The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-05-20 00:00:00

REFUSAL TO RECEIVE MILITIA IN
BILLETS.

On Monday afternoon lad, Mr. James Sly, of the
Antelope Hotel, Doenbertes, was summoned for not
receiving some men of the Dorset Militia who had
been
_billeted at his home.

--ifeiere fit:: li. Cure"— Dr. Aldridge, and Mr. M.
Derenish.

iii7—NVeston prosecuted and Mr. R. N. Howard
defended Mr. Sly.
Mr. Weston stated the complaint against Mr. Sly,
end said eight men were sent down to hint; but he
positively refused to take them in.
Mr. Howard said it was only one offence; be was
summoned for refusing to take eight men.
Mr. Weston drew attention to the great inconveni-
ence that woes from such acts as the pre/bent, supposing
every innkeeper refused to take in men, they might
have 600 or 800 men without • place to put their heads
In, or a roof to cover them.
Chief-Constable Coward, billet-master, said about
a fortnight since, he received a requisition from the
Q..M.-Sergeant.
Mr. Howard • Where is it
__ • . .•. . • _ _

Tut-r;rd.- •h.;cl—ed- rn": paper, to which Mr.
Howard objected as not being a requisition; it was
only a piece of paper with • few fi.pircsi and • few
names on it.

Mr. Symonds took down the evidence that Inspector
Coward received • requisition to find billets for the
Dorset Militia on their assembly at Dorchester, and
prepared billets for WO men, out of which he billeted
20 at the Antelope, and sent the billets to (.1.-nr.
Stickland by one of his constables.
Cross-examined: Old not give the billet paper to
Mr Sly himself.
Major Hore went to Mr. Sly on Tuesday last and
said twenty men had been billeted on him at the
Antelope, and he (Major hare) wished to see the
accommodation. Mr. Sly stated he had no accommoda-
tion, and could not have the men in his house ; he had
taken lodgings for them in East Fordington ; but wit-
tier answered that he could not accept lodgings in that
locality—they could not be taken from the billet itself
without his (the Major's) consent; but to oblige him,
if be mild show anything in the immediate
neighbourhood, the Surgeon-Major and he (the Major)
would go, inspect, and if possible, pass diem. He
returned he could not give any satisfaction at all, and
Ike Major replied be would give him 24 hours. Witness
called do hint on Wednesday and Thursday with the
same remit. On the last day the Major found him
room for four, and took them off his ISt, leaving 16.
The tiueen's regulations sec. 16, par. 9, states—the
officer who draws the billets is to take care the men are
as much as possible to be kept together that the perform-
dice of thur duty and the supervision of the non.com.
misdoned officer may not be interfered with. Major
Hove produced • copy of the Assembly Order, also a
Discoidal Order, authoring him to dismiss the men
at the end a :0 der, the Major remarking that it
used to be 'l7 der but • week had been knocked off
this year.
Cross-examined: Went on Tuesday to inspect the
billets, and saw him on Wednesday first, and told
him he had come to inspect the billets when he
said he had taken lodgings for them at Fordington, he
hadn't accommodation for them. He did not tell him
they were nice moms, passed by the Sanitary
Trupector--ho took no notice of the Sanitszyjnspector.
They were lb a new row of houses near Forflngton
Green. Other men of the regiment ace billeted in
Fordington, • hundred yards beyond the place Mr.
Sly looked out,
Re-examined: The men who are billeted at Fording.
ten are not part of the company part of which were
billeted at Mr. My's, and the rest of which company
were billeted in the neighbourhood. For the conveni-
ence of the service, it Is mammary the men of each
comps°, ehould be billeted near together. Mr. Sly did
not take any objection to tho billet paper or the
service • but said he had taken lodgings tor twenty
▪ Fordington.
toQuarterdader Stiokland wag on May 2ncl. and I
ld the housekeeper.
'l6Lo' Symonds said that was not evidence.
stag-sergeant Samuel Turner, of F. Couweey, saw
Mr. Sly this morning about • quarter to nine at the 1
Antelope Hotel, in order to take over billets for 26
men. when hir. Sly said he could not door mod de them
on bjs own premises;
_he had talon lo brings for them
elsewhere. Ifs refused to take them in and witness
brought away the men.
Croas-examined Was there 'very 41000 after eight
but was obliged t wait. Was referred to a number
of people about the establishment, but wanted to see
Mr. Sly. lied the billet-paper with him, but did
not serve it. as Mr. Sly would not have it. Two men
were with witness, and Mr. Sly produced • paper with
the quarters he had taken for the militia' but witness
w.mloi not 'eke one of those quarters. The paper was
a scrap of blue paper; but witnese told him it had
Kindling to do with the order he (witness) had received.
Mr. Sly said he could not accommodate the meson his
own premises, and the authorities might bring him
before • magistrate. Witness then marched back the
men to the barracks. When shown Mr. Sly's paper,
witness' said—. This is my billet-paper.
Re-examined: Mr. My said Use quarters he had
before were condemned. The Antelope Hotel is large
enough to contain 20 men.
Sergeant John James also went with tro men to
the Antelope, to take over quarters for M men. Mr.
Sly told him the Quartermaster t had a paper
with the names of the pleas on it, where the men were
to be billeted. Witness said that he had nothing to
do with that, and Mr. Sly replied be could not accom.
modate them there, as the place be put them In
formerly had been condemned.
Mr. Howard urged that no paper had been served
on Mr. Sly. To show how monstrous it was each
t had asked for billets for 20 men, making 40,
Mllebillet-paper ought to have been produced to
Mr. Sly. ajor Hors had no right to go to the
keeper of a hotel or a small public-hones and bring a
party of men without showing his authority. Therefore
there was no case against Mr. Sly, who how-
ever, had obtained good and sufficient quarters,
according to the Act of Parliament. The military
were bound to produce and serve the billet-paper.
He could prove the rooms were good and sufficient,
nicely furnished, with iron bedsteads,. feather beds,
and—what few militiamen had not—cucely carpeted
Into the bargain.
It WM pointed out that the regulations were that
the man most be billeted near together, In the
Immediate neighbourhood of their officers, so that the
latter might eremite supervision over them.
Mr. W. G. Meader, plumber, by Instructions of Mr.
Sly had taken out lodgings lad Friday in Fordington
for the Militia. They were on Fordingtougreen neat
the pound, and behoves° the pound and Bull's Head.
They were nice mind rooms, carpeted, with iron
bedsteads and feather beds, &dining room in each house,
and every amormoodatioe.
Mr. Weston: Perhaps there is too much accommo-
dation. Do you mean to say they are OD Fordington
Orem ?

