The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-14 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

COUNTY COURT.--On Thursday the businem COO.
neoted with this court was transacted at the Guild-
hall, before E. Everett, Esq., but the cases heard
were almost devoid of interest 96 original plaints
had been entered on the hat, but many were settled
out of court. The following few cases will give an
idea of the general business tranaacted :
Mark Phillipps v. Mudd.—Plaintiff is an outfitter,
residing in Weymouth, and defendant is a steward
on board H.M.S. Black Prince.—The claim was for
9s. 6d., balance of account for clothes.—Defendant
did not appear, and judgment was given for pay-
ment in seven days.
Bartlett Wareham. —Claim 2s. 11d. for rent of
a sawpit—The parties belong to Portland.—Before
the cam was gone into, his Honor wished them to
settle it without his interference, but this they ifs.
dined to do, and he then said he supposed the " im-
portant" case must be gone into • but he should not
allow costa —Plaintiff said the cli:im was for the rent
of a sawpit, which he let defendant at £1 a-quarter.
—His Honor: What! £4 a lest •' that's enough for
the rent of a house.—lt appeared that defendant had
had the pit for one quarter, and had occupied it for
two weeks of the second, when plaintiff put hi awn
men there, so that defendant could not work in it,
and he therefore declined to pay the olaim.—Hi.
Honor gave judgment for defendant.
Thomas Dodson v. John Chalker. Claim
£l6 13s. 2d. for goods bought at a sale. —Defendant
said, before the case was gone into, he wished to
make an explanation. He had the money in his
tth,•
tethhecel a
i o
claim. n
in ly_
—t question
feDodson d a s
pocket ; but he had a set-off against plaintiff of
£2 13e. lid. for a kitchen range.—His Honor t
B There
aid h whetheri
plaintiffeo
nothing set-off
otwhii
nllengaraildut
then entered into a long rambling statement about
the kitchen range, but as he could not speak very
plainly, he horrified the Court by taking out a set of
false teeth. It appeared, however, that the set-off
had nothing to do with the plaintiff, and his Honor
gave judgment for payment in 14 days.
Pearce Gibbs v. Attwool.—Claim 2s. 6d. for rent.
—Plaintiff said the key of the house which she
rented of him at Portland was not given up until
24 hours after the proper time.—His Honor :—ls
that all? You are very exacting I—Plaintiff : If I
allowed one person a privilege others would take
advantage of it—Hi, Honor: Well, we shall hear
what she has got to say first.—lt appeared that de-
fendant had rented the house of plaintiff for nine
months, and when about to leave, plaintiff said she
could bring up the key that night or to-morrow
morning.—His Honor: I cannot give you the rent;
it is a most exacting thing. The house was left on
Monday and the key given up on Tuesday.
OUR Assizr.s.—On Wednesday evening a very
pleasing entertainment in connection with the Literary
and Scientific Institution, took place at the Bardon
Hotel Assembly Room, in which Mr. Basil Young
appeared in life sketches entitled, "Our Assizes."
There was a numerous attendance, who appeared to
enjoy the capital bill of fare provided. The enter-
tainment commenced by Mr. Young vocally
describing "The Sigma of thi Times,' and then
personating the character of Bog Miggles, a news-
paper ley, who laments the dreadful condition the
HOWs trade is in, and honestly admits that without
something "sensational" being in the " daffier.'
they would not sell, and then he has to sell nearly
a million before he can get sufficient to repay him
ifor his sereioes, aa the news-agents look out for
We. I. The character of Mies Belinda Searles( was
admirably delineated. Miss Belinda is a lodging.
house keeper, of 25 years' experience, and tells a
most pathetic account of the deplorable condition
lodging-letting has come to. She had lodgers
who when they left her premises put the little
tea that was left in their pockets, and two
gentlemen who remained with her daring
the Am see, actually, brought 14 knobs of lump
auger to sweeten their 14 cups of tea. Jodine
Skinner, an attorney, was a capital delineation of
limb of the law. Mr. Skinner had unfortunately,
fallen out with a friend, and ran up an immense bill
of costs for consultations respecting the purchase and
approval of wines, declaring that he could not forget
an injury. The greatest feature in the entertainment
was the great libel awe of " &zithers v. Withers,'
in which Mr. Young pleaded, argued,and queritioned
in a manner which rinsed the greatest amusement.
As counsel for the plaintiff he assumed the character
of Mr. Horsehair Wigin, and opened his case in due
form by addressing my lord and gentlemen of the
jury. It appeared that Mr. Smithers and Mr.
Withers, who were next door neighbours, were on
the best of terms, and plaintiff carried on the highly
respectable and lucrative business of a baker. On
the moroing in question, in which the libel complained
of took place, • dispute arose between Mrs.
Smithers and Mrs. Withers, which, after souse
altercation resulted in defendant's wife telling
plaintiff's" That Mr. Smithers was no better than
he ought to be." This was the libel complained of,
end which the learned counsel for the plaintiff con-
tended inflicted the greatest injury upon his client,
damaging his reputation, and also his business, 'Ludt
the Jury could only make hint amends for the rest-
less days and aleepless nights he had passed, since
the libel had been uttered, by giving hint a yarding
for heavy damages. The learned counsel then
resumed his seat, when almost instantaneously he
again appeared for the defence, but quite different
in appearance, voice, and action, from when
he conducted the libellous prosecution. As
Mr. Searga Black he said he gave his
learned friend the conned for the plaintiff
the greatest amount of praise for the ingenuity he.
bad displayed in placing the case before the jury,
but contended that it had miserably broken down..
He admitted that Mrs. Smithers did say, "That Mr..
Withers wm no better than he ought to be," but
added that the climate would not allow of it. My
lord, the gentlemen of the jury, and himself, were
no better than they ought to be; but they could not
help it. He maintained that the case had not been
proved, and asked the jury not to saddle his client
with damages. Mr. Young then retiree, but in the
course of • few seconds announces that the jury have
returned a verdict for defendant. The characters in
the penny readings, in connection with the Widdle-
cum-Wooddle-oum Mutual lmerovement Society,
• were very correctly represented, and, judgingfrons
the general direct& of such readings, were highly
appreciated. The entertainment, from filet to
wee replete with amusement, and many hopes were
expressed that Mr. Toting would soon visit
Weymouth
BOROUGH &imam, Monday.—Bedire the Mayor.
Joha Stephenson, • onelegged sailor, Walloharged
with being drank and begging on Sunday afternoon
on the Dorchester-road.—Tbe case was proved by
P.C. Mitchel, who said he was on the Esplanade OH
the dey in question, when be received numerous,
oomplauits about the conduct of the pi/rimer. H.
proceeded thither, and found him begging. He •
then took him in custody, but after preoseding some
distance he refused to go further, and had to be taken
to the station on a atreteher. —He wap sentenced to
three weeks imprisonment.
TUISDAY.—Before the Mayor (Captain Prows.).
E. Bayley, and It. Cottrell, &qrs.
John De Lane, a boy, was cl-; with breaking
• pane of glees in the Chapehaltional ProhooL—
It appeared, however, that the boy's father bad
been to the Bev. G. Philippe, and bad paid the
damage, Nod the clergyman did not no* didiffte
press the case.—The Mayor expressed regret eat
this should have been done, as tbs boy did
*good character, and, after reprirrainding • r
be came before them again for a similar r r
should punish him severely. reali
Robert Sheen. • pilot, was summoned by.
Haile, soother of she lame mitt for
• ,