The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

WICYROUTII COUNTY COURT. --A Cale which ex
eite.l considerable local interest came on at this
Court on Thursday last, before E. Everitt, Esq.,
Judge. It was an action of replevin brought by
Lewis against WeWord, arising out of a distraint
for rent, and disclosed certain equivocal pro-
ceedings at the late Parliamentary election for the
borough. Plaintiff is a journeyman watchmaker,
and rents a house of defendant, who is a merchant of
Weymouth, and a magistrate. Plaintiff pleaded that
the rent was paid in virtue of a promise made by de-
fendant to forgive it in consideration of his voting for
the Conservative members at the late election. He
voted as agreed and considered his contract fulfilled.
Defendant denied the promise, and distrained for the
rent. Mr. Woodfonle Ffooks with Mr. H. N.
Howard appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Stgal I
for the defendant. The damages having been placed
at £23, the case proceeded, the hearing of which
occupied nearly four hours. Mr. Welsford strenti•
ously denied throughout his examination that be had
ever promised "to make the rent all right," or that he
had ever said anything whatever to that effect.
Henry Lewis, the plaintiff, Mary Ann Lewis. his
wife, and Ann Sill, the wife's sister, swore positively
to hearing conversation between plaintiff and defen-
dant, in which defendant gave the plaintiff to under-
stand that if he voted for the Conservative candidates
he would not be asked for the rent. His Honour
remarked that there was no doubt the promise had
been made; but the question was, was this a pro-
' miss binding in law? Did it release • debt legally

due? Mr. W. Ffooks quoted cases and contended
that the promise made was equivalent to a payment.
and that consequently "accord and satisfaction"
had been made in respect of the rent. His Honour
said tbere was a distinction between this case and
those quoted by Mr. W. Ffooks, where the debts
were illegal, whereas in this instance there was a good
debt in law. Mr. Hooks said he would leave the
came in the Judge's hands, but if his Honour should
be against him, be thought the decision would not
be final. His Honour said he would look over the
cases quoted, and defer his verdict until the next
Court.

MAILS TO AND FROM JERSEY AND GUERNSEY.—
The auxiliary mails to and from Jersey and Guernsey
by way of Weymouth have ceased, and the mails for-
waided via Southampton have been increased to
four each week. The mails will be despatched from
London on the evenings of Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday; and will be received in
London on the mornings of Monday, Tuesday, Thurs-
day, and Friday.—By command of the Postmaster
General, HOWLAND HILL, Secretary. General Post-
office, Jan., IS6O.
ACCIDENT.—On Friday last a lad named John
Williams, aged 16, met with an accident which
terminated fatally. He was working at a house in
John-street, and was ascending a ladder with some
building materials, for a man at the top, and had ar-
rived at the eighth or ninth round of the ladder, when
be turned to look at some boys playing with drums
and fifes in the street, and missing his hold fell to
the ground, pitching on his head and shoulders.
He was taken to the Infirmary, and received every
necessary attention from Dr. Moorhead, the surgeon
of the Infirmary, but died the following evening, in
consequence of severe injuries received in the head.
Tbe coroner, being made acquainted with the circum-
stances, considered an inquest unnecessary, as the
boy's father was present at the time.
LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITCTION.—A lec-
ture in connection with this institution was delivered
on Wednesday evening last, at the Victoria Hotel
Assembly Rooms, by Waterhouse Hawkins, Es' q., on
" The Age of Dragons." The chair was taken by
Captain Hunter.