The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-03-07 00:00:00

Baud ennuttl twin.
TUEiDAY. MAROFI 7, 1871.

DORSET LENT ASSIZES.

These tuisises wore opened at the Shirohall,Dorchester.
on Friday afternoon. Too jadgos on the Western
Circuit arc Mr. Baron l'igott and Mr. Justioe Byles,
the latter of whom came from Winehester by the
train duo at I) a-cheater. on the Soath-Western line, at
1.18. The learned Judge WU met at the station by
the High Sheriff of tho (tenuity, John Tregonwoll, of
Ci-anb)rne Lodge, Eau., in whose private carriage
ha, lordship was conveyed to his lolgiags sul•
j aibing the Shirehall. The High Sheriff was a000m•
panbel by the Under Sheriff (Kr. Francis T. Johns).
tho Sheriff's Chaplain (the itev. F. F. Eliot, of
lloarnomonth), the (Jaunty Clerk (Kr: G. Ji Andrews).
sill other officials of the county. Having robed at his
I edging.. Mr. Justioo Byles proceeded to the Shirehall,
where the commission for holding the assizes Whi
opened in the customary form. At four o'clock the
learned Judge attended *Hoe worries at St. Peter's
Church, as did also the High Sheriff and the other
c may 0153i01., with the Mayor (MG T. Bennett).
Al'lt'reuln G. C arm:. Councillors J. Bish'p. M.
I/wettish, 0..1. 0. Grog ary, W. Sli,de, an' the Town
Clerk (Mr. (Mos Symonds). There was a full oongro.
oration. Prayers were read by the Rector (the Bev. E.
W. Fears), and the eerie in wee preached by the High
Sheriff's chaplain, from Matthew , 14, " 1 will give
unto this last even as unto the." Alta the service the
ju14.3 returned to his lodginis
Titer,' was not a single cause for trial in the civil
lemit), and both the loarnod judges provedcd with the
trial of prisoners, of whom Wore were 37.

COVET, SATORDAT.
(B &ire Mr. Baron noun.)
T;:c buiinesi in this court oommenood at half-psst 10,
31,d the following gentlemen were sworn on the grand
JugN FLoTER, Esq., M.P. (Portman)
: J. thindrf, Ea q. Erasmus Saunders, Eq.
IJ. 11. Caleraft, Esq. E. Pearce, Eaq.
C. J. Parks, Erq. E. Atkins W0...d, E q.
0. W. Farrer. Esq. H. Llttlehales, E..i.
11. Williams, Erg. C. Worry. E4l.
J. F. Falwassor, Eiq, Miles I,elzett. EA.
J. E. Bridge, e 1.
q. G. J. 11. Swath 11, Beg.
E. J. %Vol.!, Esq. C. Glyn, EA.
J. W. T. Fyler, Esq. J. Boulton, Esq.
11. P. F. Gawky, Eel. (1. E. MA, EA.
E. W. Williams, EA. E. William+, j4n., Evi:

