The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-03-20 00:00:00

COMSPentlnter.
THE LATE MR. W. C. LACEY.
To the Editor.

Si,,— Far away in the north, where the snow lays
thick on the mountains of the lake district, I read
with deep regret the amount of the death of this
gentleman. ( Weymouth rtegrois, March Ifith).
knew him and respected him, and send this tribute to
his memory.
He was a friend to the agricultural labourer, I
remember "earls ago when the Wareharn and Purbeck
Labourers and Servant.' Friend Society was short of
funds awl seemed to be dying a natural death that he
took the post of honorary eecretary and treasurer, and
by his own energy f purpose awl lirmneee of character
noon stewed a balance on the right side. Those
farmers who were behindhand with their stiliacriptious
he spoke to on the market days at Wareham and Dr.
cheetmr and mails them pav up. Those who did not
belong to the society he induced to join, awl year after
year as he recounted the 'if, it, of the society awl its
advantsgen he was most pleased to t mow e a Wan,*
in hand, and the balance grew larger in his hands arid
the society proepered better than it had done before.
I have seen the Islemrers receive their money Nit,,
from his hands, with a pretty certificate of charaetcr
and efficiency, and have noticed the prowl 1' oh they
wore and their gratitude, which alike Nesse I the giver
and the receiver. Surely the labourers have lost an
energetic friend, whose place will be hard to fill. There
are many, too, who knew him ass kindly, gentlemanly
man, with affable manners awl hopeful voice, whose
word was as good as his cheque, for was it not said in
an old election song that—
Lacey, W C.,
Was renowned for e. s. ti.
And legal honesty."
And many more, when the bank, broke and trade
and labour seemed to have come to a standstill, will
remember how he stood in the plaee of the hank and
lent money far anti wide ti tile over the financial
difficulties. His was the hopeful, cheering voice, the
warm awl generous heart that tilled many a horue
! with gladness, when Without him all would have been
sad. Around his grave which now lois A good Inas
from sight I bring the flower's of memory and this
; tribute of esteem. One by one our Mewls fade away
and ails:appear, but memory clings round them yet.
! It is right when a grmil man tlimi to recall in awe
I faint manner, if we can, the events of his life, and to
point the lesson it teaches. He in gone to mingle with
the element, with the flower* and fruitful vines, with
all the sweet influences of the gentle spring. Let 'us
be like him, and—:

So live, that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan that moves
To that mysterious realm where each shall take
Hi, chamber in the silent butts of death,
Thou go not, like the quarry slave at night,
Scourged to his dungeon, but sem ech thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of big roach
About him, anal lies down to plca.ant ilrearos."
Yours truly,
"Lua Ill'l3lt Toa."

17th March, 1877.

CAPT. BOYTON ATTACKED BY A
A despatch from Mesdna says that Captain B.yinti
crosaed the Straits on the h inst. in a storm, chic*
the boats in great danger. Daring the pae.ute„
which occupied five hourA, the captain was attaeked by
a large shark, hut suceeedefl in driving off his assailant
before he was tattoo, although he received a sharp hlow
from its tail. The Ameriean Censul and several distils.
rushed gentleman were in the boats which aceompanied
him. Notwithstanding the heavy ~.ea running at the
time, Captain Boybm oafely pilaw,' through the most
dangerous whirlpools. A fieot .ntliusiantic neeption
from thousands of people awaited him on shore, where
he was officially received by the authorities.

A DRAMATIC SUICIDE.
A barber, named Felix Adolphe, who cut his throat
the other night in the Rue Saint Honor& Paris, has,
according to the papers left behind him a letter, which
is curious enough to reproduce. Here it is —"1:
loved, hoped, and believed. T.,4143' I 'WIN., &Var,
and hate. My heart has been killed; let my body be
so likewise. I exercise the only liberty that God has
given to man, and that society cannot deprive him of
viz., that of destroying himself. I was born with 3
taste for literature, and my parents made me a barber.
I was married to a good and handsome woman, led
jealous fate deprived me of her. Accursed be man,
accursed be the earth. I deliver my body to the
worms, my hatred to the infernal spirits, and expire

THE RADSITOCK RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
TRIM. r THE STATION MASTER.

At the 'Taunton Annirm Friday, Mr. .1 m.tien
Hawkins concluded the hearing of the chine
Henry ?deep, late dation master at WeHow, on the
Somerset mid hornet Hallway, of having, by neglect.
ing bin duty. contributed to the collinion on that 11110
ms the 7th Alignst last, whereby 13 personn lost their
liven. The evidence disclosed facts ail to the working
i 4 the lbw which elicited strong remarks of condemok.
tion from the Judge. With rderence to the iris .ner
it wan proved that on the night of the accident he lit
WeHow Station in charge of a telegraph by. while lie
attended the Liberal Me, at which suet of the inifortn.
nate passengers who were killed and maimed had
'pent the day. Thin boy gave the signal whieh
resulted in the collision. His Lordship nail he must
pass a severe sentetwe upon the prisoner an a warning
to persona in responsible positions nit to delegate
important duties ti subordinates. The Jury had
recommended the prisoner, whom they baled guilty .4
manslaughter, to mercy, but he (the Judge) felt
compelled, in the interests of public nsfety, ti part
upon him the severe sentence .4 12 months' hard
labour.

ASSAULT ON VICEA 'IIANCELLOR MALINS
At the close of the proceedings on Friday a man
named i 1301111,4 Coograve, who a fortni.iht ago had a
petition before the coort, Strew an eg,g at the Arks-
(liancellor, who had just risen from the chair, and
thus narrowly escaped being struck in the face. The
man was immediately seized by the usher, and ii
being ~ailed it by Mc lordship for an explanation of
his conduct, said he woo provoked to do an he hail
done by the oevere remarkA made upon him from the
bench when his petition w:us before the Court. A
police-officer, cent for by direction of the Vice.
Chancellor, took charge of the man until be could lie
handed over to the cuot,ly f the tipstaff .4 the (*.art
of raneery. 'hancellor Malice, tn coining into
court on at inlay miring, call the man who mada
the attack 0(0111 yester lily hail liven taken to prison
and searched, when a pistol, loaded to the muzzle, was
found upon him. Prisoner would he handed over to
the proper authorities that steps might be taken to
ascertain whether he Wa, answerable for his actions.
He certainly was a dangerous and the proper
course would be to prevent him from doing any harm.