The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-13 00:00:00

norsetsbirt.

DORCingsTER.—ROVAL HOllll ARTILLIMT,
B. Birrzar.—(hi Tuesday last the odicen and
non-oommissioned officers of the above troop
gave a ball at the Barracks, which was attended
by a large and highly respectable party. There
were about 1490 persons present. A room,
generally used as • store-room, was most beauti-
fully and tastefully fitted-up for the occasion
with evergreens, flowers, swords, bayonets, rifles,
and other embellishments. Adjoining the ball-
room was a cloak room, and a refreshment room,
the latter of which was furnished with • large
Christmas tree, from which was suspended
oranges, rippler, and other fruits. The provisions,
provided gratis by ,the officers and non-commis-
sioned officers, were in abundance, consisting of
tea, coffee, all kinds of fruit', and indeed, every
delicacy. Dancing commenced at 9 o'clock, led
off by the worthy captain and his lady, who by
their kindness and liberality have won for them-
selves "_golden opinions" by the whole of the
troop. Everything was done to make the guests
happy and comfortable, and dancing was kept
withpeat. spirit till " the little hours" grew
large. The ball-room was furnished with nice
quiet little retreats, made of evergreens, whore
wo have no doubt many soft words were listened
to with no little delight by the fair ends present.
Host Parsons catered most liberally with his
"strong waters," and gave great satisfaction.
Nor must We forget the excellent quadrille band,
composed of Mews. Bailey, Son, and Crocker,
ably assisted by Bombedier Noble, su the cornet,
which by its exhilirating strains led the company
through the mazy dances, of which the following
is the programme :—March, polka, schottische,
country dance, vansovienno, quadrille, galop,
achottische waltz, polka, quadrille grilop. In-
terval of hllf-an-hour. Polka, quadrille, schot-
tische, country dance, varsovienne,
galop, schottische, waltz, polka, quadrille, con-
'eluding with the time-honoured Sir Roger de
Covelley, . To give the names of those who, by
their kindness and urbanity to the guests, tended
so much to the enjoyment of the evening, would
be invidious, as all seemed to vie with each
other who should be foremost, and we are sure
all separated highly deligbted with the first ball
given at the Dorchester barracks, by the Royal
TI one Artillery. We have only to add that this
entertainment is in accordance with a plan lug-
by his Royal Highness the Commander-
finedhief, to provide rational amusement for the
Army, and thus keep our brave defenders from
the debasing company too often found at low
linblic-hotmes in almost every town.
I ourerr COURT. Tuesday.—The usual hearing at
f'ounty Court ease took plane at the Shirehall as
Tuesday, before Edwerd Everett, EN., Jades.
'There were GO plaints entered, bet the greater number
were settled oat of court There were also 9 judgment
annimonees. The following were the oely two cases of
any importance.
Perham r. Pocklington.—Plaintiff resides at Char-
ir.inster, sad is • carpenter, and the defendant is as
architect, residing at Sherborne.—Cleim £9 7,. 241.,
for labour and materials employed in building • chapel
at Charminster, EG 10s. of which had been paid Magri.
—Mr. Weston appeared for the defendant.—The com-
plainant said that the defendant was the architect and
clerk of the works, and be looked to him for payment
of the claim. The committee of the chapel employed
Mr. Pooklington as the architect—Mr. Weston disputed
the claim on the ground that there was an overcUirge
of 1-2 U.—The complainant called Mr. Pratt, clerk of
the works at the New Lunatic Asylum, at Chartninster,
who said that he had been through the particulars of
the bill, and he was of opinion that the defendant hail
not been overcharged, and went through the seversl
items of the bill.- Mr Gregory, • builder aed survepor
of Dorchester, said that he agreed in nearly all the
charges esade in the bill, with the exeeptien of a few
item. Ito considered the bill fair and reasonable.—
Felwie. Miles, a carpenter, said be had looked over the
whale of the work, and he was of opinion that the
XI was not an exorbitant one—ln defence Mr.