- - .
Toe proclamation against visse and profeneuess was
read.
Mr. Boron PIGOTT then delivered the charge to the
grand jell. Ho said, eentlemen of the grind jury :
Bills will be laid before you in 37 Cllesi which I hod to
be the number in your calenlar. I an :shale' the
character of the calendar is net eon on whieh I eau
venture to offer you any ceigretuletion as to improve-
ment In the morality of your county. Considering the
nature of the ocmeation of the people. being purely
agricultural in Dorset, there certainly ere a reat many
:aggravated offenoes—l meal such as child murder, arson,
as burglary ,• these are serious crimes, and more than
one of mach of them I find in the present calendar. The
calendar is no doubt considerably inereesed bye number
id cases generally tried at sesaiocs : still, there are
many of • serious kind. The fleet cue to which I would OTZALING COAL AT SIIILLISGSTONK.
direct your attention is that of Hannah Williams, a Thomas Welefeed, coal niers:Lunt at Shillingstone.
cue of child murder, and there is no doubt grave meson who was on bail, wascharged with stealing 36113, of
to suspect the child to which she had g.veu birth coal, the property of Mr. Edward Clark, of Blandford,
received violence on the side of the head, Red, accords Dec. 26th.
leg to the medical testimony, there Is every reason to Mr. Collins prosecuted.
believe that violence caused its death. In all cases of The circumstances of this case were simple. Prisoner
this kind the question and difficulty arises as to how has a coal heap in the yard of Shillingstone station
that violence Was ielected, whether volantery or the between two sidings, and on December 26th there were
result of accident. These cues are never free from that six trucks filled with coal in one of the sidings beleaging
doubt and difficulty. The prisoner's account ie that to Mr. Clark, another coal merchant. There were three
just as she ha I given birth to the chill, she heard her other trucks in the yard, onset which contained coal of
ueole's voice, awl that inluce 1 her to run with it from Welsteader, another was filled with corn, and the third
the nem, in lin dole; se, it hopped cud fell, by while, empty. Betweeu four and five o'clock Mr. S. J. I. seer,
the child'. head came in contact with • vessel in the , the sestion.inaster, going through the yard with ain an
room—a hard substance —and that cursed the injeries nun id Brewer, saw %%retakes' get on the buffer of one
to the aide of the heal. she hel it away behind lof Clark's waggons, take out a lamp of coal, which he
some place where it was ()mid. Whether the i subsequently found weighed 361 b., plue it on his own
child was dead or alive at the time it was left is not , hoop, and then walk fast sway. There was snow on
shown. But it was alive at one time, le:muss she says the heap at this time, bat not on the lump. In cross.
she heard it, That is the nature of the case. Whether examination Lever sail he had no particular acqusin t-
on the whole you will be able to come to a c inclusion ' auce with Mr. Clark, but might hove had a gloss of
that prima bee there is a ease against her of wilfully beer with tern at the Railway hotel Once or twiee. On
Me cling iojery on the child whereby its life was taken, the truck prisoner took the coal from was a label
must be left to your discretion when you hear the "From Wells
evident*. Unless you feel there is • probability of the I to elillliugetone
jury in this court finding • vordiot ef wilful murder, for Clark.,"
you know there is an alternative—you may return •
bill for concealment of birth ; —of such at leant she is Wale wai quite Plain. and Pri l 'll name Was
guilty. But you will judge whether or net there is a Welstead. Re-examine,: All the coal on that siding
piaci facie cue on the bill for child murder; if there belonged to Mr. Clark.
is she ought to be put on her trial on that charge. The Judge : That's is cheer as crystal I
, These are not oases that ought to be paced over lightly. The etation•muter communicated with Mr. Clark
They are very frequent. In this county I see there are and P.C. Short. The constable brought forward a rush
three cases of concealment of birth in a calendar of basket containing the lump of coal, and lifted it out to
37, two of which take of the lettere of charges of (mild thu amusement of the court. ebort on examining
murder—whether they will result in verdicts of child Clark's waggon found a place from whieli • lamp had
