The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-05-02 00:00:00

PIIDDLICHINTON.

Poona. liarrzas.—With reference to a paragraph
which appeared in our columns last week, • correspon-
dent, who is an undoubted authority, writes to correct
the statements contained in it, which he asserts had their
foundation not so much in any re basso piddleo origin as
In • desire to woundprivate feelings. He says :—"About
40 years ago the father of the piesent postmaster under-
took to assist, by sorting letters, tc., to help a private
carrier—J. Oxford—to carry on • daily postal communica-
tion between Puddlehinton, Puddletrenthide, and Dor-
chester. After the penny post and its convequenee, a
rural messenger came, he allowed letters still to be left
for his collection, his mother in her widowhood doing the
same, as well as receiving letters from the postman to
deliver to three people beyond his delivery. In other
words, for 40 years the work of • sub-office has been done
here without fee or reward. For five years our postmaster
has done it, and when he applied for Government recogni-
tion they were not long in granting it. After a while
orders were sent from the head postmaster, Mr. Parsons,
to tells person he had spoken to to take out the box.
The Rector thought It desirable the beg should stay for
the convenience of those in that end of the village, con-
sequently it was delayed until permission arrived for it
to stay. But it is by no means in the centre of the village
or in any remarkably convenient place, whereas the new
box is close to the cross roads, the church, schools, and
any radius from thence as a centre embraces far more
houses than from the wall box- I could say much more,
but I have I hope said as much as will make you hesitate
to insert communications from those whose time is
employed in circulating ridiculous village gcerip and other
worse matters."

WRYXOUTE.
BREAKING INTO RODWELL STATION.

Boaotme Pwrrr Swum, Monday :—Before Dr. Drew,
and Dr. Simpson.
Alited Pitman, a returned convict, on ticket of leave,
was charged with breaking into the booking-office at the
Rodwell Station, and stealing • quantity of copper coin.
—Mr. Robert Palmer, station-masts, said that either last ,
night or early this morning, the place was broken open.
He locked it up about half-past nine, and left, taking the
only key with him. About 10s. was left in the office, and
the till was locked. About five minutes before seven, he
went to the office, and found the back window that leads
to the office, broken, and partly unfastened. The till had
been forced open, apparently by a pair of scissors, and
the money was gone. Gave information to Supt. Vickery,
immediately after the departure of the first train, and
the sergeant afterwards brought • boot and compared the
mark made by it with • mark made outside the broken
window, and they corresponded exactly. —Dr. Drew sug-
gested that • plaster-of-Paris impression should
be taken at once of the mark, then it could be
c0=.d.... with the boot. Prisoner had been
near the station since October, and every other
Friday be came to the station for his money ,• he was there
la+t Friday. —Some pieces of willow were also produced,
with which the footprint hail been mounted, and which
were found to correspond with the measures of the boot.
P.C. Barrett about SD minutes past five, met prisoner
coming down Franchise street, coming from direction of
Rodwelll station to his home at Southampton Road.
They wished each other good morning. Sergt.
Angry examined Rodwell station, and found window
had been broken near the fastening. There were some
footprints out side the windows and he afterwards
arrested prisoner, who was wearing the boots.
Asked him where be was last night, and be said "At
home," and on beinF asked when he got up, he said
" About five o'clock. Asked him to show the bottom of
his boot, which he did, and from what he saw of it, he
took prisoner to the station. Witness had scraped the
boots, and the mark of the right foot was very distinct--
Supt. Vickery spoke to the correspondence of the boots
with the footmarks. The back of the station is • plus
where people very seldom go, they cannot get there with-
out getting up the embankment He staked for a remand
ruin] Friday, which was granted.