The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-05 00:00:00

Itampobtre.

ffotrimatrrox. —lmportant Dedeiete. —Court of
Common Pleas, Dec. 22 (Sitting' at Nisi Prins, at
Guildhall, before Chief Justice Cockburn and a
livmial Jury.) Aptin v. the Routh- Western Railway
company. Mr. Edward James Q.C., Mr. Beasley,
and Dlr. Watkin Williams were counsel for the
plaintiff Mr, Loh, Q.C., and Mr. Milward ap•
peered for the defendants. This wee an action for an
lit Jury to the plaintiff' wife, mused by the negligence
of the defendants' servants. Mrs. Aplin said that
on the 2nd of August last she wont by the exoursion
train at 8 a.m. to Southampton, intending to go on
to Dorchester. As she oould not take luggage by
that train her boxes were to follow by another; On
her arrival at Southampton she inquired of a porter
when her luggage would come and where she should
go for It; he, pointhig across the line, said "Over
there; oome with me.' She expressed her fear, and
asked whether the public were not prohibited from
crossing the line. He answered "Oh, yes, unless
under the care of a porter or inspector." He then
took her by the wrist and led her to cross the line.
She followed, and scarcely had she got her foot on
the line when the carriages between which she was
going closed, and crushed her severely. She became
insensible, and recollected nothing until she found
herself at Dr. Hearne's, in Southampton. She wee
laid up at Southampton a fortnight, and for nine
i weeks n the country, and she has ever since been
suffering very much; her sight is seriously affected,
and she can do no work. Mrs. Gerrist confirmed
this account, and distinctly saw the porter taking
Mrs. Aplin by the wrist. Mr. Jison and another
medical gentleman spoke to the serious nature of the
injury, and believed that probably she would feel it
all her life. Mr. Lush, for the defendants contended
that even should the jury be of opinion that the porter
took Mrs. Aplin across, yet that, as that was a
wrongful act on his part and wholly unauthorized,
the company were not bound by it. The Lord Chief
Justice said that he was prepared to rule that the
company was liable, and entered at some length upon
his reasons for so deciding, but added that Mr. Lush
might have leave to move. Several porters and
officers of the company were then called to contradict
the evidence of the plaintiff, but it was admitted
that persons were in the habit of crossing the line to
get to the Dorchester train. The jury found a ver-
dict for the plaintiff—Damages .C 75.

GIFT FROM THE EMPEROR OF THE FRENCH.—
It will be recollected that on the occasion of their
Imperial Majesties' departure from Osborne on the
10th of August last, a parting salute was fired from
the battery of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club-house,
when, through the premature explosion of one of the
guns, Jacob Harbour, a labouring man, who was en-
gaged to assist the gunner, had his right arm shat-
tered so dreadfully that immediate amputation was
necessary. A subscription list was immediately
opened for the sufferer at the Club-house, and the ,
sum of £l5O subscribed, which has been invested to
his advantage. Our townsman (Mr. It James, jun.)
communicated the accident by letter to the Emperor,
who has forwarded a check for the munificent sum
of 2,500 f., £lOO, which, as it reached Mr. James on
Christmas-eve, we presume was deferred for a
Christmas gift. The recipient, Jacob Harbour, who
is quite disabled from following any lucrative em-
ployment, felt overjoyed at the news. The amount,
by his approval, will be placed in the Hampshire
Bank till a useful way of applying it has been ar-
ranged. The news of the Emperor's liberality
spread through the town like wildfire, and we heard
of "Long life to the Emperor and Empress," hav-
ing been drunk that evening at MOTO than one Christ-
mas fireside.
W/NCHIO3IMIL —Crimean, Moauments.—The me-
morial to Colonel Yea and the officers and soldiers of
tuliet:airalli'malliers who fell during the Russian cam-
. in
which is now fixed the south transept of our
Cathedral is well worthy of an inspection. Sir J.
Campbell's will be placed in the same transept in a
few days.
CHRIBTCHORCH.—Church-rate conteaC—A contest
hall taken place in this town respecting • church-rate
of £l3O, for the repairs of the fabric of the Priory
Church, and the poll was declared on Thursday,
when it appeared there was • mAjority of 125 against
the amendment in opposition to the rate. The
original motion, that there be a rate of three-half
pence in the pound having been then put by the
chairman, he declared there was • show of hands
against the rate. A poll was demanded to end in
half-an-hour, when there was a majority of 116 for
the rate.
RINOWOOD.—An interesting IiCtIITO NFU delivered
on Tuesday last, at the Crown Assembly 'Rooms, on
behalf of the Literary Institute, by the Rev. S. 8.
Pugh, of Southampton, on "Dr. Johnson."

M- MENEM 07 THE Sitteog.-1n an orchard at
Blasted, in Hampshire, there are at the present time
several bunches of young apples, some as large as a
moderately-sized walnut There is also s blackthorn
in full bloom. The apple trees appeared regularly
to re-blossom. Ripe raspberries are not by any means
a novelty.