—*lti;ees said they were near the Green.
Mr. Weston: Are they not down Fordington Hill ?
Did not you say they were on Pordlngtoo Green!
Witness : That is near enough foe iwniester
Mr. Weston : Mut it is not Baez enough foremen
on his oath.

jar SyMoncla warned the witness it wag • very
serious thing to take an oath; wham ought not to
stre Iti rids= kik* that.

Mr. Weston crosa-szamined the witness as to
whether there warn not room in the market room at the
Antelope!
Mr. Howard did not dispute that • they could
perhaps put one in each of the water-cka;ett
Witness's croes-examinntlon was cautioned. He
said he manage! the Antelope Tap for Mr. Sly. Had a
place there fite fet high end 20ft. long, and there
was room there fo• 16 men • but that room was c
demned, and hal not been used since, except for
• lumber room • it was over the stables.
By Mr. llovntrd: There was room in the stables,
but he would not wish to put men there, our in the
market-room.

Mr. Howard proposed to pet Mr. Sly in the box
urging he wee not indicted for any offence that pre-
vented his being sworn. But Mr. Weston objected.
Mr. Howard said Mr. Sly might make big statement;
but not on oath; but Mr. Wanton and Mr. Symonds
said that had been mad* by Mr. Howard.
It was ruled by the Clerk that Mr. bly could not
give evidence In Ibls his own cam.
The Magistrates found Mr. Sly had refused to re-
ceive the militia billeted on him, fined him 40s, and
ordered him to find accommodation.
Mr. Symonds ached: And the costs
Mr. Howard repled the Bench had not said a word
about costs. It was a rather heavy fine.
Dr. Corms said it was the lightest they could put.
They put it as low as possible, because Mr. Sly did not
understand the difficulty of finding accommodation for
the men. The Bench ordered defendant to pay the
coats as well. These were 12a. fki.
Mr. Sly said he had no opportunity of getting
lodging.; he had sought high and low; and this was •
most unjust verdict.
The Chairman expressed his displeasure at this
remark —defendant had better be careful what he
said.

