The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-07-18 00:00:00

DORSET MIDSUMMER ASSIZES.

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The Midsummer Assises for the county of Dorset
commenced at Dorchester on Monday. The judges
were the Honourable Sir Colin Blackburn, Knight.
one of the justices of Her Majesty's 11.10 Court of
Justice, and the Honourable Sir Richard Paul
Amphlett, Knight, one of the Barons of Her Majesty's
High Court of Justice, and their labours were par-
ticularly light, the only prisoner for trial being a
g woman for concealing the birth of her child.
young
Nisi Prim CJart there was also only one case,
and this was settled by arbitration after a couple of
hours bearing.
Mr. Baron Amphlett arrived at Dorchester by the
6.10 South-Western train from Winchester, and was
met at the station by the High Sheriff of the county,
(Mr. J. C. Mansel-Playdell), the under eheriff, (Mr.
F. T. Johns), Mr. G. J. Andrew., (county clerk), and
an escort of the county constabulary, being preceded
by a couple of trumpeters who blew staves at intervals.
The learned judge rode in the High Sheriffs carriage
to the County Hall where the commission was opened
In due form. As at the last ensiles, the door of the
judges coach was locked, and it had to be driven up
the street and back again, to the amusement of the
crowd, who thought it would be good fun if the other
side would stick fast.
On Tuesday morning at ten o'clock Mr. Baron
Amphlett attended Divine service at St. Peter's
Church. accompanied by the High Sheriff. (Mr. J. C.
Maseel.Pleydell), the Under Sheriff (Mr. F. T. Johns),
the Sheriff's Chaplain (the Rev. J. C. Mandel-
Pleydell), the Mayor (Mr. A. Emson) Alder-
man J. Galpin, J.P.. Councillors M. Devenish, J.P.,
W. Slade, W. Darden, F. Lock, and G. J. G.
Gregory. with the Town Clerk (Mr. G. Symonds.)
The Rev. F.. W. Pears officiated, arid the maize
sermon MIN preached by the Sheriff's Chaplain who
selected for his text Romans viii., 31, "Who is he
that condemneth."
Mr. Justice Blackburn arrived from Winchester at
11 o'clock on Tuesday and at once proceeded to the
County Hall, being acccmpanied by the usual retinue
of officials.

CROWN COURT, Tutxtmv.
Before _ Mr. BAlioN AMPHLITT.

The learn-jijulg-e-Ma-hiS-se-a-t-;t-11:iii, when the
Grand Jury were sworn.
Sir Molyneux Hyde Nepean, Bart., was chosen
foreman, and the following gentlemen answered to
heir names:
_ __..... _ _ .

11117.-11. N. -Middleton. Mr. 0. Bond.
Col. R. H. Bl!igdam. Mr. 0. Worry.
Mr. Herbert Williams. 1 Col. C. E. Astell
It, K C. Goodden. j Mr. C. J. 0. Swattleld.
Mr. J. F.. Bridge. j Mr. H. R. Middleton.
Mr. H. tl. Elle& j Mr. Jobn Batten.

iii: "Cifurieer-7
Col R. 0. F. Steward. Mr. R. Williams, junr.
Copt K W. Williams. Mr. G. 0. Churchill
Mr. J. P. F. Oundry. Mr. J. W B. Hawkesworth.
Mr. E. Pearce. Capt. J. Mount-Batten.
Tbe royal proclamation against vice and immorality
having being read, the learned Judge delivered has
charge to the Grand Jury. He congratulated them
on the lightness of the calendar, which was very
gratifying. The county was but • small one, and they
had recently hold the sessions which took off the
lighter cases, but still the absence of crime wee very
gratifying. His lordship then briedy referred to the
only case in the calendar, that of Mary Warr, for
concealing the birth of her child. The Grand Jury
retired, and in a short time they returned • true bill,
and the case proceeded.
CONCILALKINT OV BIRTH.

MariAa Warr,Z, a domestic servant, WS/ brought
up charged with endeavouring to conceal the birth of
her female child, by secretly 'rig the dead body of
the same, at Sturrninster Marshall, on the let of May
last.

