The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

'THE EXECUTION OF JAMEEI SEAL.

The UNDKR SKIMP, (H. A. Templar, Req.) attended
the Board and inquired of the Mayor if my &newer met
been reoeived froui the Houle Ifieoretary to the Council's
letter
_ . .

The. MAYOR said the reply stated that the
Home Secretary had no power to give directions in the
mutter, and it rested entirely with the Sheriff.
The UNDICRFurr said he had 00OIS from Bridport
this morning feeling that it woe quite incumbent upon
the Sheriff, if possible, to carry out the wishes of the
Town Connell with referent* to the place of execution.
He thourlit the Council had a iorient right to a voioe in
the inetter, the only ditlionlty appearing that the
Sheriff inight by employing the old place of exeoution run
counter to the magistrates of the °entity, who seemed
to Imo adopted the new gateway as the place for public
execution. If the other place were used it would be a
'natter of necesaity to let the populace within the pre.
oinots of the prison.
The M TOR Which was always done.
Mr. ENROR said he was speaking to one of the
Visiting Justices on the occasion 01 the trial, and
he expressed • hope that the execution, if there was
one, would take plan in the usual place over the
prison lodge.
The UNDIIR SHERIFF remarked that he did take the
Town Council's memorial into serious consideration and
desired to carry it into effect.
The MAYOR Said it iested with the Sheriff. The
Town Council wished that the exeoution should be done
at the accustomed place. He thought it would be well
for the Council to express an opinion that it is not desira-
ble that the execution ahould take place in the public
street._ . . .

The Mem SHERIFF inquired how far it would be
thought proper to have the accustomed place in front
of the gaol, and to keep the gates shut ?
The Maros replied that that would be matter
of discretion with the Sheriff. The execution must
The UNDER SHERIFF replied that this WWI his diffi-
culty, but it would, lie thought, weigh much with the
Sheriff if it mild be that the gates be kept shut and the
execution yet be considered public He did not like
the idea of 4,000 or 5,000 people within the gates, close
isp to the front of the gaol, climbing up the trees, ko.
Still it should be a very serious reason that induced him
not to comply with the Town Council's wishes.
Mr. Essou suggested that although the matter must
be public it was not compulsory to admit the public
upon the gaol premises.
The TOWN CLERK mid he saw no difficulty whatever
In closing the gates, and having the gallows erected in
the usual place on the lodge, whenee the public could
see the execiation from the meadows for miles in front
of the geol.
(The Un ler Sheriff then withdrew.)
The Mayo(' said lie thought it would be better, seeing
Mr. Templar had come from Bridport especially on this
subject, to consider it at once. He called upon the
Town Clerk to read the letter sent to the Home Secre-
tary, after the last meeting, and signed by His Worship,
and the reply thereto.
It was determined, however, that
The Tows CLERK should read the minutes of the
last meeting, which he read, and they were confirmed.
The Town Clerk then reed the communication to the
Home Office, dated July 287 to the effect that a man
named James Seal was now lying at the county gaol for
execution for murder. The last execution had taken
place over a new gateway which had recently been
erected and which was surrounded and fronted by the
public streets and places of business, and on the occasion
of that execution general dimporobation was felt and
expressed at this outrage on their feelings. The old
place of execution was over the entrance Lodge in the
county gaol ; and in anticipation of a repetition of the
scone of August, 1856, when Martha Brown was exe-
cuted over the new gateway, it was asked thst the
ancient and usual plane of execution should be used.
The only reason that could be found for making the
alteration, was th,it portion of the grounds had been
converted into • garden, and there was forte of damage
being done thereto.—The reply from Whitehall, dated
July 29. was to the following effect :—The writer, Mr.
Henry Waddington, lied been directed be Mr. Secretary
Walpole to acknowledge the reouipt of the communica-
tion, dated July 28, objecting to the selection of the new
gateway, Dorchester Caitle, as the place of execution
of criminals ,• and in reply it was stated that this was a
matter in which the Secretary of State had no control.
Mr. GALION repudiated the last paragraph of the ap.
plioation. He was not aware of any objection against
the old site founded oaths destruction of flowers.
Mr. DIVENISH said Mr. Templar had wined no
other reason against admitting the public into the
garden, but doing demise to the grounds.
Mr. Flooosit said the matter rested with the Sheriff,
but the Council might express an opinion upon what
they thought desirable, whidi might very properly be
done.

