The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-03-22 00:00:00

SOMERSET LENT ASSIZES.

The Assizes for this county commenced on Saturday
at the Shit ehall, before Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Bartio
Bramwell. The columniation was opened on Friday
before Mr. Baron Martin, who arrived by train from ,
Bodmin. Shortly after one o'clock the High Sheriff,
Sir Ede ard Strachey, Bart., proceeded to the 'station of
the Brined and Exeter Railway fur the purpose of
meeting her Majesty's representative, accompanied by
his chaplain and the Under Sheriff. The State pro-
cession was worthy of the liberality of the High Sheriff,
the carriage being a splendid equipage, and the horses
magnificent animals. There was the usual retinue of
javlinmen, who wore neat liveries!, which had • very
Imposing appearance. They were preceded by three
heralds, bearing the inns of the High Sheriff upon
their trumpets, headed by that veteran in the service of
the county. Captain Armstrong, who is greatly to be
crommended for the escellence of the wlsole arrange-
ments, and for which be received the warm thanks of
Sir Edward. His Lordship arrived in Taunton at two
pm., and afterwards attended Divine service at lit.
Mary's Church.

CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. MASON MARTIN.)
The calendar presented a total of no less than 72
prisoners for trial, of whom 18 could neither read nor
writ.; 11 reading imperfectly • I read and write im•
perfectly; and 4 only amid imperfectly;
and write well; 23
prisoners were on bail and not in cuatedy, and there.
tore their state of education could not ho ascertained.
The following is aloomoiarylitateuient, descriptive of
the offenoes with which the prisoners for trial severally
stand charged :—Abduction, 1 • assaulting the police,
1 ; assaulting with intent, 2; b;astiality, 3 ; burglary,
2 ; cattle stealing, 1 ; concealment of birth. 2; embezzle-
ment, 1; forgery, 2; housebreaking, I; indecent as-
sault, 1 • keeping a disorderly house, 1 ; larceny, 29;
maliciously wounding, 1; murder, 1 ; manslaughter, 4;
obtaining by false pretences, 3; post-oflSce robbery, I,
rape, 2; receiving stolen property,. 3 ,• sheep stealing,
1 • uttering counterfeit cum, 1; wilfully doing bodily
harm, I; wounding witkintent, I ; murder, I.
_

•
- GRAND JUIT.
The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand
Jury :—Sir A. A. Hood, Dart., M.P. (foreman), F. H.
Dickinsou, F. W. Newton, C. &tinders, T. B. Utter-
mare, R. H. King, W. B. Blake H. G. Moysey, M.
T. Coombe, J. Wood, G. F. Luarell, H. Badeook, C.
M. Welinen, P. P. Bouverie, G. H. W. Carew, 0 B.
Grabhani, 8.. Phelps, V. Stuckey, H. B. Batten, T. H.
Restinent, It. H. King, Jung, J. Marsh, and R. Hidley,
Fours.
The Mayors of Chard, Bath, and Wells answered to
tteir names.

Mr. Braps Fry and Mr. J. Wybrants, corm
answered when called.

THE CHARGE.
The proclamation against vice, profaneness, end
immorality having been read, the learned Baron pro-
ceeded to deliver lois charge to Um Grand Jury, observ-
ing, he regretted to state, that although a very short
time had elapsed since the Western Assize for this
county was held, there was a very large number of
prisoners for trial, • considerably larger number than at
the corresponding period last year. And although the
great majouity of the cases were scarcely worth trying at
Arises, if it bad been practicable, yet some of the
cases were of • very serious character indeed. On look-
ing over the list, he saw there were no less than
one case of murder and five cases of homicide. One of
them was • cam of a very shocking nature, and cer-
tainly, if it did not constitute the crime of murder, it
approached very near to it. In the case he referred to
a man was living with a woman, and apparently • trifling
dispute occurred between them, which lad him to com-
mit violence, sod which led to the death of the unfortunate
woman. The opinion of the neighbours was that he
hastened her death by jumping upon her; but certain
, it was that the woman received most grievous injuries,
wri soon after the receipt of those injuries sloe died.
The jury would apply their minds to the evidence that
woeld be broucht before them, in otder to ascertain
whether it would be their duty to find • bill for man-
slaughter ; but if the evidence justified it, it was always
better to return • bill similar to the charge preferred
before the magistrates. There was another case to
which he desired to direct their particular attention—
that of the death of • woman who was alleged to have
come to her end by neglect, and he need not tell condo-
men of their experience that one of the oases which coo-
scanted manslaughter was that in which • person, who
had the care of another, and who wilfully neglected
that persoo, or that death resulted, it might be murder,
or it might be manslaughter. Atall events, it seemed to
be a very scandalous 1111•11. The woman was supposed
to have died from want, but the medical gentlemen who
made the poet osmium examination of the body did not
consider that it was. She certainly was in a very
emaciated condition, but a quantity of fat was found
internally, which they odd would preclude
the &gumption that she died from nervation.
The case was somewhat shocking. She was the
wife of • UM, bad bores children, and was
covered with vermin. He scarcely or ever recollected
• more shocking ease, and he could scarcely empress
the feelings of abhorrence with which he read the de-
position& The man and his son were earning good
; but it appeared that he (the escaped) was an
wages;
drunkard, and spent most of his mosey in
public-houses. They would have an opportunity of
hearing the evidence, and they must deal with the case
as they thought fit; but for the purpose of lodine •
bill they must be satisfied that there was wilful
negligence on the pert of the man of the ditty imposed
upon him to take proper care of his wife. There was
another IMO of manslaughter, arising from a man having
been given medicine in beer. It was • sauidalous case;
but be did not think it probable that the person who
administered the drag intended that it should lead to
such merlons results. The next ease was that of • man
who committed manslaughter in • state of unsound
mind; he was now an inmate of • lunatic asylum, and
they would have no difficulty with his come. The fifth
case was one which he regretted much to see. It seemed
that • woman west to a house in Yeovil, occupied by •
man named Colmer. The master, the mistress, the son, the
daughter wee all examined before the coroner, and
they all declare that deceased came to their house,
where she remained for several days contrary to their
will; but one thing was certain, that during the time
she was at the house, miscarriage took place, and the
fortis and after-birth were bunted by them. The woman
died, and a per motes examination of the body was
made, when a rupture of the womb was discovered, so
large that the medical men declared that • man's hand
could have passed through it. Three medical men
declare that the rupture could not have been ocoasimed
except by violence; but where the evidence was to fix
either of the persons in Colmees house with the crime,
be was at • lass to disoover. It was a very bad case,
and it grassed indeed that there exited in this country,
or any other country, &place where young women, who
had got themselves into disgrace could go, and such
cases could moor. They would consider the evidence,
and see whether or not there was the means of bringing
home the guilt to any person. All—the father, the
mother. the son, and the daughter—seemed to deny that
they, or either of them,committed the offence charged.
There wee, however, the undoubted fact that the poor
woman was dead, receiving injuries to the extent
described. There were several other offences, some of
them of a character he did not think it necessary to
anode to; but he was afraid that it would be necessary
to inflict such punishment for such offences as some
persons might consider harsh in order to endeavoer to
mat • stop to them. In one of them oases two men
were charged with perpetrating an outrage, and in
another no less than seven men were tasated. A
more atrocious offence there could not be, and it was
highly necessary when mimes of this kind were oom.
witted, it must be shown that the law had a strong
arm, and could adequately punish seek enormities.
Although the calendar was of a bad description, and
he regretted it the more, especially as it had not been
the ease in other counties in England.
Tag ithessui Pow-omm ROMIZIT AT Wirroll-
- JAM'S MatAbOWS. 011 ball, was
indicted foe Mediae pothletter, the P
of the Postemaiter GINMSI on the 13th A uger:ll744
wee stated be the esessel for the prtheention thetas
Atteregy-Gmeral did not esssider that the eonvieticse
meld be meleined, and amedlagly be asked his Lead-
ship to dogma the egooentimem void. The peisemer
was theordiegly discharged.
firesueo • WATON AT YEOVIL—Jams Wlllis
pleaded guilty to steal* • gold wash, vales t 8 10e.,
and • gold theta, valise 1,7 75., the property 0117111thell