!slur 'Cr IJo nit at present pretend to kite : but they been tekon—lt was notiouble from the &beanie) of
are C 1`1" i wili :II ought tie Is see c ..reful attentien pail to 0:10W. PIO." War and the censteele went to prison-lee
them. lam very glad to find that the attention of the hence. lle ‘ess charged with the theft, an lat first
i
legislature is now being celled to this subject, by a denied t, but afterwards said "I'm very sorry I should
Bill in Parliament, though I arm not aware what its have taken it; I can't thiak hew I ranee to be so
provisions are'
at is • great opprobrium to society, and yet certainly this offence of ohild foolish," Clark went away, but he was called back, and
murder is one that
prisoner then said "I hope you will forgive me, I'll pay
calls for some legislation other than th it with which we you ten times the worth of the cool." Prosecutor
are now able to deal with it. There is another case, answered, "I forgive you once before, and will not
the depodtions in which I hove het, ant therefore I again. if you'll give me E 100." Prosecutor, in cross-
eza,ninetioa, said —.I ye er age my into made 1:nil-mar
back 1100313.c10al he hod stoke. The telegram I
suppose you will have the bill kid Infore yoa, although
I am informed the female priseeer, S: ett, is too ill to , bring
be brought for trial at these anises. There is another ! got item the station-master was "Come by next trigs,
I Welstead has been caught stealing your coal."
; Mr. Ffooks : Then you went to Shillingstone cook-a.
person participating in the guilt who will probably
hoop at roe? A.-7BU ,cookei-hoop at all. We had
be tried at these assizes, if you find a true bill against
him. That is the man who was the father of the child
been looking after him ever since he had been there.
wheal deeth is the subject of ereeniry —Hobert Beanie
The place have given him a good deal of attention.
It seems the. the worn an goy.) birth to the child in a
privy,
and
thin
chii I
w.o. I ,nui in 0, , toil. With 11r..W. Maks TWIN • vigorous ape !eel for prisoner.
prisoue i adult th A the child was al:vo when bun. lie said "es he hail neon in the e'npley of the Rev. J.
There is no evidence to show how the cesild got into A. Hayman, • high dignitary of the church, for many
,
the privy; butts is certain the men took the child after Years, and only left the service of that elergyinse
it was found, and burled it. Another person hest because of the infirmity of his eyesight. Tao learned
brought it Into the house, and put it into a cupboar I, I counsel attribut:el the proseeation to the fact that pris
awl after that Bosaut took it and her:e I It. ft will sour was a successful rival in holiness, and said a true
Christian heart aril right British feeling woul I not
le to a great extent for you to decide whether the
child wee wilfully cut into the privy ; mil, if ii, , have pressed the cue as hod been done. He suggested
whether that was dono by one or both of the that W::lateede eyesight being bad, he mistook the
persons charged. If only by one, then by which of name • Well!' on the truck for his own name
the two; that lea matter for you to discriminate upon, Weitteta• T" *l."inmitance' "Pipet's' this view,
according to the evidence) hail before you. If yea think for Welsteed oommitted the act In the day-time and
there was a wilful casting of the child into the privy, openly' Was it likely a saceessful man of business
then inasmuch as it was dons after the birth, and both should ran into the hands of the law for the the sake
of the prisoners aim:t Best it was born alive, yeti will of a4l lump of coal? He oemmented on the &beeriest
probably think the better course will be to return e of Brewer, !tad urged the sat WAS all a mistake, and
true bill against huh. But If you do not find that prisoner!s confession was "I have done • foolish
that there was a willul caseng, then there is no' ne thing, I've risked tee 101 l of my reputation, and the
responsible for this offente of ,nurder. There can be no ruin of my family, would to God I had not done it—
doubt that the man Resent del secretly snipes* of would to,God you would forgive rue as • neighbour if
the dead holy, with inteat te conceal the birth. The you can ; ' but he might as well have appealed to •
learned Judge went on te explain that if the child was •tone as to the prosecutor.
