The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-02-18 00:00:00

frennt.

There was • curious will case in the Court of Probate,
on Wednesday. John Port, of Ballygillan, emuty of
Derl7, was dying of fever. His brother and sister got
a neighbour to draw his will, but as the fever was in-
fectious, he would go no nearer than the barn to the
testator—whither the sister witiveyed his answers to
the questions put to him as to the disposal of his pro-
perty, the drawer ef the will putting ins legacy of RIO
to himself, without troubling the dying moo about snob
a trifle. When the document was completed it was
read to the testator, who understood nothing that was
going en; but they put a pen in his hand and got him
to put his mark on the document. He died shortly
after. The jury, without hesitation, declared that the
document wail not the will of the deceased.
FATAL ACCIDENT THROUGH FIRS-ARMS.—A melan•
eholy and fatal accident occurred on Sunday, the 2nd
Inst., near Skreen, in We county of Meath, whereby
young man, aged seventeen years, second son of G.
Wilson, Esq., of Oberstown-house, lost his life through
the incautious use of fire-arms. It appeared that the
lad took out a gun, unknown to his parents, for the
purpose of amusing himself in the fields, and passhig
through • hedge, the gun being at the time on full
cock, the trigger was caught by • branch, when the gun
exploded, lodging the contents in his body. He survived
only a few hours, and died in great agony. An inquest
was held on the body next day, and a verdict returned
In accordance with the facts.
• BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGY. An amusing
brew& of promise case came before the Dublin court of
Exchequer last week. The plaiutiff, Miss Agnes Hand.
sees te • lady F• 110 ha• passed thirty-five summers, and
resides with her brother near Ballyleagh, county
Antrim'. The ungallant defendant, who rejoices in the
euphonious name of Hooka, is one of the "ruling
eldera"a the Covenanting congregation in the locality,
and has gone fax bsyond the allotted "three score years
and ten." The ease was a forcible illustration of the
old adage that "every eye forms • beauty ;" for so
strange was the appearance of the reluotant lover, that
the bag boys and loungers of the Four Courts are stated
to here mobbed hit* when Welkinglabisht the precincts
of the oourts, and hunted him with cries of "Hooks !
Hooks !" down the quays. The ootinselltated that the
defendant, win, when at home, wear's time best broad-
cloth and good cloths, he being a comfortable farmer,
and Worth over £l,OOO, appeared thus ridiculously and
fantastically dressed in wretchedly poor clothes, with
his face dirty, and his appearance very squalid, in order
that the jury might be led to believe that he was in ex-
treme poverty. The fair suitor laid her damages at
£3oo„,and the defendant pleaded a denial of the pro-
mise. A novel feature in the case was that both the
parties were examined by consent. Much laughter was
occasioned by some of time statements made by the
defendant when in the witness-box, especially when, at
the close of
.the examination, he turned to the Lord
Chief Baron, and in • mysterious and confidential
mariner, enquired of him, " Does your lordship think
the cam is going in my favour?' The jury returned •
verdict for the plaintiff—Damages £5O.