The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-17 00:00:00

erncral /deb3s.

BRUTAL BURDZR.—BARNARDCASTLE, July 9.—A
man weed Thomas Dixon, employed as a sawyer on the
works of the South Durham and Lancashire Caimi
Rail-
way. resided in Galgate, • low part of the town, with •
woman named Mary Ann Wilson, who passed as his
wife. A young woman who was his niece lived with
them in the same house. Saturday was the payday on
the line, and it would appear that Dixon and Wilson
had been drinking after the pay, and that they had
wandered about the town and neighbourhood nearly all
the night in • state of intozication. After their return
to the house yesterday the woman and the niece quar-
relled as to who should do the household work. Dixon
having gone out and returned again in the afternoon.
and finding the women still quarrelling, said tie would
soon settle their disputes. and seized a poker and felled
Wilson to the ground by a fearful blow with it on the
head; after which he kicked her with his strong navvy
boots on the face and body. The niece ran out to &hire
the neighbours, and as they came to the dwelling they
saw the man running out of the town. On entering
the house they found the woman quite dead, and her
face and head beaten in in a most fearful manner. The
Durham county constabulary were despatched in search
of Dixon in all directions. No tidings were heard mmf
him, however, until early this morning, when he was
seen to approach the town ; but he fled again before the
police were able to capture him. News has reached
here this evening that he ham been apprehended at
Brignal, in Yotitshire, by the Greta-bridge policeman.
—The coroner for South Durlusui held an in-
quest at Baniardcastle, on Wedeesday, upon the body
of Mary Anne Wilson, the unfortunate woman mur-
dered an Galgate, on Sunday, by Thomas D 60112, a
sawyer. The niece of the prisoner, who witnessed the
murder, stated that Dixon and the woman, who had
been drinking all the previous night and during Sunday
forenoon, quarrelled at dinner, and deceased ran to •
closet to get out of the way, the prisoner threatening
what he would do when he had finished his meal. He
had followed her and kicked her, and then returned to
the fi re, where he procured a poser. He then lucked
the door, saying it was at any one's peril to open it. Ile
then struck the deceased about the head with the poker,
and beat her to death. Ile immediately fled. NV hen
his niece raised her up she was dead. Her bezel,
according to the medical evidence, exhibited the effects
of fearful violence. The jury returned • verdict of
" Wilful murder" against Dixon, and the prisoner was
committed for trial at the Durham assizes.
SUICIDES AN WOOLWICH.— A coroner's jury, presidtal
over by Mr. Carttar, coroner for West Kent, having
assembled at the Gun Tavern, Woolwich, on view of
the body of Corporal Coombes, a bandsman of the garri-
son, who last week rominitted suicide by precipitating
himself from a window of the Royal Artillery Infirmary,
resolved on addressing a note to General Dacres, recom-
mending that in. all cases in which patients exhibit
symptoms of insanity they should be acconnuodated in
that part of the hmpital which is secured by gratings
at the windows, so as to prevent an occurrence now be-
coming frequent. The unfortunate deceased had made
a former attempt at self-destruction • few days pre-
viously by cutting his throat with his razor. Four cases
of suicide have occurred among the military at Wool-
wich during the past week, three of whom lay side by
side in the dead-house, ready for interment, and they
were all pronounced men of a disordered intellect, and
suloyeet to Ma of temporary imanity.
THZ LADIES AND THE VOLUNTEER MoVEMENT.—A
day or two since a lady in deep mourning waited upon
Mr. John Austin, the treasurer of the Regent's Park
district for the North Jliddleset (St. Pancras) RideA,
and stated that elle had observed the steady and atten-
tive conduct of the effectives of the above corps on their
Nisei/a to and front the Regent's Park Barracks for the
purposes of drill, and she considered it the duty of
everyone to contribute towards the support of such a
noble institution as that of the Rifle Volunteers. The
lady then handed the treasurer a donation, with tl•e
further instruction that her name was to be registered
as an annual subscriber or honorary nmember of the
North Middlesex Rides. • On inquiring the lady's name
and • Wrens it turned out that the benefactress was no
other than Lady Franklin, the widow and relict of the
lamented Sir John Franklin, the Arctic voyager. Lady
Franklin is not the only patriotic lady of distinction
who has contributed to the above corps. Miami Burdett
Coutta, and one or two other ladies of standing have
subscribed, and it is rumoured that a ladies' committee
is about to be formed for the purpose of presenting time
corps with some embroidered flags or some other token
of respect and ailminition. Another remarkable in-
stance—as showing time popularity of the movement in
the district—is the following :—A young lady waited
also upon Mr. Austin, at his residence, 28.
Gloucester-road, and left in • letter, be being
Irons home at the time, the sum of 11 Ils. 6d.,
the latter, which was dated "Victoria Wharf,
Camden-town," stating that it was the proceeds
of • subscription of pence saved up by the children of
the neighbourhood, in aid of the objects of the St.
Fulcra' (North Middlesex) Rifle Velunteers. These
examples speak volumes as to
public feeling, and are
really worthy of emulation.
Ilmrrtiedesi DEVOTION.—The wife of a farm labourer
living in Buckinghamshire has • little son, whose lower
limbs are unfortunately useless. Medical advice limed
skill likely to be of any service was not to be had
except in the metropolis, and was not available to her
except in connexion with one of the public hospitals.
The poor child's case, though not by any means bem-
ires, was not one which, according to hospital regula-
tion., could be admitted for in-door treatment; as an
out-door patient, all that was possible might be done for
him. Out of her husband's scanty earnings, however,
it was impoosible that she could pay fur conveyance to
and fmin Landon; but • mother 'e love was not to be
defrauded of its object by any such obstacle. It was
possible that the boy might be cured, and that was
*tough. The 30 miles intervening between hint and the