The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
COUNTY HALL, Saturday, January 21.—(Before H.
William*, Ls' q., chairman, and W. L. Henning, Esq.)—

ATIMIT WITH POACHEItB.-NEIIOIC CONDUCT Or I

YOUNG WOMAN.
Charles, Critehell, of Fordington, an old offender, was
brought up charged with night-poaching on the lands of
Capt. Foster, At Warmwell, on Sunday, the 16th inst.
Mr. Giles Symonds prosecuted, and Mr. Weston
appeared on behalf of the defendant.
A keeper, named Butter, said, that on Sunday morn-
ing, he heard guns 6ring in Capt. Fosters covers. He
immediately got up, and proceeded in the direction from
whence he heard the sound. He came up to Critchell,
and secured him. While he had hold of Critehell, he
(coinplainant) was knocked down by another man.
Witness and Critchell fell to the ground together.
Another man threw some large stones at him, one of
, which struck him on the shoulder. While he (witness)
_ . .

was on the ground, Susan Hutchings, housekeeper to
the head keepei, came to his amistance. Witness was
under Critchell at the time. When Susan Hutchings
came up, one man ran away. The gun that Critchell
had was taken away by witness in the struggle, and
thrown to the ground. When Susan Hutchings came,
and the other man had ran away, he secured Critchell,
and took him with his gun to the keeper's house. Wit-
ness examined the gun, and found it to be loaded. cap-
' ped, and at full cock. During the souffle Critchell said
to the keeper, "Do you think I am going to be taken
by your' Critchell was then removed to the keeper's
house, and while there be said to witness, "I respect
you because you did not ill-use me while taking me.
He (witness) was present when six pheasants were after-
wards brought into the keeper's house. Critchell was
also there, and be took the birds up, and looking at
them, said, "They were not all killed on your ground."
When he (witness) heard the last gun fired, he was about
twenty yards from Critchell and another man. That
gun was fired further in the plantation than where
Critchell and the other man were standing. The wit-
ness here identified the gun as being the same he took
(ruin Critchell.
William Hutchings, head keeper to Capt. Foster, cor-
roborated the statements of Butter, and added, that on
the morning in question lie heard the first gun fired.
Altogether he heard four. The firing was in the plan-
t teflon jug.t below the house. Butter lived in his house,
and lie called him. Directly he got out of his house he
heard another gun fired. He bad heard two before that
one, and soon after another within twenty yards of
him. Butter was in front of him, and lie saw that lie
(Butter) had gut bold of a man. He heard another man
run away, whom lie went after, and upon pursuing him
he discovered some pheasants and a bat lying on the
ground near a hedge where the man had gone over.
He then returned to Butter, whom
.he saw trying to

secure Critchell, which was done, and be was tile; to
bin house. Witness then went back into the plantation
and brought to his house six pheasants, a hat, and •
hag. Upon • further search in the cover he found a
shot-belt, a ramrod, and a powder flask. The shot-belt
contained shot, and the powder-flask some powder. He
found the powder-flask and shot-belt in the direction
where he heard the last gun fire. The plantation is an
enclosed one. . _

