The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1885-01-27 00:00:00

THEFT ST AN OFFICER 8 SERVANT.

After mon than three moritha' Minot search Mr.
Supt. Coward bee at last suorneded in mining the
fellow, who robbed Major Igerton of artloiss to the
value of mon, thee £3O, to ground. His name Is
Walter Thomas, aid he WM apprehstadred • few days
ago at Hasler Hospital, Gosport.
At the Borough Police-court on Saturday, Hobart
Wortley, allay Welter Thomas, was charged with
stealing aqnaill&y of jewellery, dollies, end money,
the property of Major ()Abdo° icertos, of the
Dorset Ragineental Depot.
Mr. Superlatendatt Coward said on Ow 10A
Ootober he received information from Major Scoriae
that • quantity of things had Oren stoles from his
quartsxs'. oeurrietiny of jewellery, clothing, mosey, gold
'noddies ring sad three other rings a hunting coat
and vest. hie mad• emulsion at the Barracks sad
found a man nand Illortley, who had bsen acting am
servout to Major ficesion, had beet missing woos be
kb. He had bean mese to Isere the barracks earrytog
a bundle. Wieser immediately bad sane bills
printed with a rissorignion of the prisoner and property,
and the deeorlptioe was trroulatad throughout the
Kingdom. Oa Thursday last he received Information
that a man answering the dassriptiou was raving in
the Norfolk Regiment. Witmer. went to Gosport and
found lb* prisoner at the Hasler Hospital. Witness
said—" Walter Thomas, how long hare you bun in the
Norfolk Regiment ?" and he roptiod about three
months. Witness then asked how long it was lILDOS
be left the Dorset Regiment In the name of
Wortley, atd ha replied about throe mooths.
Witness then read the warrant to him, charging him
with Um robbery. He made no reply. Os tlia way
from Hasler Hospital to Gosport be said--• Is the
major married?" and WiLOON roplied " Yoe" Prisoner
said "He loot his wedding ring, dlda't he r Wanes
marls no answer to that. He then sald—" Did you
say just now there was £4 8.. in money gone? "
(alluding to the warrant) adding—" I only had
C 3 17e." He was divested at the pollowststloo fir
the night, and on the followlag day, when on its
way to Dorchester, prisoner laid the suit of clothes
mejor had given him to wear he had given away
to • man in the train. He ale said he should not
have takes the other things if he had not found gorse
mosey.
Mr. Supt. Cloward said none of lb* property hod
beers traced at present, and he a dud for • remand
till Monday.
Prisoner was brought up on remand 103 Monday
bracts the Mayor (Alderman Gregory), Alderman
Canes, Mr. H. Dardeo, Mr. F. Look, Mr. F. B.
Fisher, Mr. Thomas Hardy, and Mr. Peard Jillard.

Mr. H. A. Hurtabla apparel for tin prosecu ion,
and, in stating tha case, oomplimentad tit, polio,
on the zeal and skill they bad di.pisgsd in tracing •
most difficult coma H. than calla,

-- -
Superintendent Coward, who oonfirmed theseldenas
&has, adding be marched the prisoner at the G 'wort
Polsorstation 'melodist'ly otter his apprehension, and
In hie Dowstation be found a &ilk handkerchief markrd
CE.' Thus answered the description of one that
had tress lost.
. . . . .

of the lit Battalion Donstahlre
Bailment, and statiosed Dorcboater, said priaoner
was formerly his military servant. He waa • private
In the regiment. On October Sth witness promo led to
Chatham, and left the prisoner in charge of his
quartera Witmer returned oe the 1011, and, on 'gamin.
tn his quarters, found tbe nato had lift sad many
article+ taken, aad DI 2.. 31. In money. The artioles
taken e.t.a contained In the list put in„ but besides
that he mimed • teether bag and a light overooa..
Witness identified the silk handkerchief taken fro..
Indlwour •. his Prove, tr. He valo..d the articles
stolen at shot': /SO, but It would cod m ,r• to replace
the... . . . .

his concluded the awn for the proaeoutioc, and
oreer wee committed for trial at the (i ;ter
Session,. Prisoner assumed • career demeanour,
and during the reading of a list of the articles et den,
one of the articles woe omitted. and be remarkad with
• laugh, "It don't make much difference." If. was
told there was nothing to laugh at, and perhaps he
would know it before long.