The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-03-08 00:00:00

011•101 or STILLING
.HAT.

_
Moons Howe and Frank &hoards, were Indicted for
stealing 20.bt weight of bay, vales is., tbe property
of Walter Godwin, at East Slower, on January 27.
Mr. Flooks proseentoi, and Mr. Collins defeedecL
Edwin Davidge shepherd to Mr. Walter Godwin at
East Slower, mid he was at a risk of his trisster's
which was in cut sear tbe high road. Whilst be was
there Frank Edwards came, and got up into the hedge,
and asked if he aiialit help hhn in milting it. Witmer
said be could do it himself. About 10 yards on be saw
Thomas Howe with a horse mid Dart, and he asked ho•
far he was going to carry the bay. Subsequently
witness was rolling • hitch of hay up the ladder to get
It ,t 2 his head, when he turned round, and saw Edwards
at the same cut witness bad just left, with the bay
knife in his hand. Witness 'baked him what he wee
doing, and then went away.
Mr. Collins eross-emitnined witness, who denied that
Edwards said "Give me a little bit for the pony." It
wes about a owl, on his bead, and he wild carry more
than that. There were two cottages abont 50 yards off.
Did not me Edwards take any bay. The neat morning
he told his master. .

Wtllian Eldioott, of East Slower, middle?. apprentise,
said that be saw Edwards in Mr. Godwin's rickyard.
about half•past two or three on January 27. Howe
was also there, and said to Edwards, who was over in
the rickyard, Blind over mime hay for the Doer."
Edwards brought out some bay "between his shoulder
and his head," from • quarter tea half cwt. He pat it
in Howe's cart, sad covered it with a top coat. He
then struck the pony with a whip. and drove et., by
hi. master's door. Next morning witness told Mr.
Waltor Godwin's eon.
. _

Crtmemzunined : Witness was about 900 yards from
the rickyard.
The policeman at Kest Slower (46) said that on tbe
213th January, about half-past two, he went te prisoner
Howe's se, whore be saw some hay ea which the
pony was feeding. He took paareesioe al the hay sad
DOW predated it It was similar to some be had
obtained from Yr. Godwin's risk.

ie--le-s; ;Olt •-jedve ol bay, but MS
bundle looked dub and tb• olbu light.

The polieeman said one was darker from haring bon
in the stable. _ .

Mr. Collins said he did not dispute the identity of
the hay.
The prisons? Howe's answer before the magistrates
was read. It stated that Edwards helped the shepherd
with some hay up the Udder, and asked him for some
bay, which he gave him, and Edwards pet it on the
driving seat of the trap.
Ms. Flocks sail the quantity of hay might appear a
small matter; but it was important because hayricks
were so liable to depredations, and idle persons haviog
ponies must not be allowed to keep them by robberies
from hayricks on the road.
M. Collins said the tall majesty of the law,
us of bar Majesty's Justleses of Amiss, end
twelve jurymen, were all sallied upon to try
whether the prisoner bad tithes • little bit of
hay from a rich. His friend Mr. Tfooks, not with
a grave feu, be would give him audit for that, ,
asked them to believe that this wee • most barefaced
impudent robbery. He (Kr. Collins) had no right to
object to thou terms; best be thought them somewhat
bard terms to be used with regard to this small amount.
gulp:11111:4 as they were.dviviag along the road, How,
asz SOO SOOPAO.tI to. • 146,14 s Li. of nay
for the pony, and Edwards helped the shepherd and
took some hay; but Kr. Collins argued that there we,
no felonious intent In the caw Edwards was • respect-
able saddler, and Hose was a butcher, and they
happened to be riding together, but be argued that
there was no reason why Edwards should have stolen
hay for Howe's pony. A sobool boy might go into an I
orchard and steal apples, and they might be told that
was an impudent and startling robbery, and this wu
something like it. Of course it was not right to go
into a farmer's yard and take even a wisp of hay; but
this was done in the fall face of day, and the learned
counsel argued that all the eirmatustanses showed there
OILS no intention to steal, and that it was done more in
a joke than in any other way. lie called the prosecutor,
Mr. Godwin, who said he had known Edwards as are.
spectable man, he had been working at his (prosecutor's)
plus a short time beak, and he did not think Edwards
would have taken the hay if ha had not been arged on
by Howe.

The Judts having summed up in favour of the
prisorers. the jury (mind them not guilty, aid they
were discharged.

Chad 1 OF PIRJUIT.
George Drake, 19, labourer, was iodiated for wilful
and corrupt perjury, at the eXIMOLISSOO of John Drake
for drunkenness, it the petty serious at Canto Abbas,
on November 24, 186 V.
Mr. Castle prosecuted.
Hr. G. J. Andrews, clerk to the jostler of the Cane
division, produced the minute beak of the jaitioos,
girloch prisoneen statement was recorded.
Prisoner said be had been with John Drake all the
evening, and they had not been in a publiabore till
they got to Hartfoot Lane, when they had • pint of
boar, and 'wirer be nor John Drake was drunk.
John Christopher, stated that on October 31aL he
was in • publiehousis at Cbseilborne, and saw John
Drake drinking there for some time. He was drank.
Cross-esamined by prisoner: •
John Drake was drinky, and got drank.
Harwood Upahall, landlord of the New Inn public-
bows, Oltesilborno, said on the night of October 31st.
George Diabolism. in alert 7, and stopped till IL when
be wont away and returned about 10, after whir' he
stayed till 11. John Drake was also there, and waselevated with liquor. Els was not fresh ; but witness
did not (milder him drank and incapable,