Susan Hutchings (a remarkably fine young womu.),
stated that she was niece to William Hutchings, and
lived at Warms, ell with him. When Sill) heard the
firing last Sunday morning, about 4 o'clock, she got up,
and proceeded to the plantation. She followed
Hutchings and Butter, and took with her a gun. When
she got into the cover she saw that Butter had hold of a
man, and was being beaten by another. Butter fell
down in the scuffle, end the other man he had hold of
also. Critchell now present is the same man. She
heard Critchell say, when he was on Bitter. " I am not
going to be taken by any man !" Upon that assertion
idle said, "You are going to be taken," and she helped
Butter to take him. While Critchell was on the top of
Butter die struck him with a gun. Critchell was then
taken, and she picked up a single-barrel gun that Butter
had taken from him, and also a red cap, all of which
she took to the cottage. She then returned to the
plantation with Hutchings, and was present when some
pheasants were picked up, which she carried home.
The defendant wee committed to take his trial at the
Assizes.
Mr. Weston said that in that case he hoped the ma-
gistrates would take bail for him, which the Bench de-
clined to do.
Two old offenders, who gave their names as eharfes
Hooper and James Russell, were summoned for poaching
on Friday last, on land belonging to Mr. Urquhart, of
Bniadmayne.
Mr. Weston, who appeared for the prosecution, ex-
plained the ease, and said that he would call two men,
named John Wi11,,, and Sainways, who were planting
trees for Mr. Urquhart, and that they would prove that
while they were working they beard • gun fired about
WO or 441) yards from them. Will,, immediately ran to
see what it was, and he saw the two men now present.
He called to Steinways, who came with him, and they
pursued the delinquents. Seaways and Wills then ran
round a drove, and there came up with the inen, and these
men upon seeing their pursuers, ran off, and • long chase
ensued. During the time the men were running away
the witnesses would prove that they saw the men put
something in a hedge, and upon being arrested the men
took up two hurdle-stakes, and avowed that they would
not he taken. The defendants cave wrong names when
they were taken in charge. 'l% ills and Saunter upon
going to the spot where they saw the defendants put
mouthing, found a rabbit and other things, aniongst
them some powder.
John Wills. in examination, stated that on Friday
afternoon last, between twelve and one p.m., while on
the Mayne Down, he saw two men, one of whom was in
a field, and the other was on a road—which is a drove-
way. The man that was in the field had something in
hist hand, which appeared to him to be a gun. He ran
after the 1111\11. who called himself Charles Hooper—now
present. While he was running after Hooper he saw
him put something in a fur's-bush near a hedge. Upon
continuing his course he Kliw Hooper put something in
the next hedge he came to. In the next field Hooper
threw away something else, which he thought was paper
but afterwards found it to contain powder. The defend-
ants upon being secured gave different names than they
now do. Upon witness going hack to the place where he
had seen the men hide things, he at one place discovered
• gun-stock. at another a rahbit—which was wariu,—and
there found the barrel of the stock. He then picked up
some powder in paper and a shot-belt. The barrels
of the gun were loaded with powder and shot. He saw
the shot taken out, and compared it with the shot in
the shot-belt. and found it to be the same size.—They
were fined 44hi. each, including costs, and in default of
payment were committed to gaol for two calendar
months with hard labour.
Isaac Corbin, of Maiden Newton, in the employ of
Mr. Roberts. of the same place, was sumtuoned by Mr.
Bridge, of Winfrith, for stealing his hay on Thursday
last.—Mr. Weston appeared for the defendant. -The
charge was proved ; hut the case is somewhat of • sin-
gular character. The facts are these : On the day in
question, Isaac Corbin—a rather strange looking lad—
about 17 years of age, was apprehended for stealing the
hay under these circumstances :—As Mr. Bridge was
riding on a road on Thursday last, he saw some hay
fall from • rick of his. He sent a matt for Sergeant
Tee. typon Sergeant Tee coining to the nck, he ob-
served marks as ifs wagon had been there; and he sub-
sequently traced the wagon to Mr. Roberts's, at Maiden
Newton. Upon his going into the stable he found •
lid of clover-hay—corresponding with the hay he picked
up on the road, and which was dropped from the
wagon—and he then took the prisoner in charge for
stealing the hay. The prisoner immediately confessed
his guilt, and said he was very sorry he took it, and
hoped Mr. Bridge would forgive him. The prisoner
then said that he was very foolish for taking it, as it
was no good to hint ; and added that be should not
have taken it had it not been that the poor horses (Mr.
Robert/a) were CO poor that they had nothing to eat be-
sides barley straw.
Mr. Weston observed that he could not deny the
charge, but as he (prisoner) said he had no inducement
to trice it, and he was a foolish fellow and was sorry for
it, and liaving up to this time borne a good character,
lie hoped the Bench would deal with the case as leni-
ently as possible. Mr. Weston added that he had two
letters which spoke in favour of the prisoner, one of
which was from his employer, Mr. Roberts, who said
that he had no reason whatever to complain of I .
The Bench told the prisoner that he had heard the
charge against him, and asked him whether he wished it
to be settled here or sent to the Assizes.
The prisoner pleaded guilty, which enabled the magis-
trates to determine the case there.
The Bench : We are willing to look at this case as
leniently as pusible. We think the. prisoner has be-
haved very foolishly, but we must check such conduct
and make an example of those who persist in it. You
(prisoner) are liaide to go to gaol for a considerable
tune if we were inclined to be severe. We therefore
commit you to gaol for seven days.
Richard arores, a lad, about 11 years of age. WU
charged with stealing hay, and his father, George
Grores, with receiving the 11111110. knowing it to have
been stolen, the property of Joshua Biles, of Piddle-

_
Mr. Weston appeared on behalf of the defendants.
The lad was discharged, and the father allowed bail

to appear at the next Assizes.
Juners Burring and Phillip 'Mille, were summoned
on the informati of F.. James, keeper for Captain
Fmter. for poaching, at Holworth on the 24th of
December. These two men are well-known poachers.
.1. Bowling was a short time ego sent to pnson br a
similar offence, and on Tuesday last came out of prison,
when a warrant was awaitin,g him for his apprehension
on this charge. The other man Whittle, who did not
appear, is now in gaol, and a warrant against I was
issued for this offence The prisoner was fined £5, and
in default of payment wu sent to gaol for three calendar
months with hard labour.