw.eckar.Johvin
When
newtehtet
to go bwne. eoolblowis"nwenreot
ity Charles Brown: As I was taking Thomas Brown
to the station-house, you swore you would not let me
take you, and that yen would bit me in the mouth.
By John Langdown : I saw you, and you took a very
active pset.
Sept. Bele., wham head was covered with bandages,
eaid—Last night I was on duty at Northport. Went
to meet the train, and heard a great noise at the
Railway Hotel. As I returned saw the men come
out, still making a great row. Heard one say, as thee
had some mousy they did not are why they should
net have sumo more beer. Mr. Bennett was standing
at the hotel door. Fearing they would force their
way in, I rerioested them to go home quietly Most
of them hail sticks. As they stood some distance off,
they began throwing. 1 and Mr. Bennett, whom I hsd
called on to assist, went towards them. I saw Charles
Brown's arm go, and I remonstrated with him for
throwing stones. All then closed on we ; they struck
mu with sticks. and with their fists, and kioked toe.
I was down on the bank. There are six wounds on my
head made with the sticks, they kicked my legs,and my
It-Rants is black and blue from one end to the other.
One kicked at my face, but just They con•
Hinted striking and kicking me for several minutes.
P.C.'s. Burge and Paul tante, and they with Mr. Bennett
and toyed( apprehended six. I caught hold of Clarke.
Three more weresobsequently caught. Thomas Phillips
was banded ever to me, and I took him with his stick
to the station. It was the Petty Sessions at Wareham
that day, and Samuel lie wott wee charged with refusing
to leave the Drax Arms, Bore Regis. I saw Purchase
there flourishing a stick. Some of the men had been
to the union that day, and got from five to eight loaves
each.
George Hawkins, son of the gatekeeper at the Ware-
ham railway station, said be saw all the men there.
They came out of the Railway llotel and went up the
Here Road. They threw stones and one • stick at Mr.
Beanett and Mr. Stiles. One said " that's my stick,"
end Mr. Hetes said " I shan't give it you, then." They
threw Mr. Ede, down on the bank and struck him
with a stick.—Cross-examisted : Saw John Hewett there
with the rest.
P.C. Burge, stationed at Wareham,went to the Hotel
with P.C. Paul. The house was cleared; but there
was • great noise on the Bare road. Supisrintendendent
lieles was down by the side of the road, also Mr.
Itennett, and the turn were beating them.
'Enemas Brown. John Lockyer, and Joseph
I,4i,,ril:itst.Broww,nt,itestntdd Hr
eewn riva
tmt.i tah
Luck were beating Mr. Rehm Thomas Phillips
anwdesre ati
trubeckTaghomMesr:
Brow, and he and Look ran away. Witness followed
them, and Thoniss Purchase struck him with a stick
and knocked li. hat off. On that he drew his staff.
seized Pure'amie and ;,nt. on the handcuffs. He followed
• Hee, awl 'cited Phillip., who had • stick in his hand
sme.ated with blood, lie next apprehended Saint,
about WO yard, off. Ile Lett went to Cold !harbour,
and apprehended lockyer and Lengdown. He went
to Bore, and took Samuel Hewett, Look, and William
Clark. Ile 'marched them, end rabbit nets and wires
wore found on them. They were riotous in the cell.
Every it,,,, of them was there. The sticks were pro-
duced, one of which the witness said was taken from
Purchase. Nearly all had stick, ; but most of Ilion
threw them away. Five stinks were produeed.
Witness was examined by some of the men, and swore
they w. re each there.