Weston said he should be able to prove that the prices
charged were most unheard-of ones, •nd that the
money charged for mere labour was mileient, in many
inetences, to field materials. Ile then called Mr. Pock-
livigtim, who contended that the bill was a most exorbi-
emit one, ised during twenty years of experience he had
Mover heard of such cherges. The work was well done,
and be found no fault with it. He, however, objected
to the Reese of tbe bill throughout.—Mr. John Well-
sprier.% a builder, residing at Dorchester, said he I
exienined the chapel at Charminster on Saturday last I
Ile eseasnirerl the work, and considered the charges rang '
Tim hitant for labour and nails. He said that the whole
of the work was worth .I.li 3cl.—John Loveless, •
jeurneylll.ll carpenter, also gave similar testimony. He
'osol he .hould be happy to do the work for LS 10s., and
William Neviberre, ales • carpenter, said be should be
happy to do the work at the same price named by bat
w kers, —llia Honor, in summing up,said he 'mut,' netted
lenient that such • ease should here ever been brought
int', court. The dispute in question was for a bill for
Us 7., 11.. of which £3; 10s, had been paid into court,
leaving a balance of 19 17. 2.J. ,which either party could
have afforded to lose. It was not for him to say that
the witnesses had not spoken the truth, hut be thought
they would all agree with him that they bad never
heard two sets of 'surveyors who agreed upon the same
subject. On the part of the complainant the evidenee
of Mr. Pratt, he thought, was of • straightforward
nature, and that witness did not think that the bill
was an exorhitent one. His Honor gave judgment for
pleintiff for i:1 its,. AI., in addition to the sum already
paid into court, and expressed a hope that he should
never have to bear such a case again.
Samuel theme r. Philip Brice.—This Rlt • claim for
th, which was Claimed by plaintiff for taking away a
• ewe sheep at Sherhorne, and detaining it—Mr.
Atkinson appeared for the plaintiff. and Mr. Weston
for the defenslant.—Tbe plaintiff lives at Charlton
Marshall, and is a farmer, and the defendant resides
at Notion, near Maiden Newton.—Mr. Atkinson then
called the plaintiff, who deposed that on the 6th of
(Welber, he purchased 100 South-dean ewes from Mr.
Baker, of Hiltoc. Hewitt hisdrover for the sheep, and
on the Ilth of October they were sent to ltherborne
fair. Ile sold them to Mr. Ralph Crisdee at 395. per
bead. Before the sheep were turned into the fair
it was not missed. On leaving the fair the ewe
sheep was mixed with some of the defendants, and
when the plainant odd it was his, the defendant
took it away by force. He had seen the sheep at Mr.
Andrews's field at Mareloull, on the 29th of November.
Mr. Andrews and Mr. Baker was with him. and they
looked over • flock of sheep. and found that there was
one of a different colour and breed. They caught the
sheep and examined it, and Mr. Baker put his mark
upon it, and found that it corresponded in every
respect. In consequence of thin sheep being
unsung be was net enabled to deliver the 100 sheep to
Mr. Criedee. He could swear that the sheep
was his. Ile had been put to great expense
in looking after it. I'rosser : The
sheep had been in his proseesion about a week. He
could swear that the ewe was his, and he could identify
it by • particular mark, which was done with lamp
thick and pitch. He met the sheep outside of the town
on the morning of the fair, and be was with them until
they were cooped. A policeman was meat for, and
witness threatened to give the defendant in custody.
lie did not recollect that the defendant offered for the
ewe to remain in the care of the police until the next
morning, and then, whoever was wrong, should pay the
expellee of it --William Davis, • drover to the com•
plainant. maid he recollected driving the sheep from Mr.
Bikers to Sherburne fair, and he could swear that they
wete not mixed with any others. The defendant
cause to the coop and elainied the ewe, but he endea-
voured to catch the first one he could get. The sheep
that Mr. Brim took away was one which belied brought
frost Mr. Baker'.—Cross-examined : He heard ms-
thing said by Mr. Bartlett's shepheid, that the sheep
I.4oneril to the defendant. He did not recollect hearing
Mr. Brice say that be would leave the sheep in the
bands of the policeman until the nett morning,
and then, whoever was in the wrong, to pay
the expenses.--Mr. Thomas Game, brother to the
pliintiff. • cattle dealer, said be was at Sherborne, and
li. !peel put 1011 ewes into the pen. Ile counted the
a,,eep while they were there and found they were all right.
Alr. liertlett's shepherd came to the pen aid pullei
iiie of the ewes .ut of the pen, bet he refused to let
him have it. The inns then went for his muter, and
w hen he returned with the defendant, the shepherd
hied upon another sheep which he had not originally
icad, and said "That'. the one, and I will swear to
Tbs defendant then said" IN it, then I'll have it."
About as hour afterwerds, when the sheep were being
let .nti from the field, the defendant mimed one of the
1-11.-eto. and took it away.—Mr. George Baker, • fanner
Hilton, said he recollected going to Marnbull with
Mr. Andrews and Mr, Game to look for the sheep.
When he gut into the field he at once poitted out one of
the sheep he had sold to the plaintiff. He caught it, aad
compared the mark on the sheep's back with the mark
11, carried with him. The mark is • particular one,
mut the "ii" was broken, and was not in the middle
of the orate. He could swear to the ewe.—Cross-
e eamined : The mark was a very 110c011112100 Ont.
