The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-06-26 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE AOAINBT A PORTLAND

WARDER.

At Dorchester. on Tuesday, William Jiminmn•
assistant warder at ELM. Nevis gatabliehment,
Portland. was othrged with burglariouely entering
the dereilinerhouse of Robert Smith. and stealing
therefrom two decanter bottles contaloing one quart
if ram, one quart of brandy, awl a quarter lb. of
Wham°, • box containing one cigar, and • window
martian, of the Tam of Ik. on Jam IVA.
Caroline Smith said she lived at the Grova Inn with
her father. At ton o'clock on Sunday night she locked
up the house. She had been thanding at the bar
during the evening. On Monday morning between
seven and eight she got up, eat on opening the her
she found it bed been unlocked, and Damone had
entered it. When she locked the bar door she left
the thy in it.
Colonel Bingham : Clever I very I What good is it
to look • door, and leave the thy in it I
Witham Omani:led She found the till had been
opened. and all the woolly taken. There had been
0•11 02ppers left in the till, as site bad Mikan the silver
out There was about 2i. there. She had also left
two bottles, containing rum. She identified the
bottle praised by Sergeant Nesmith. About •
quart of brandy had also been taken from the jar,
a quarter pound of tobacco (wrapped up In balk
mom) • box containing one cigar and • muslin
curtain, the latter having ham taken from a window.
On the boor behind the counter witness found • wax
Retch, which kith not been dropped by her, at the)
did not uth that kind. Os Tuendae morning she
missed her bat and jacket. She had put them in the
parlour on Sunday night. She knew the prisoner; be
was • customer of theirs, lie was in the bones on
Sunday night, and left shortly alter nine. He had
"six of brandy" and • bottle of lemonade. Daring
Sunday night between ten and eleven she heard a
noble dowothaire as of something ham
PoliomSergeant Neenah said on Monday last he
teeelved Information that the Grove Inn had been
altered during the night, and various articles taken.
He examined the premises, and noticed • scratch th
the window sill of the front room. On • piths of
oil cloth he found some foothearka. The night
previous be met the defendant in Chesil cotrrylns
• bottle and other articles, and acting on that informa-
tion he went to the hones of • woman named dimity,
sad there took possession of • bottle (produced.) It
smelt of rum and beer mixed. When be met him on
Sunday night he WU in uniform, and he told tritium
he was about to shift his goods below the Hill as he
had lift the official quarters. On Monday he found
the prisoner in Fortune'rWell, near the 11-lannia.
Be was shifting his goods. Wither charged him with
burglarious', entering the Grove Inn, and stealing •
number of amides. He duly cautioned him, and he
said "it aaa't be me • I'll make 'an pay heavily for
chergiue me with etiab • thing. I left there last
night at ten o'clock, end went borne, but I afterwards
went under the hill." Within, marched him, and
among various articles he found part of • half -moos
of tobacco, in • similar wrapper, sod it oorreepooded
I. the one he received from the last witness.
Prisoner was remanded till Saturday.
Prisoner was brought up on rsmsted on Saturday.
before Itsilor-O•seral Henning, 0.13., and Major
Williams.
Mr. it. N. Howard appeared for the prosecution.
Caroline Smith and P.S. Dtheuish confirmed their
mateensate given on Tuesday. The sergeant gave
I additional evidence. On the 19th he went to Mrs.
Sunnety's house, and asked foe the bat, cape, and
1 window curtain. Mrs. Sindiety had previously sent
a note to the police elation, and said the things were
lat her hones. Be took possession of the things, and
they had been in his custody ever since.
Jane Simnel, said she lived at Portland,
I wader the Hill. On Sunday night, 17th, pria noir
came to her house and called her up. She come
downstairs and let him in. lie dared there about two
hours. The following morning she found downstairs,
on a table, • bat, curtain, and cape. She gave them
to P.S. Nvetoisb, as the knew they did not belong to
anybody..... in the house. She did not remember whether
r gave her anything to drink, as she wee
prisoner
over night. When she was like that she
did not recollect things.
Elisabeth Watson said she was • single woman and
lived in the same house ea last witness. On Sunday,
11th June, prisoner came to the house and woks her
up He gave her something to drink. It was between
eleven and twelve when he name. The drink he gave
her was, to the beet of her knowledge rum out of •
bottle. The bottle he poured the spirits out of was
like the one (produced), which she afterwards gave up
to the policemergeant.
P.O. Witt, stationed at Portland, said on Sunday
night, 19th June, shad twelve o'clock at night, he was
at Chesil, when he net the prisoner. He had a battle
In his hand and some tobacco. Prisoner asked him to
drink, and he tasted the contents of the bottlm—rum.
Prisoner told him he Wa4 going to shift from official
quarters. He also gave him some tobacco (produced.)
It was of similar quality to that produced by the
police-sergeant. It WWI wrapped up In similar paper.
Prisoner made • full eonfeesion, lie said he Wa4
guilty of entering the hones, but the window was
open. He took • bottle off • shelf with half -wpint of
brandy in it. He afterwards took a pint of rum.
which was in another bottle; also four half-Onneal of
tobacco from • box. lie opened the till god found
141. in copper.; be came out of the bet and went
into another room, and there, on the table, be found
the hat, cape. and window curtain. He took them
outside with the brandy and the rum; he poured the
breed, into the same bottle as the rum was in, and
threw the empty bottle into Mr. Smith's garden. Be
went under the Hill and met the sergeant; he told
him he was going to thift from official quarters, and
he was on leave that day for the purpose of shifting.
He also net the other constable, and *eked him to
drink. He stayed at Siaineted house till the morning.
and then went home. In the morning he wept to the
Prison and informed the steward be was going to leave
ganders.
Major-General Henning: You will be committed
for trial at the Assizes.
Prisoner : Very good, sir.
It appears primmer had served nine years in the Slat
Regiment as • soldier, and as • warder six years. lie
Is now in the Reserve.