The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-08-21 00:00:00

A SCENE IN COURT.

At the Westminster Police Court on Saturday, Ada
if iFFy Trarester,l6, described as an actress, WAR charged
with stealing some blankets, sheets, china, &c., from
the coffee house, No. 486, King's-road, Chelsea.—The
prosecutor states! that at one o'clock on Friday morn-
ing a cabman brought the prisoner and she took a
lodging at his house; at ten o'clock she ordered a cup
of tea, a round of toast, and a newspaper, for which
she paid, and then went away in a cab. —The prisoner:
There wasn't enough butter on the toast. —Mr.
D'Eyncourt asked the pri,oner, who became violent,
to he smiet, and conduct herself properly, at which
she burst out laughing, and balanced herself on the
edge of the dock, and then tying a handkerchief tightly
round her neck, said she would choke herself--
Proseentor said the things were worth Wis.—Prisoner :
About 20., you mean.— Mr. D'Eyncourt wished to
know if the prisoner was sober, or in her right senses.
—Davis (assistant gaoler) stated she was sober. It was
wickedness. —Prosecutor said she was a stranger to
him—Edward Samon, a pawnbroker's' assistant, pro-
slueed some tea-nips pledged by the priss•ner for Ss.—
Prisoner: Don't blush. Who are you calling a prisoner?
11l hit you in the eye. How many things have you
stolen in your time? Prosecutor identified the cups.
Prisoner : Don't cry about it—Vim. F. Roberts, a
cab-driver, said he was called to take the prisoner tip
at the coffee-house. —Prisoner : Yes, and a nice old
robber yon are—The cabman said he took the prisoner
up; she was very bulky —Ro much so that she could I
hardly climb into the cab. After driving her alma to
various places, he went to Batter& a Bridge, and she
would not pay the toll ; he afterwards drove
ti a pawnbroker's, and there else pledged the
cups and saucers. lie basked through the trap of Isis
cab, alla saw the prisoner taking blankets and sheets
From round her body, and wrapping them in a new.
paler. and he took her G. the poliee-station. —Pri-
,,,mer yes, rn give yon something when I get Issasl
of you. —The Cabman said he hmt hot been paid his
fare. Prisoner : You won't have any money 4,11 t of
ins ; murder you when I get boll of you ; 11l I-sill
your nose out of your face.—Mr. IVEyneourt told the
prisoner to be quiet and not make grimaces. -Prissmer
I,,gan gesticulating visdently, sinsl said ahe 111%111 a
Innatie—disln't she look like ~no? She felt the madness
.miss••: on her. -Pollee-emu:table John Manley sail
her clothes were at a I s• where the cabman called;
they were detained for 30.. rent she owed.—Prisoner
said she would give them 30 " Is,b." in the eye ; she
wanted a snn,,ze and a wash. Mr. D'Eyneseirt asked
her how 01.1 she was. -Prisoner : 17 come Sunday.—
Mr. D'Eyncond iemandel her for a week, and she
jumped out of the dock shouting, "Whoa Emma!"
On being removes! to the cell she tried to strangle her-
self, and smashed the things on which her food was
given her.

A THOROUGHLY SUCCESSFUL HANGING.
There is romu for improvement in the method in
which executions are conducted in this country, and
there is a still greater need for reform of the gallows
in America, where "hangings" are as a rule so
clumsily managed that the unhappy criminals too
often die a lingering and horrible death A man,
however, named Guidry, who was hanged for murder
at New Orleans on the 25th of last month Was
fortunate enough to die simultaneously, owing to the
fact that he personally superintended the arrange-
ments for his own execution. Guidry, who was a
remarkably intelligent murderer, when brought on to
the gallows, on inspecting the rope by which he was to
be hanged, at once saw that it was not long enough for
the purpose. "The fall," he said to the sheriff, "will
not be enough. I want a regular 'break-neck' fall
about ten feet." The sheriff at once took the neces-
sary steps to comply with this request, and the rope
was lengthened accordingly and adjusted round the
criminal's neck. Guidry then, after a scornful
remark as to the general clumsiness of existing
arrangements for the extinction of life, pointed out to
the sheriff that the rope was too tight and the knot in
the wrong place. The eheriff, grateful for any sugges-
tion, immediately. re-adjusted the rope and drew the
cap over Guidry s face. Thin Was the "straw that
broke the camels back," and Guidry could no longer
suppress his laughter. The cap he pronounced to be
a complete farce, "it Was too thin, and be could see
through it." The point, however, not being of sue-
dent Importance, he would not ilelay his execution
any longer on this account, and, continuing to laugh
immoderately, he allowed the sheriff to proceed. He
died apparently in a moment without pain or struggle,
having, as the Nip, York Herald elegantly expresses
it, "bossed the job himself," and thus secured the
"first thoroughly successful hanging" that has taken
place for a long while in the United States.—Pall
.Vall Gaxtte.