The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-07-18 00:00:00

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PIDDLE HINTON.

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BAZIATH 07 CONTRAOL—A boy, 15 years of age, I
named William Stiokland, was summoned before
the County Bench at Dorchester, on Saturday,
by Mr. W. H. Dunman, his master, for breach of oon-
tract in leaving his service. Mr. Dunnian said that be
gave the boy 2s. 64. a week payable monthly as servant
in husbandry. A week ago last Wednesday, defendant
and another boy was at plough with horses, and his
Lead °amen was ploughing in the RIIMB 6,1 d with four
oxen. He wanted his oxtnan in the hay field, and told
him to take the horses the boys were at work with, and
put his own oxen on the small soarrifisr for the boys to
work with. Upon this the defendant left, and he had
not been to work since. The defendant, in reply to the
charge, said that the day before, while he was at work
with the acarrifier, not been able to manage it properly
It hart his shoulder, and he wai not able to do the work.
When he refused his master ran after him to give him
"a good hideing," but he ran away from him. He bad
I no objection to go back to his work for 3s. 64. a week.
There were three days' wages due to the boy when he
ran away, which the Bench ordered to be forfeited.

A WELL-PLEADED CASE.- George Groves was sure.
moned before the County Benoh at Dorchester, on
Saturday, for allowing • cow to stray on the highway on
Monday, the 3rd July. P.O. 68 said that be saw the
cow grazing by the side of the road for the space of 10
minutes. He then went down to it, and a boy came
along and drove it home. The defendant thought this
a very hard case. If the laws were altered, the least
thing he thought that eould be done was for the police
to tell them about it. But he denied .the charge. The
feats were these :—He sent his boy to drive his cow to
water, and the boy—as boys would—stopped on the road
to talk to a mason mixing mortar, and while he w:s
talking the policeman came along. If it was the law,
he thought it a very bad one that beasts must not be
driven to water. The magistrates were ones boys
themselves, and he dare say they had sometimes loitered
on the road. Mr. H. Willia.ms, the chairman, told the
defendant he had better give his boy instructions to be
a little more expeditious in future, and dismissed the

A HOUSE BURNT DOWN. —On Saturday morning a
house was burnt to the ground in this village, which
was occupied by Mr. Richards. It appears that the
fire originated in the fine of a bakehouse adjoining.
The flames spread very rapidly the roof being composed
of thatch, and threatened to involve a large amount of
property in destruction. Fortunately Mr. Wellspring,
builder, of Dorchester, had a number of men at work in
the village, and they proceeded to the spot with ladders,
and succeeded in cutting off the communication between
the burning building and the adjoining houses. Wet
blankets and other articles saturated with water were
placed upon Mr. Mayo's house as a further protection.
A fire engine was ob.ained from Mr. Bridge's, Manor
Souse, which was vigorously and usefully brought into
play. The Dorohester engine also started, but when
within shout a mile of the fire, the superintendent was
met by Major Astell and informed that the fire was so
far got under as to render it unnecessary for the engine
to proceed. Consequently, the town engine returned.
Most of the furniture was removed from the burning
house. It appears that the premises were not actually
insured, although Mr.' Richards 'had made application
for a policy. Superintendent Underwood, of the
County Constabulary, and Superintendent Pouncy, of
the borough fire brigade, were present.