Mr. DIMS:ft/1H suggested a memorial.
Mr. Honoxs waareely to propose • resolution.
The Maros mid he understoo I it wee the wish of the
whole town that the Itteoutiou ahould not Mho place In
the publie street.
Mr. BISHOP thOnitht It incumbent upon the Counell
and respectful to the Sheriff to express an opinion on
the sub)ect. If the town wished to present a memorial
they ought do so,
Mr. Loci then moved "That in the opinion of thie
Council it would be highly desirable, end particularly ac-
ceptable to the feellags of the inhabitants of this
borough, that all future executions of criminals should
Mk* place at the anelent and accustomed spot, viz.,—
over the entrance of the Lodge in the County Gaol, in-
stead of over the pteway recently erected in the public
street, which was used at the execution of Martha
Brown in 1858; and that • copy of this resolution be
forwarded to the High Sheriff, with a hope that he will
see fit to comply with tali unsinimous with of the Town
Council."

Mr. Bussrrr seconded the motion, and it Ina &Irma
to unanimously,

The InWlr MANI WU dirtOtai to draw ups Memorial
to he offered to the Inhabitants of the town pnerelly
for in/nature, In outifirmation nfthe (lonnoll's resolution.
The U NMI* Minim was than annotmeul, and otter
The Arne had Wm 4 the reeolution poised by the
Connell, and Mated that a written soil should be sent
to him 117 post,
The Ilk Dmllamnrrr remarked Mud the twellpdilllon
that would Involve itaelf In the Ihsrifra mind, 11 the
ouggeetion of the reaolutlon were adoptod, wu is to the
nuessity of opening the gates. He (Mr. Templar) would
uk the Council beforiphand that, otlppulng the resolu•
tiun should be auedell to, if lie mighi look to the Town
Connell to oupyly a reesonehle number of polies to take
care that there should he no disturbahoe outside the
The tinroa I Of aottrif the filitrlN will attend with
his staff.
The UNDts SKIMP, wee afraid the Sheriff's daft
would have no power outside the prison walls within
the inuitiolpal liutiita. He mentioned a will of Friar
141111 whiolt might be easily scaled, and an eutranoe to
the prison soo ended.
The klxvon said if the jailer would undertake to lock
up the prieon sefely, Ma due supply of who, outside
would be provided.
The UNDIN 814011111. said that the Mayor should re.
oelve an official 00111iiiunloation from hint in due oourse,
long before the day of execution.
The Ilxvon tuentioned that it wu Intended to pre-
sent a inemorial from the town at large, corroborative
of the Council's resolution,
The UNDKR 811ItRier thought he might almoet relieve
His Worship frotn this, and would do so if possible.
He might take the resolution as the unanimous wish
of the Town Council, and he was sure the High Sheriff
would attend to the wishes of the Town Council, u
representing one of the strongest memorial, which the
inhabitants of the town mild produce.
The Tinder Sheriff then withdrew, and the subject
dropped.
_ MISCELLANFOUS BUSINCISB.

The Tows CLERK read the quarterly finance report,
which recommended sundry bills for payment, which
were allowed.
_ . .

Mr. ANDREWS having read a nomofficial communica-
tion relative to the Bath and West of England Society,
Mr. Emma moved, and Mr. LOCK seconded,—That Al
soon as an official oommunication from the Bath
and West of England S9niety, respecting a sug-
gested visit to Dorchester in 1860, should be received by
Mr. Andrews, the secretary of the Dorchester Agricul.
tural Society, the Mayor should call a special meeting
for the consideration of the question. This was passed.
Mr. ENSOR asked how it wan that the borough was
placed under the county inspectors of weights and
measures? . .

The TOWN CLERK said that the borough not baring a
separate Court of Quarter Sessions could not appoint
inspectors.
Mr. ENBOR then asked why should not the standards
in the possession of the borough be turned into cash /
The MAYOR explained that before the passing of the
Municipal Act, which abolished their ‘,ltiarter Sessions,
the borough had an act for appointing inspectors, which
compelled the borough to get standard weights and
measures. Bat now the standards would appear to be
useless. The General Purposes Committee might take
into their consideration the desirability of applying to
the County Quarter Sessions to appoint • borough in-
spector.
The matter was referred to the General Purposes
Committee, who were to consider whether or not the
standards should be sold.

This concluded the business of the Town Council
meeting, which then resolved itself into a quarterly
meeting of the