The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-03-13 00:00:00

SETTING VIRE TO THZ HUTH.

William Woodford, labourer, of Bromistona and Harry
Cluett, blacksmith, of Poole, were Margot, on minuend.
with having on the 4th of March sot fire to certain
fume and heath, on the property of Lord Winsboram
Masted at (tale Mullen. and also with setting fir, to
certain heath and furs'. Ss, property of the trustees of
the Coventry Estate, also at Cools Mullen—Mr. P. K.
L. Bodge appeared for the prom-anon, end Mr. H. S.
1) Minton for Guett.—John Samos, carpenter. of Code
Mullen, said that he lived sloes by this Common which
wee sat fire to. He taw prisoners pale toy hie home that
morning about 9) minutes or a quarter-past sloven; they
bad • little dog with them. and were 50001 15 the direction
of that part of the Common, which wee afterwards set on
fire —Honry Yeom on. a boy of 11, living at Cori. Mullen,
said that as he MU gotor irum chapel on the itio
Mat, about a quarter•past twelve, be saw two men
boating about on th. Common, shout 300 Yards away.
but he could not say who they were ; he dui not know the
men. Ms saw one of Ins mon stoop down and set the
furze on doe with • match. H. saw tile smoke rise up at
00Co and both men thou ran away without attempting to
Put the lire out. He land not measured the &Mame le.
men were from him, bat his father told him to am 300
y ord.. The aitnees having Men crowet mined, faired
Yaimita, brickmaker. of Cafe gulien. father of the Met
wit, ea, said he saw the men on lb. Common on Sand .7.
the 4th MS. : they were there from 91 minutes to half an
hour. lie noticed the men stop • bit sad than saw smoke
rise up suddenly. —.l.ohn Yeoman, brother of last mines*,
gam sisallsr evideucc—P.M. Castle said he had visited
the scene of the era, and on 'Nudity lass, from inform MOO
received, hs approbended Woodford on • charge of, tan,
fire to the heath sail fors, on Lord Wituboine •
slants end the rotate of the Coventry Trustee..
Woodford repited—" I know nothing Moot it." He
el
termed. apprehended the primmer Chats, in Pool
and charged him with • similar °lmam C.uett also
▪ol I "I In ow nothine at nat it." Witness then took
C.u.tt to Poole Polime'ation. where his father mune and
saw him Clnett said to hit father, " I shall tell the truth
if I get transported for it. 1 was with Woodford on
Stadey at OMe Common, and looked round and saw
Woodford close to the floe. We tried to put it out, but
could not do it.' He took Oluett to Wiesborne Polior
steam, sad sateen tent, recited Woodford', hoot.,
which he compered with footprinm nom the some of the
ere, sad (mead them to o orrinp rod. William Baker,
foresaw to Lord Witaborne, gave evidence se to Me title
of Lord Wisher:to to the Common; and is reply
to Mr. Dickenson, sold that the heath sad large
were very dry, and might have been set on fire by a
Itgat.ed mach or some lighted Wham° beimg thrown down.
He estimated the damage done to Lord Wlrahorna's land
at 10s—Isaac Luca., woodman, of 0 oho Mullen, gave
evidence as to the title of the Coventry trustees to tour
acres of the heath, and lurno burnt. lie mans oted the
damage done to that four acme at 10.. Signed *gateau/nig
of the plimers to lho edo t that the doe WM accidentally
caused either by moms I,ghte I t thaono whit* fell from
Woodford'e pipe or sleety a match with which he had
been lighting hie pipe. b owing been pit in. oh , mars.
trat- a alter • long deliberation, committed the miasmas
for trial at the next Dorchester ageism, but allowed bail.