The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-01-11 00:00:00

ROBBING iMyLOT6II.

--. —.—
Robert RUA. (14, was indicted for stealing at Dorchester,
on the lit of November and at other times, one gun, two
pistol*, one gun stock, two gun locks, threr powder flasks,
three shot poucheei, and other articles. the property of
klentazue Charlie. Weston, solicitor.

Mr. Collins appeared (or the prosecution.
Prisoner pleaded guilty, but was represented by Mr.
Lock.
Mr. Collins said Mr. Weston was the well known
*elicitor of Dorchester, and the prisoner came into his
employ last March as clerk. In • room in which he was
supposed to perform him duties were several gun. and
fishing nets. Mr. Weston having given up sporting, had
not looked at them things for years, but from information
received he searched the eases and then found • double-
barrelled gun, a gun aback, three powder flaska, a shot
pouch, a pistol, and a Itching basket had been stolen. It
wanted the prisoner hail taken the keys, unlocked the
different eases, sold the articles, and then said he had lost
the keys. A number of things had been stolen which
were of great value. In looking over the depositions in
this case he (Mr. Collins) could not help thinking some of
the witnesses hail become moat improperly possessed of
the articles, especially mentioning the names of William
Green, of Fordington, and Staff-Sergeant Purtell of the
Dorset Militia, who had bought the things of the prisoner
much below their value.
Mr. Lock asked the Court to look at the depoaitions,
saying his client was a mere boy who hail been tempted
and encouraged in his traffic by men of much more ex-
perience than he. Ilibbe had been in prison already for
one month, and on this ground he asked the court to pass
a mitigated sentence on him.
Mr. Collins informed the Court Green was a watch-
maker. at Fordinaton, but was • great hand at pigeon
shooting, and was • sporting man.
The Chairman, addnaising prisoner, said he had pleaded
guilty to an indictment charging him with a most serious
offence. The Court had some difficulty In dealing with
this case. It bad been suggested prisoner had been led
into these bad habits by worse cnminala than himself,
but he had no facts betcre him upon which to form a
judgment whether or not he had been so led, but, even if
he had, yielding to such temptations was • most serious
offence, because he was now quite of sufficient age to
judge of what was right and wrong. There was no pres-
sure upon, no difficulties or poverty of any kind, to have
led him into the wrong path except the wicked advice of
other men. lie (the ehainnan) could not look upon this
offence as of • light description, hut after what hail been
said by the counsel on both sides the court would not
plum such • heavy sentence on him as they should other-
wine have done. Looking at the (exts of the case they
hoped the ends of justice would be ruet by their passing a
sentence of six months hard labour on him. With
regard to the question wl.ich hail been very properly
r.used as respected the men who bought the articles, as
he had said before, it was impossible for the Court to
come to any certain opinion upon their conduct, hut at
the same time they felt quite sure they had conducted
themselves, to say the very least, with the greatest careless-
ness and negligence—a negligence which In law amounted
to complicity, or even taking it as negligence it amounted
to criminal negligence, and if the parties had been placed
before the Court the case against them might have
assumed • %my different appearance from what it now
did. The Court were satisfied their conduct wee in the
higluvit degree culpable, and the only way they hail it in
them power to mark the manner in which Green and
Purtell had conducted themselves was by ordering them
no allowance as witnesses. The Court ordered the pro-
perty recovered to be given up to Mr. Weston.

ROBBERY FROM I.YESSRL7MEAVY-SiMT.- EXCEL

1110CDiadem (2)), and David David (21), who described them-
selves as seamen, were charged with stealing from the
brigantine LOUIIIII lying in Weymouth harbour, a bottle of
brandy. R 5 cigars and various other articles, the property
ol John Randall.
_ .

Mr. Lock prosecuted.
It seemed that on the 21st of November last, the
prosecutor left his ship at eight o'clock in the evening,
having securely fastened his cabin. On the following
morning when he went on board, It was discovered the
mate that the skylight lashings having been removed the
cabin bad been entered. The state room had also been
entered, as well as the locker were the brandy was kept.
A quantity of cigars and • bottle of ',ready MIN found to
he missing. Oil searching the Lady Louise, a vessel lying
close In' the police found the property which had been
lost. Wilson hail threatened to toff about the affair but
Davis hl told him if he did lie would choke him. The
lad, however, made a statement which implicated all the
prisoncrs. _

The jury found Davis and WILIGII guilty, recommending
the latter to mercy; l'atterson and NeCluskey they found
not guilty.
Wilson pleaded guilty to having been convicted in lath
at Waterford, and alto in 170. Davis also pleaded guilty
to a previous conviction at illamorgan in 1,4711.
Davis said it was all through the drink. and it was in
the last case, awl that was why they " fetchw.l" him in
The Chairman said the best thing they could do for the
two prisoners would be to pass • severy sentence, and
that would he coven yeani penal servitude each. At
this i.Lcy wept bitterly.
The other two were discharged.