I;.C. Pad : Last evening between five and six o'clock
I WWI mile I to the Railway Motel, and found Mr Kele.
and Mr Bennett there. Mr &les was in the ditch.
Th ouris Brown and Charles Brown were striking Mr
Lies awl Mr Bennett with sticks. Loskyer was also
doimt so. Ti ~,,,, as Brown Amok at witness, on whicti
he drew li. staff and knockel him down, 11.. then
cmglit Charle. Mown, John Hewett, and Thomas
Brown. Charles Brown wu very violent.
Creas.examined : They were all there, and were
bol.ibouring with their sticks. A rabbit net was found
on Brown and Hewett, and Lockyer had some wire..
Ltniolosn he apprehended at Cold Harbour. tmks
were takm from them, cowered with blood. Di,l not
ace John Hewett strike anybody. Purchase was with
the rest.

eross.examined : John Hewett ran up the road, and
witte .s ran after him. Lockyer ran sway.
Luckyer : 1 WM not there, so I Gould not run away;
I was on the hill before the row was over.
Mr Charles Wilcox, M.R.C.B. said about 7 o'clock
last evening I was sent for to the police-station and
YAW Mr Etles and Mr Bennett. Mr Bennett was
covered with blood, and Mr Balm told me te attend to
him fret. Both were suff,.ring from wounds, Ur &des
the woist. Ho sent for bis partner to help in the
dressing: Mr Bennett bad two severe scalp wounds ;
Supt Bales had six distinct wounds on the bead, very
severe, and he bad lost • good deal of blood ; his face
and permn were tweeted with blood. There waa • very
severe contusion on the left forearm. A very great
violence must have been used, and bad he not been a
powerful wan, the injuries might have been fatal.
. . . .

Saintdd he went beck to ask the men to come on.
John Hewett said he went on 10 minutes beton) the
reat, and bat get on a quarter of a mile.
linkyir said he did not strike a blow, and knew no
more about it than the man in the moon.

Perch toe .ahl: The deed warn't done by no, others
did it. and they don't but we got to stand to the crime:
The elasirinsn went through the charge, sod cud
there c 'lt'd be no doubt as to the fact that a most
serious asmult was committed, and tbe only question
for Vie jury was whether the prisoners were the per.
.ons who cunaniitted it, and whether either of them
on account ui his being less violent ,than the others
was chargeable with a, lighter crime:
. . .

The jii-ry very quiekly -found all the prisoners guilty
of iunliciou4y woundin;g.
Purehaxt said the person that did it wag not there.

The Chsirortn replied they—ooold- eo tblk for one
moment that one person could hays indicted all the
injure..

'Mr Bennett begged to recommend Purchase to mercy,
as he did not think he toek such a prominent part as
the others, and he had a wife and six children.
Before the sentence. Purchase exclaimed "I am
quite certain I did not."
The Chairman said they had all been found guilty,
upon very vary clear evidence. They were all
aiding and abetting in OM very wild and violent
as.ault upon Mr. Bennett and Mr. Eels*, and it was
very fortnnate for then that no more serious result
had accrued from what was done that evening. Mr.
Wilcox, an iseppiudioed witness, had said that if Mr.
Merl had not been a man of strong oonstitution,
death misfit have ensued. In that case they would
have beeu standing at • future day before the judge
of arsixe,charged with the crime of murder, and let
them consider what • dreadful position they would
have been in. The Court did not look upon them as
young men who were in the habit of breaking the laws
and assaulting the police ; if they did, it would be
necessary for them to pass • very much
heavier sentence upon them. But it was very
necessary that the polite should be protected, and
still more, a gentleman who had in • very noble and
handsome manner come forward to assist the officer
suffering from the brutality they bad used: With
regard to Mr. Bennett. he remarked that the count'
are very much indebted to him for his noble oonduct,
which was highly to his credit. As to the prisoners, if
the Court chose, they could pass upon every one of
them, a sentence of 5 years' penal servitude, and if they
thought it was a practise among young men of their
character to assault tho police, they would add to the
sentence passed upon them a further sentence that
they should be flogged. It had been suggested to the
Court by one of the magistrates to add to the sentence
of imprisonment an order that they should be flogged.
'nil did not wish to pot the prisoners to such •
painful and 'shameful punishment, for it was always
painful to the oourt to order such a punishment. But
in large cities they knew that the crime of garotting
' had been repeatedly punished by flogging, and if the
court thought it {necessary Ito protect the polies, they
would not hesitate a moment to order it. The sentence
was that prisoners he imprisoned and kept to hard
, labour torsi' calendar months.