The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-10-14 00:00:00

OFFENCES.

ArrEttrr to Tlestrtor a VAMILY BY GUNPOWDER.—
A. pet-son named lames Anstcy, a stationer, residing at
Sheerness, was brought up before the county magis-
trates at Sittingbourne, onyriday, charged with causing
an explosion of gunpowder in his house, with intent to
murder his wife and family. Aooording to the evi-
dence of his wife, who seemed greatly affected, she and
the prisoner had latterly lived on Very bad terms. She
had considered her life in danger from hit conduck
Saturday, the 217th nit., he talked &bent ditorce.
went otit abant half-past bine on the evening of that
dayi and rettrned after a short time, behaving in a very
strange manner. No words, however, passed between
them, and witness went upstairs to retire to rest, their
five children all being in bed, two in witness's room,
and three in an adjoining one. In about five or six
minutes afterwards witm-ss wee lifttd from her feet,
and heard a loud reportb Which lifted eVerythitig in the
room. She itninediattly rushed down stairs, the smoke
coming from the shop (which was under Mr bedroom) ,
nearly stiffing her. The smoke appeared to be from an ,
explosion of gunpowder. She went into the street, and
raised an alarm. Witness believed the explosion was
caused by the prisoner, with the intention of injuring
her and her children, from the expressions he had
' used. The prisoner, in reply to the charge and the
evidenoe given in its support, said he knew nothing of
the matter. He was fully committed for trial at the
, assizes, bail being refused.
SERIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH POACHERS IN LINCOLN-
SHIRE.—A serious poaching affray took place at Scot-
ton, Lincolnshire, on Monday morning. It appears
that as the under gamekeeper to Sir William Fredericks
was going his round in the above lordship, on the night
named, he saw six or more poachers busily engaged in
I netting hares on land in the occupation of Thomas
Oxley. They were all determined-looking fellows,and
had dogs with them. He at once summoned three
watchers and a policeman named Greetham. who
I happened to be near the spot, to his assistance. The
five men then proceeded to where the poachers were
with the view of apprehending them. As soon as the
poachers saw them they stood on the defensive, and
cried out, "Come on, you b—," Each man was
armed with a heavy bludgeon, several feet long and of
great thickness. A rush was made to seize them, and
a regular battle ensued. The fight soon became too
serious for the three watchers, who took to their heels,
leaving Greetham and the under keeper (Hudson) to
sustain the unequal conflict themselves. They fought
valiantly, but the wounds they received and the loss of
blood soon rendered them insensible. On regaining
consciousness they found themselvss in a ditch, all the
poachers having decamped. With difficulty they
crawled out, and snoceeded in giving information of
the occurrence. It was afterwards found that
Greetham's head was cut open in several places, besides
Any oertm 79441411 cia yther pirki of bit 4 body,

Hudson fared even worse, he being out and bruised in
a dreadful manner. A description of the men having
been obtained Superintendent Fraser ruid Sergeant
Wright of Gainsberough, %nil Sergeant Morris, of
Hilton Lindsey, apprehended live well-knowh poachers
on suspicion of being ooncerned in the outrage. Their
mum% are James Martin, of Frietney, near Boston ;
Charles Urea, of Grimsby ; Henry Hobson. of Brough-
ton, near 13rigg ; William itowbottom of Newark ; and
Christopher Mm.shall, of Scotton. They were brought
before the Gainsborongli bench of magistrates on Tues.
(Ay, *hen Superintendent Fraser stated that the
wounded men were now lying at Scotton, unable to
be removed from their beds, and attended by two
doctors. Several days must elapse, under tie most
favourable circumstances, before they would be in a
position to identify the men or give evidence. He
therefore applied for a remand. Their worships granted
a remand,
bEkitbiltAllt ATTEMft TO MenDER AN TIOEIRTOR AT
LEEDS.—Mr. Mallon; a mechanic living in Holbeck,
Leeds- has recently iniented a coal-cutting machine,
trtheli the work of 12 men can be done in a day's
Izezeth On -Wednesday Morning, about half-past four,
Mr. Mallon started from home to go to his ordinary
employment at the Kirkstalt Forge. As be left his
own door he saw three men in the street, and as he
suspected that they meant mischief he endeavoured to
avoid them. With this object, after passing along the
Globe Road, he struck on to the canal bank near the
Wellington lock of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, but
he soon BRW that his feint had been anticipated, for one
of the men was then in front and two behind him.- He
teas knocked down at once, and one of the miscreants
then passed a rope round his neck, and attempted to
strangle him. Mallon, however, with great presence of
mind, placed his hand between the cord and his neck.
and thrust his other hand into his front assailant's eye
with such force that the injury to the fellow's pupil
must have been severe, and excruciatingly painful.
The scoundrel screamed out, "Oh, my eye, ' and left
hold of Mallon, but the other two ruffians got hold of
the complainant, and pitched him into the lock.
fdallon fell wine nine feet before reaching the water,
but at ebon as he toothed the stream he felt himself re-
lieved, for he is an excellent swimmer. He recollected
swimming about in the canal for some ten minutes, and
then reaching the lock gate, by which he regained
terra firma, but he was so exhausted that he was
obliged to lie down on the bank, and here he was found
by a workman and conveyed home. The outrage can
only be attributed to the spite of the miners about his
invention, for lie has repeatedly been threatened by
letter of late, told to insure his life, for that his enemies
were determined to " serve him out."

DISTRESSING OCCURRENCE.—The watering-place of
Filey was the Beene of a distressing accident on Wed-
nesday afternoon. Hefty Stiggit, a yotith of 15, eldest
sou of Mr. J. Suggit, grocer, left home for the purpose
of exploring the cuffs and rooks of Filey Brigg. About
four o'clock he was seen leaving the Brigg, going north-
ward among the rocks, from which he would have to
ascend a frequented but very dangerous path
up the steep and rugged cliff. It appears that he had
climbed about 40 feet, when, his foot slipping, he rolled
from one ridge of rock to another, until he fell on the
rocks below. His death must have been instantaneous,
for his right temple bore the mark of a violent concus-
sion. He *as [Mind about half an hour after the
accident.