Mr. John Andrews, farmer of Harebell, was called,
but did not appear.— This was the case for the com-
plainant, and after Mr. Weston had made a few re-
marks in defence, be called upon the plaintiff,
Mr. Philip Brice, who said he bought 37 Down ewes on
the 101.11 of October, and they were sent to Sherborne
on Pack Monday Fair. He met thew sheep • short
eli-taece from the town, and John White and Richard
Diamond were driving them. A man named Paull
went to nieet them for the purpose of buying them.
They counted these, and found them all right. On
drivim them into the fair four of them went into Mr.
Coune's flock. He penned his sheep, and then emit his
shepherd to the plaintiff's pen, who denied that be had
them. He then went to the plaintiff's pen, and John
White, Mr. Bartlett's shepherd, pointed out one of the
sheep, but he was refused to have it. The defendant
asked outuphtinant how rushy sheep he had, but be said
It was no odds to him, and he should not count them.
Ultimately however he counted them, but there were
four more sheep than he had wonted. The plaintiff
would uot allow him to take the sheep, and he sent for
• policeman. ‘Vtien the policeman came he made the
complainant an offer to let the sheep remain in the
hand, of the policeman until the pest day, when he would
bring forward Mr. Bartlett, and if he could not Reser
to the sheep he moult pay all the expenses. An old
shepherd suggested that the 'sheep should
be let loose, and if it mated with the
defendant's cheep, then it belonged to his flock.
which it did.—eross-exantined : The difference between
his Owe', mil the slcietiff's was that they were
better trimmed about the neck. He would swear that
the dews' he took was the same as the others be had.
He sold 37 to Mr. Andrews of Harebell. He did not
go toes, other flock to look for his sheep. The sheep
which be bought of Mr. Bartlett were marked with a
"B."—John White, a shepherd in the employ of Mr.
Bartle* seereesated She stateassat of this last witness,

and in addition added that he Mid Immo
the ewe in question since It had been • Lunt,
He wield Dot swear aa to its age.—Crom-esainined
He weld riot say that the letter "8,"
which wan Mr. Bartlett's mark, was in the centre
of the aerate, although he had need it for the last TO
years. The policeman was present vbs. ilc•••• was
caught He did net go to thy other pen except Mr.
Oame's.—ffichard Diamond, • labourer, said he WLS
d re•er to the defendant. H. drove some sliest) from
Mr. Bartlett's, to Sherborne fair. with the amietance of
the laat witness. When tb• sheep dot into tb. aski low
of them got into the oomplainant's book. He believed
the ewe in question wth one which he had driven from
Mr. Bartlett's that morning.—Auditstus Hitchcock, •
polies constable, mid he w'ooo duty at the fair when
he WU sent for about • climate (wnPodlind soma
The defendant said be would leave the sheep In
charge until the nest day, end? he was in the wrong.
would pay the es=s. He thought the com-
plainant must hive the offer, but be did not say
anything. At tbs euggestion of an old shepherd the sheep
was let those, m be mid if it belonged to the defemdant's
dock, it would mate with them. When it was let loom
it went with the dock, but there WM not another dock
present —Stephen Trevett said he had been a shepherd
for 50 years. and known the nature of sheep well, and
wee of opinion that if • theep was lotto run amonint two
flock. it would go with it, own dock.—Hia Honor
could not believe that such was the are, and mid that
such evidence would Dot affect the cam at al—After •
fsw remarks from Mr. Atkinson, his Honor mid that
the cam was lig nestion of identity, and such awes required
• great deal of sifting, and he should therefore defer
judgment until nett court day.
Lock, yeoman, of Shilvingbarnpton, Portisham, v.
Way, (out of burin.) Hendford, Yeovil—The irom•
plainant sought to recover £5O as balance of account,
and the ease had been sent down from the Court of
Exchequer for &indication by his Honor and • jury
but the parties settled it out of court. Mr. Marley, of
rt, appeared for e complainant, and Mr.
liljrPers for tbe defendant. the

Daniel Disk.,. Charles Ridout —Claim LE 15s. ad.,
for rent. Complainant is a timber merchant at Piddle-
trenthide, and defendant is a shoemaker of the mune
place.—Hr. Weston appeared for the complainant.—
Plaintiff claimed to be possessed of a cottage at Piddle-
treothide, held by aopy of court roll of that manor, of
which the defendant was the occupant Tba defendant
did sot dispute his liability to pay rent, but the
question was to whom be should pay the rent. His
Honor adjourned the case until the neat wort day, eti
as to en•hle the defendant to obtains witnera, which be
said could make out his caw.