oast hewn after it wee d The Bev. Prebendary Wyman said prisoner was Ineed, that would be a secret
eerie a'inent of the birth, which would be an his employ as coachman for about 23 years, and
offeece. Ile cen u m tieel there was some difficulty during the whole of that time his general character
in the cue, teat they must jedge as to whether was gosh.
there had been any criminal act, by which the In summing up the Judge said all must be very
child's life was sacrificed. They must dietin- sorry to see e man who had received so goad a
euiah between the two offences and the two prieonere• character standing to take his tied on a charge
There Is one other ease to which I would direct your involvieg so trumpery an amount,. If there was
attention and • painful case it is. The prisoner Is any doubt in it, they weed gladly fasten upon it, but
named Reuben Richard Felstead, and the charge in seeking to exculpate prisoner they must not damage
against him is that of abduotion—which is mode an Mr. Clark's! character, lie was sorry the learned
offence under the statute of Via. 24 and 25, e.lOl, axe counsel had used so many hard words about the
iii. The facts of the cue are tbese—Marian Great. prosecutor, for he really had nothing to do isith the
batch is the slaughter of the lady with whom she cue—ho only corroborated others. Whatever misery
resides, Mary Ann Greatbatch, anti they were residing might result, it was to the interest of them all that
together when the prisoner Felateai askol the the truth should prevail.
The jury foand prisoner guilty, and strongly
mother's leave to pay his addre.sses to her daughter room.
and the leave was given; he was accepted as the mended him to mercy.
suitor of the daughter (rein January last down The Judge said he was not surprised that the jury
to the month if October. On the leile of October should have strongly reeemmendLxi him to mercy.
the prisoner asked permission of the mother liverybody must be very lorry that • luso who
to take her daughter for a drive, awl she consented. has been in one sorriest 23 years should steal four.
ee
, But she did not return, and subsequently • letter was Pennyworth of coaL You pentad the right senten on
received from her from Dublin. Al &fixer there took yourself when you said "Hew could Ibe so foolish—
the prisoner into custody in her company. sue accord. I would rather pay ten times its worth." Probably
ingly a bill will be brought before you charging him everybody would do the same for you. But it
with nte tautens —cornmittoi by his taking the young is very wrong to steal coal expose' it that way; how.
persoo Rw.ty leen her mutlier'e house and against her ever, you are getting on in life and year good charuter
mothete will. The statue is this, —Where any woman You have forfeited, and this jedgmmt will be recorded
, of any age shall have any interest, whether legal or against you. I shall do as the jury recommend—be
equitable, present or future, absolute or contingent, in merciful. The sentence of the court is that you be
any real or personal estate, or by presumptive heirs Of imprisone4 and kept to hard labour for one calendar
next of kin : —That deuribes the person the subject of month.
the statue, and it goes on to say that if any one having
such an interest be taken away from motives of leers
or with intent carnally to know her, it is a felony.
You will find this young person has an interest in real
and personal estate in remainder; and the statute says
that whoever shall fraudulently allure, take away, or
detain, any such woman, being under the age of 21,
out of the possession and against the will of her
, father, or mother, or any other person hewing the
, legal charge of her, with intent to marry or carnally
' kno* her, shall be guilty of felony; and that is the
, offence with which Felsteul will be charge I, viz.,that
, this young person was taken away by him against the
, will of her mother from her house, with intent to
' carnally know her. The (set was Matsui proved to
be a married man at the time he Field his addresses to
her, which was unknown to her mother and the glee
Amenlingly the young WOllllO, whoa see wont sway,
expireel she was going to be Ina:rice bet she was
taken IVVAT to Dublin and they lived there. There
eon be 110 slceibt l tliiisk ea your mini as te Fel steal's
object. The feats arc too ole sr to admit of doubt, and
it will be your duty to find a true bill, Ills not
. necessary forms to address you on any other cases.