Mr. Temple Cooke prosecuted.
Prisoner was accommodated with a Nat in the dock,
but this was only required for a few minutes, as upon
being called on she meekly pleaded guilty. Primmer
was fleetly attired in black, with a white neckerchief,
and bore a respectable appearance.
The facts of the case will be remembered. —A boy
was out with a dog in a field, when the animal
*matched at a rabbit's hole, the boy looked in, and
saw the foot of a child. P.C. G. Brooks was com-
municated with, and he took out a full grown female
child, which was naked except the head. After
making numerous enquiries he apprehended prisoner
on the 17th, charging her with having given birth to a
child; but this she stoutly denied, and offered to be
examined by a medical gentleman. Unfortunately for
prisoner her offer was accepted, and Mr. Charles
Henry Watts, A1.R.C.8.8., swore that prisoner had
been recently confined. This was • little too much for
prisoiser, and she then confessed that such had been
the case, and that it had occurred a month before.
This was doubted by the medical gentleman, who
thought • fortnight would be nearer the mark.
Asked as to the chill she said it was born pre-
maturely, and she bad burnt it. A posbaorfew
examination of the remains revealed the fact that they
were those of a full-grown healthy child, the lungs
and other organs fully bearing out the supposition
that the child was horn alive. Thew are the simple
facia, and the inference drawn was that the remains
found on Sturminster heath were those of Mary
Ward's child. How ter this was correct may be
judged from her_plea on Tuesday morning.
Mr. George Hounsell, a lodging-house keeper at
Bournemouth, said prisoner was in his employ two
and left in April. Asked " why r by the
ree:eied4 Judge, he replied, 'Because we thought she
was in the family way." Whilst with them she was
a respectable, clean servant.
The Judge told prisoner she had pleaded guilty to
having concealed the birth of her child, and she had had
a very narrow escape of being tried for manslaughter.
No provision appeared to have been made for the
birth of the child, and he thought that a very
suspicious circumstance, and had the evidence come
before the jury he might have had to instruct then, to
return a verdict of manslaughter. It seemed too,
that she had been assisted by others in disposing of
the body. -(The prisoner interrupted the learned
Judge by saying no one was with her.) - The Judge:
Well, listen to me; they are not here now, and I have
only to deal with you. It is • bad case, and I feel
boiled to pa's a very long sentence of inprisonment
upon you, which is that you be imprisoned and kept
to hard labour for 12 calendar months. . . .

The prisoner was then remanded, and the jury were
dismissed with the thanks of • grateful country ! !
This was all the business in this Court, and it was
over in leas than an hour.

NIB! PRIUB COURT, TUISIDAT.
(Before Mr. Justice BLAcesuax.)
Names v. Collin*. -This was an action to recover
from Mn. Collins, a widow, damages for loss sus-
tained by the non-repair of Machinery at Mangerton
mill, which had been let to Mr. Norman by the late
Mr. Collins.
Mr. Collins appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr.
Kirmdon, (lc, and Mr. &Wen for defendant.
The facts simply appeared to be these: -The
Mr mills were originally let by the owner to
iktCti:e, who is deceased. He re-let them, with-
out permission to Norman, on condition hat he
(Coffins) should put and keep in repair the hatches
and water.wbeeL However, the rejietro were not
carried out, and after frequent applications sad as
many promisee to have the work done, Collins refused
at last to do anything, end asked Norman for £5O for
rant of the mill, remarking that if he (Norman) did
not care to stay, a Mr. Haber would give him £lOO
to go out, and take the fixtures at cost prim. This
Mr, Norman was willing to accede to, but when it
-.came to cloth," said the learned counsel, no ono
be forthcoming. Soon alter this Mr. Collins
...xmemitted suicide by shooting himself. Much to the
of Mr. Norman, the real landlord turned up
painter, the owner of the mill, and wanted
en a
to make Mr. Norman pay for damages to the milL
The learsei counsel then Gelled Hr. Norman, who
deposed to entail* the mill upon .agreement, to the
eepehe that were Dielaiarir mu to the frequent
of Mr. Ram to.have them Mnia
=letters wen pparod aaa re•d• Ultimately
to Mr. Coombs and Mr.
the amitor sista re( Om parties to Mimed to the
ea
Brown, mho were
and witness
repairs. bowery.. *Ws slot
Vhi the County 44.5% toe
ben*" an
to Doormat% lea *vs

other particulars as to the damages, the coarse pursued
in endeavouring to get them compensated, and the
ultimate result.

Cross-examined by Mr. ICingdon : Mrs. Rowney was
occupying the mill previous to witness taking it. He
entered the premises on the 25th March, 1874. but (lid
netknow what business Wall carried on there previously.
He brought a steam engine there on two occasions to
work the machinery. Coombs and Collins were on the
premises several times together and the repairs that
were necessary were pointed out, but, up to May, this
had not been done. In the early part of 1875 •
ponderousshaft was put in. New hatchets were required,
two were brought upon the premises, and be saw
them but he never refused to have them put up.
I Witness was asked as to the construction of the new
I hatches, and after a good deal of fencing he described
I them.

-A1 till* point the learned Judge suggested referring
the cue to an arbitrator, and after some discussion
between hie lordship and counsel on either aide the case
was referred to Mr. J. M. Homey, of South-street,
Dorchester, who is to amass damage*.
This concluded the assizes, and the jury were dis-
missed with thanks.