The Clerk remarked this wee an accruing penalty.
defendant might be summoned fur each party of men
taken there. Some might be taken now, and again at
eight, and again afterwards, and defendant be sum-
moned for each refusal.
. . _

Mr. mle left the Court, protestang he had done all
he amid, and had offend double the money to get the
men elsewhere.

WITXOIITH.

Pour, Imeriterlo7l.--7ao-Willis paid a vieit to
Weymouth, on Thursday pVllast, and made his animal
inepection of the borough ounstahnlary. Althouch
the men have not yet received their new clothing, the
inspector expressed his great eitisfaction at the fine
anus of the men and the neatneas of their
appearance
Ills Worship the Mayor was present. The
books, cells, kg.— were also insp.cted, and Captain
Willis appeared pleased with the efficiency of the f woe
and the state of everything connected with it. This
reflects much credit on our worthy superintendent,
Mr. Vickery.

POLICZ COURT, Thursday.—Before MAIM. Lundie,
Robens, and Hopkins.
Tug OLD Gans --John QiWn6Ma. laboursr, was sum-
moned for being drunk and riotous on the 16th init—P.C.
}Lansford proved lb, case. He found the defendant in
High-street, knocking at people's doors.—Tbere were
thiee previous convictions recorded again ,t him. and the
magistrates being of opinion that a change of scone, air,
d diet would be advantageous to the defendant, ordered
his removal to the large County House at Dorchester for
11 days with hint labour. _

Horst= IN HOPI-SQUALL —liefiry Bishop was brought
up in custody charged with assaulting PC. Mae in the
execution of his duty, on the DM inst.—The con-
stable stated that he found the prisoner in liope-equ•re,
the previous evening, drunk upon the ground. He raised
him up. and in attempting to take him to the polio,
station prisoner was very viylent and struck him.
Another constable coming up the prisoner was removed
to the police-station. There were several vrevious con.
victlons both in the borough and in the county proved
against the prie ner. —Mr. Sept Vickery stated in
answer to the Bench as to his knowledge of the prisoner.
that whenever he GLUM into this part of the county be
generally get presented at court. It we. certain that he
gave the polioe plenty of employment —The Bench
gave him • little further employment by rending him to
Dorcheatar for two months, with hard labour.
lbws Counr. Friday.—Bef see Dr. Drew and Mr.
! Hopkins,
WOMENS. RlOffil.—lrs. Lyons was summoned by
Harriet Sprankling, both of Lower Bond.atreet, for
ausaultlng her and using obscene tan nage—Frow the
evidence of the complainant It appeared that as she was
leasing the defendant's door the previous day the &dem
dent, it, answer to something she said, pushed her away
frau too door and pulled her dress to pieces, so much so
that she had to go into a neighbour's house t, have it
pinned up. She bad been in the habit of going Into Hr.
Lyon's shop for books and paptra—After witnesses had
been called in support of the complainant's cane the
defendant said she had been living very unhappily with
her husband for some time pest ,'wing to this woman's
pavingo ant doings. She hut c died at her door and asked
alter Mr. Lyons, wuich she old not approve of. She bad :
said "Don't say anything to me, or I aball go and court ,
Mr. Lyons." and defendant had warned her to keep out
of her house. People had come to her and complained or
the prosecutor walking backwards and forward. past her
door, saying things she ought not to—The hushi;nd of the
defendmat here made • statement to the effect that the
complainant was constantly annoying his wife, and from
what she had said this otfenoe took place—The Bench
bound the defendant over in two sureties of LICI each to
keep the peace for alz menthe.