Trio Judge said he hoped it was true that they ware
anxious to emigrate and amend their lives. Consider.
in tile imprisonment they had already 'pilfered, the
further sentence of the Court WAI that they be each
kept to hard labour for three ealendu mouths.
An acquittal was taken on the other charge at Mr.
Ceblues request, for, al ho self, he didu't know but
that otherwise the men would be broucht up again for
it three months houcc.

CLIARGE OF STEALING • COPPS& AT WISFRITIL

acorgt Hewlett, Zatasitel /rime, sod Dumas I I OM,
were indicted for stealing & copper foresee, the pro-
perty of Mr. J. A. Damen, of Wutfrith.
Mr. W. Ffooks prosecuted. sad Mr. 0•11 ins defendee.

-
The oopper in question was an old one that had been
used for ateepior seed wheat in dissolved vitro', where-
by it was made of • blue eolour inside. It was also
cracked in the upper part, so that it Could not be filled
with water. It was used to hold water for feeding •
steam engine on Deoember 26. and on January 9 it was
missed. A few days later Superintendent Vickery found
the copper beaten Sat on • railway truok at Weymouth.
" Joe deposed to Hibbs and Hewlett offering the
copper tousle to him. It was in • waggon marked,
" Tnomas Hibbs, of Winfrith," drawn by a grey horse.
The oopper weighed 821 b., and he gave 41. a pound
for it. Subsequently hi sold it to David Mead, from
whose store it was transferred to the railway trust.
where Superintendent Viokery found It. lie and
Sup,riutendent &les, with one of Mr. D smen• men,
"tinkered" it up, so that now the copper was products,'
with its sides upright, but considerably torn and bent.
Brine was ordered to stand back, there being no
evidence against him,
Mr. Collins amusingly oommented on the fret of
Vickery and Helm tinkering up the old boiler so that
Mr. Damen and his men could identify it as the one
they had lost, and generally urged that the evideooe
was inconclusive its against the two men on trial.
The jury acquitted them !

TRIALS OF PRISONERS.
STEALING RAT AT STORNI/ITM,

A respectably dressed man named Mark Ptic, on
who had been remanded from the Last Epiphany
Smsions in consequence of illness, was put upon his
trial charged with stealing about Idibs. weight of hay
valusd at • shilling, arid the property of Simnel
Duffett, of Starminster.
Mr. Hooper conducted the cue for the prosecution.
The facts were extremely simple and affoided •
gratifying indiums of polico intelligence as exhibited
by P.C. Cantell, 82. Mr. Daffett bad cuisiel his hay
and communiaated with the police. Centell was em-
ployed to detect the thief and put into the risk seine
bits of paper marked "P.C. 82." He then remained
on the watch and one dark morning in December met
the prisoner coming from the rick with • bundle of
boy. This hay contained the pieces of paper he had
prerioudy put in the rick.
Prisoner's defenca was the usual one—he had picked
it up.
Re w_ss_

SECOND COURT. SATOIU)AIr.
(Before Mr. Julies IPrize.)

Ills lordship took his seat Mont heliport, It, and
them being no civil eases entered, preeeeded to try
prisoners

STEALING DRAPERY AT {WEYMOUTH.

Vies Joao, 21, servant pleaded, guilty to stealing
ono black alpaca drool, • light drugs, cloth pettiooat,
black cloth jacket. Ito., value E. 5, tho property of her
master, Mr. W. T. Aylesbury, at Weymouth, oi
Jan. 20. . . .

The Judge told if men would go and out down
their neighbour's ricks they must expect the penalties
of the law. He ought to be ashamed of it. He had
been in trouble some 16 years ago and must be careful
In the fulure:
rienknciAl to 6 months hard labour.
BURGLARY AT TARRANT KCYNISTON.

Mr. ()coffins, on behalf of the prosecution, recom-
mended the prisoner to mercy on account of her pre-
vious good character.
Mr. Aylesbury, prosecutor, was sworn, and said pri•
loner had been with him twelve months. He had •
good char/Ater of her when she Caine.
His Lordship sail he had read the depositions, and
without her oonfession the case would have been quite
clear against her. The master had very kindly come
forward, and done good for evil, by recommending her
to mercy ; but it was a very serious offence. Copal-
daring the time during 'hie,/ she lied remained in gaol
she would be sentoneed to six inlander months hard
labour.

-
Two young Wows Mostar Marti*, 20, • labourer
from Wilts. and Edwin Martie, 18, thatcher, a native
of Dorset, were indicted for burglary.
Yr: Woodford° nooks prosecuted, and Mx. Galli=
delhoodel.