The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-07-29 00:00:00

DORSET SUMMER ASSIZZS.

r *ion heter
Yorkshire

The commission for holding these assizes was
opened at Dosch'sSur on Wednesday, by Mr. Justice
Williams, who arrived at the Great Western Railway
Station shortly after two o'clock, and at once
proceeded to his lodgings in a private carriage.
His Lordship was shortly afterwards escorted to the
County Hall by Yoseph Gundry, Esq., High Sheriff;
F. W. Gunciryelitk.ig., Under Sheriff ; the Rev. W.
C. Templer Sh,IMAa G. J. Andrews,
Cebeififelerko&s. On the eommission being,
opened, Mr. 311qø WW the-Biel aborffri and
the ntlenisstitat Atesondod them proceeded with
the AO* add ;Corporation of Dorchester to St.
Petir's Church, where an excellent sermon was
pfeschat*lle 'Sheriff's Chaplain, from 1 John
iv, &----,

:
rti4ROWITeCOUHT, THURSDAY.
•• (BsAre—Mt.- Jtognos Karalna)

His Lordship took his seat on the Bench at 10
o'clock “Theire was • numerous list of magistrates
present, therfellowing of whom were sworn on the
grando,rtts.e. •,. • -
• ..11.101iiiiiiirtt,Esq., foreman.
B. g3regjokt4gegi.' . c. IL Michel, IDK.
W 0. F. Stewart, Esq.
.... Viettigrrit. ; , 11. Thornton, Esq.
H. C. ii, Esq.' B. Williams, Esq.
H.
BILIW49' P 44. H. Williams, Esq. .
C. Ain . ng; EN. IL WiMame, Bev
J. C. Memel, F... E. H. Smith, Esq.
Cl. P. mmel, Esq. W. Eliot, Esq.
Therstiaat. fti,,.tlaid,datct.,. . ,
rality a AA,'
ifkai: toa• l3nstanikimiri."•'!..ll-,,T01•
of .ilim, .4 VW 'lbill,4ll,,._ealtsvdot
tWelis,
wi 1/I""Slicku ~, ..° ',-. 'llo.' bol
.
contain a 11. iot.iit .
itstet,sl .
of prissier. ~!,., -,, .I. WU
. ....
to 4g..den—a num .' wEic con &ours :
witb—the- ear-enat with whith it wax my d
deal4l3lll Mier AteesllM I F. The '
ecelbillsal* ei * APuCtl,lnttitre-4,.
6 onsihostis_.: Con; who se Wagged
ratitqt! ;Sip* Was IC essii hal mid& the.'unforta-
a• - Oftiftilr. l'ildlet),-tam.. his medical
atten t. e' aite. the, aur4dd..pt Or goxiittin of
the Wimiignlik. Iliqiwp VOlk,theonap i.l2iiir, I.s AP-
pears that the-clieealasidwent th'thii housedfthis`man,
who selirpoichim in a very wild, recklees, and ferocious
maadr aNiq *ROO* we. of "t enelrealretia kind
that after the event he mutilated the boAy in a most
shocking and horrid way. Of the -fact of the
ho .. • ~.. ere will be no doubt; but the circni
is n,
, 7 :1".1 6 csie'will perba_pe suggest a question
.
~
Was - ii e inty of the man at the time of
lai .• MIL. :'4lioeed. