The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-03-28 00:00:00

Ttt." x AN.b.eb rAin orrumaussa,
DOB.COBSTER.

On Thursday morning, a lawn who gave his name
et Captain Jordan, and described himself as an American ship-
master, wry brought before the Mayor (T. Bennett, Seq.), Dr.
Ahlridge, J. Bishop, Esq., E Devenish, Foq. and R. Davis,
Esq., charged with robbery at the house of Mr. ikon,provislon
dealer, High-street West.
Shortly alter his exploit at Dorchester, he went to Salisbury,
slept at an inn there, stoles ring from a bedroom, WWI caught,
and sentenced to a month in Des :mussel,
On his release lest Tuesday, P.S. Cousins apprehended him,
and brought hint to Dorchester.
l'risoner hail the appearance and dress el a shipmaster, and
, iv a man of middle age.
Prosecutor 'id on Ft iday, February 17, about nine p.m.,
prisoner came to his boom, inquired for lodgings, and engaged
B sittingroom and bedroom from the Monday following for
trout six to ten weeks. Ile was anxious to stay in the town
that night, and witness recommended him to the Oak. He
objected to a public-house, saying he was not crlf well, and
feared • damp bed. Then witness offered to give up 1111 own,
room, and he accepted it.
Dr. Aldridge : You must be a very kindhearted man.
The Mayor: I suppose you won't do it agaio ?
Witness: Oh, no '. this Is the find tilue ; I'll not take a
second wltklut knowing him.
Witness continued: Prisoner asked for note papex and pen
and ink, saying ho had • man at the Antelope from his shlp
(which was lying just inside Portland Brooke-titer, laden with
machinery), and would wends letter to the steward to forward
his luggage. Ile added he was about to give up the vessel to
other hands. After wi ding the note he went out for about a
quarter of an hour. Returned, had mover, and went to the
bedroom. Going upstairs he mid " How shall I know the
time in the morning, for I had a misfortune with my watch.
and loft It at Wey.nouth to be repalrad." Witness said "I
eau leave my watch in the room for you," he wouud it up,
and put it on the stand.
'Prisoner seemed very unwell, wan given • chair, and sup-
plied with a glass of water.'
Witness continued: Called prisoner at eight next morning,
according to hie request: Ile Mid he had • headache, and
would lie for another hour: For brinkfaat Ise said he should
like to have a couple of ego sad a rasher and Geese- In •
looked drawer in the room he occupied sass purse containing
£7 or AS in gold In aim unlocked drawer beneath WWI the
key amongst stone linen:
Mrs. Christiana Boon met prisoner av he came down stairs.
Greeted hint 'with "0.0,1 morning," and he handed her the
watch, thankmg her for it. He was cenducted to the room
where his breakfast wri told, and he commenced it. (Ming
in a few minutes later to see if he required anything further,
prisoner appeared very unersy. He said he was no on account
of his luggage ; Naked if it we. possible to keep the bacon
warm for him, and he would go up to on about his
luggage ; and if it was there get the Antelope 'bus to bring it
on: Ile wmYeld the rasher should be kept warm for him, had
his cap given him, and he walked away. He said he should
be back in • quarter of an hour, and if say ono inquired for
him, &itch person should stay till he returned. He never
came back. She expected him all day. Towards evening she
became suspicious, and when her husband came home asked
him if the money was all right?
Mr. Boon went to the drawer, and found the gold (g 7 or
SA) gone from the purse, and souse old Coins which were in
the drawer put in instead.
Both witnesses identified prisoner as the man, bat Mr. Boon
said he was mush thinner, and accounted for it by his having
lived on bread and water or a month in Devises gaol.
Miss Annie Boon said she knew money was kept in the drawer,

but she never went to it.
John Seymour, of lielloway.row, Fordington, grocer and
baker, said on Thureday evening, February 16, prisoner asked
for a bed at. his bows Told him they did not take lodgers,
and recommended him to the public house below. Ha sold he
would make-shift anywhere rather thong° toe pub. Agreed to
let him sleep o.th his boy. He then took tea with them,
during which he said he had walked from Sallsbuii that•day,
he maid he wan too tired to go on, stayed at his hour:, Ull the
evening, when be said he would go to the office and telegraph
to his brother at Liverpool for some money. Next morring
I (Saturday) he came back, and said hls brother bad gone to
London, but his sister-in-law had sent him £5. He treated
the telegraph chap ot the Antelope, and while there a man
came in who owed him 1.3, end paid him, se now he had SS.
Ile added when I left your home to go to the telegraph office
I Lad only Is Ckl, and ill had paid for what I had here, I should
not have been able to telegraph: Be stayed till evening, and
bought of %Annie aeoat for LI, and a bailor 9s. They stayed up
late, and prisoner would not go to bed, for he said he wanted
t• go off by the first train en Sunday minting. and would not
lose It on any account—it would be as much as his eituaUen
was worth, lie paid then. an Saturday night, and left about
a quarter to ale on Sunday morning. Ile come to their house
in a cap, and went away wearing the hat. Os Friday night
prisoner said he 1.5 robbed of a £2O in note London and 'his
wotch, so had very little; they took pity on hier, and charged
him scarcely ony thing. on Saturday morning prisoner said
he slept the prey ;ems night at the Antelope. but would not go
away without pay .ng them. At night when be would not go
to bed, witness became suspicious, told his wife to take up
stairs all the money, lock all the drawers, and the front door,
and they took the keys up to bed a ith them. Before leaving
prisoner gave him the cop produced.
P.S. Cousins spoke to apprehending prisoner on Wednesday
morning, ea he was about to be liberated from Dm iron gaol,
and told him the charge: Itunicuffed him. Prlsones objected
to the bracelets on aeliount of the " compicuous appearance"
It would give him, but the sergeant told him " he must abide
by the laws ol the country if he broke them." Ile showed
prisoner the cap produced. and he said it was his. The
sergeant otated ho did net hear of the moo Ull he mit it in the
newspapers. It was also men by the Sa".sbury superintendent,
who wrote to him about the adds., so a man sailor-like in ape
primula, was li. cmtody there for a robbery under similar
eirctuwitalices. Cousins obtained his photograph, which the
Boom identified, and steps were then taken for his re-

• -
itpprohension.
Prisoner was committed for tried et the scallions.