The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-04-06 00:00:00

WIMBORNE.

Ausaxn CHILD MIIEDER.—On Tuesday bust an
inquest was held at the Red Lion Inn, World's
End, in the pariah of Almer, before F. T. Johns,
coroner, on the body of a newly-born male
child, which had been found dead, with marks
of violence, concealed in a privy in the garden of Mr.
Thomas Shettle, of Mapperton, the previous day.
Evidence was given that a servant named Jane Rose,
in the service of Mr. Shettle, had recently been de-
livered, and was then ill in bed. Mr. Spooner, sur-
geon, of Blandford, was desired by the jury to make
a post martem examination of the body, which he
did whilst other proofs on the ease were being taken,
P.C. Kerby proved examining the box of the accused,
and finding a gown and apron stained, which he
produced, and was admitted by the accused she wore
at the time of the occurrence. Mr. S ...ner here
gave the result of his examination of the y, when
he deposed that there were marks of an abrasion on
the lower part of the neck as from pressure, or from
a ligature, and that the child had evidently been
born alive; the lungs floated in water. The coroner
summed up very lucidly, explaining the law of mur-
der and manslaughter to the jury (who were com-
posed principally of labourers, and appeared to un-
derstand but very imperfectly the address to them),
who returned a verdict of Manslaughter against the
mother. The coroner thereupon issued his warrant
against the mother, who was on Thursday hurt
brought before W. C. Lambert and Charles Parke,
&qrs., on the information of Mr. Superintendent
Baynton, for murder and concealment of the birth of
the child. Evidence having been gone into, the
prisoner was cautioned in the usual way, and asked if
she wished to make any statement. After a pause
the unfortunate woman said, "My time of service
was nearly expired. I was not aware I was so near
my time, it came upon me all at once. I did not
murder my child. I believed it was dead when I
put it away." She was committed for trial."
RIGHT OF FISHING IN THE STOIIR.—At the Petty
Sessions, on the 26th ult., before W. C. Lambert,
Esq., chairman, Major Portman, Rev. J. H Austin,
and D. F. G. Dalton and C. Parke, Eaqrs., two men,
named Cherrett and Proud, were summoned for
trespass and fishing on the lands of the Rev. J. H.
Austin, at Ensbury, who set up an exclusive right to
the fishery, which was produced in court. &Ir. H.
W. Dickinson, of Poole, appeared for the complain.
ant, and Mr. G. Pocock, of Southampton, defended.
For the defence several witnesses were called, who
showed that a botkijide claim of right by various other
parties had been not only claimed but exercised over
the same property and water as that on which the
trespass was alleged to be committed. Upon this
the court dismissed the summons for want of juris.
diction—the subject being one of right.
Houvon. —Fire. —On Thursday last some mali-
cious miscreant set fire to a stack of 200 fagota at
Knowlton Farm, occupied by Mr. Simeon RuddelL
The whole teas destroyed in an hour. Suspicion has
fallen on a man of imbecile mind living in the neigh-
bourhood, who has lately committed some singular
freaks—sometimes walking into people's houses and
laying claim to their property, and frequently taking
away chimney ornaments. Such a character would
seem to need the kind offices of the parochial sixth°.
'
OVERSEERS APPOINTED: Jeremiah Gasser and
Thomas Chissell. Churchwardens: William Hol-
land and Edward Leiter (re-elected). Waywar.
dens: Charles Downton and Jonathan Kent.