The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-08-26 00:00:00

ASSAULT AT LULWORTH.

Alfred Frill's, medical student, and John It. Lofts.
dale, barrister, beth of Loudon, were simulants] by
Frederick Henry %lanstield for an assault committed
at Lulworth on Saturday, 9th August last. All the
parties concerned are visitors at Lulworth.
iluxtable, ..1 Dorchester. pr..ecuted, and Mr.
Lonsdale, one ssf the defendants, defended.
F. 11. Mansfield. having been ~wont, said: On 9th
August, about five in the afternoon, I was conver-
sing with a Mr. Matthews at Lulworth, near the
Castle Hotel. The two defendants came up to
me and said that I was a liar, that they
were came to thrash me, that I deserved
to be thrashed for many other things, and further
charged use with writing anonymous letters to then'.
which I stoutly denied. Mr. Matthews was there
and heard all that was, said, Defendants bath laid
hold of me, one .et either side. Mr. Lonsdale wa, in
possession of a cane, with which he hit use several
times in the tender part of my leg, bruising me
severely. Mr. lousdale, after iv mug me several
blows, handed the cane over to Mr. Fripp, who also
administered several blows. I wrenched the cane
from his hands, .tiul in so doing broke the same,
which I now yissliac.., in two parts. Mr. Lonsdale
then said "Kick him, kick him well, which they
cal 1111 l owed to do. I have never written an
:many us letter in my life, and have no ill.fiseling
whateveragainsteitherof defendants. Afterth, assault
Mr. Lansdale wished we towards the gutter, and
they both then left me.
Cross-examined by Mr. Lansdale: Did you write
this letter (maimed) t--Yes.—.Uthough it is signed
Howe it is in your handwriting!—Yes.—Are you in
the habit of writing letters in other persons' names
No, I am nat. -Then why did pot write en this
oecasion't-1 will tell you , on the mot ll itt g f Friday,
the day prior Gs the assault, a letter arrived at the
Castle hotel addn-ssed to Mr. Howe, which contained
communications respecting you an a Mr. Frill's. Mr.
Howe showed me the letter. I asked him if I should
vend it to you, and he gave me permission Gs do so.
l'revions to my so doing I IV
t,
II t" a I Ot 11.. r visitor at
the liatel, a Mr. sniilusmii,a friend of yours,
asked his aslviess. lie said, "Send it to them by all
means," which I did, in all good faith, thinking I
was doing yati a kindness in letting you know what
shameful things were being talked about you in the
village.—Crass-examination continued : L)o you know
the 'Lev. Williams t—Yes, I was a pupil ..f Ili+ a
year or so ago.—You left him and went. Se. ,tath
Aluerit., did you not !—Yes.—And returned again
in about three months, I believe'—Yes.—And the
Rev. Williams kindly took you in again !—Yes, he
did. I have mach to t,losettfol f,, fs .m him
it.... loug did you sway with him after .—About twO
months —Why did you leave him ,—For reasons best
known ti myself.
%Valliant Matthews was next called, and gave
c.,rr,,boratise evidence.

Ci+m+•exatuined by Mr. I,en+.l.de : It,, cen4idered
it wit, ei.wt brutal as+ault —By 11r. limitable: Br.
no friend of your., I. Iw—o.
Thema, Snelling, of Lelworth, al+e gave oorrebora-
Live evidence.

Dory, daughter of Mr. Rowe, proprietor of
the Castle Inn, Lulworth, u.i he %aw Mr. Maus.
field saortly after the assault. There were several
bruises about bin. lined them was very black awl
swollen. Mr. Mansfield had written several letters
for her and Mr. Rowe. The letter.' produced came
addressed to Mr. Rowe.

Crmeemuunined by Mr. Isonsdale : Dial I not come
up to the itin on the evening previtnes to the assault,
and when I asked Mr. Rowe whether he had seen the
shameful lettenusreduced, he said he knew nothing
about them ':—Yes, but perhaps he may. have for.
it. I gave Mr. Mansfield authonty to send
them on to you, as they contained reference to you
and Mr. Ernes.
Mr. Lonsdale, in defence, said : I cannot but admit
the assault was committed, but it was under great
provocation. To be insulted and chargod with in-
decent behaviour by a mere youth was sufficient to
rouse any man, and it made my blood boil to think.
about it. The facts of the case are tlune. Complain-
ant from May, ISO to June, VW was a pupil of the
Rev.—Williams, West Lulworth. For e..muething or
other he was expelled from the house, and from that
time to now he has done all in his power to annoy the
Rev.—Williams in every way. Very annoying letters
have been sent, and from the fact that he knew I WA4
staying at the vicarage, he sent these most shameful
insulting letters to see, mostly to annoy the rev.
gentleman. He has sworn in his evidence the letters
are tett in his handwriting. I will put a gentleman in
the box who can prove to you as far as it lies in his
power it is his handwriting, although endeavoured to
be disguised.
Rev.—Williams, vicar 01 West Lulworth, V/114 then
called, and said I have been vicar there for five years.
I have taken in pupil.. and amongst others the com-
plainant. He cause to me in May, 1882, and remained
there till June, Una. During that time I had every
opportunity of noticing his writing. I saw him write
daily. The letters produced, as far as I can judge, are
in complainant's handwriting. I will tell you why.
There is in every youth's writing a peculiarity, which
nut unfrequently come', out, however much lie limy
endeavour to disguise it. The letters W amid Tin his
handwriting has a curious fez-illation. and you
will "me the letter which he signed as
veining from Rowe, and the letter. which lie
ILIA sworn he did not write, has this peculiarity. After
be left my howie he returned again and remained
about two months, at which time I WA., compelled to
turn hitn Out for Ins mi.conduct.—Cross-examined by
Mr. Iluxtable : I an, not an expert in writing, but
as far a. I can say I consider the letters pnduced are
hi. talldWritillg.—By Mr. Lonsdale : Has not the
complainant spine so far that you thought about
pre-tending him for libel !—Yes.—And did tett hi+
own father atlvi.te you to take that step ?—Yes, but I
havt.t not done so.

The inagi4rat;4 retired to consider their decision,
and after a few minutes returned. The Chairman said
the assault had been clearly proved and admitted, and
they were bound to inflict a penalty, although they
considered there wa., great provocation. N.I costs
would be allowed beyond the costs of the Court. Each
defendant would be lined 505., including costs.
Mr. Huxtable said as this was a special Case he
would ask that costs be allowed.

The Chairman said they had fully considered the
matter, and no costs further than the coats of the
Court should be granted.
ita,i,„ so itie employ of Mr. C. Summers,
cab proprietor, iif Swanage, was summoned by P.C.
Greenstock for driving a horse whilst in an unlit
stab: at Swanage on the Bth inst.-I.lefendaut pleaded
Ulpt gully.—L.C. Greetaitock, on oath, said ho
examimd the horse, and found under the belly-band
an old sore, which was raw. The horse appeared as
if working in pain.—Defendant said the core Was nut
raw when be started. —Fined 95., including cost,.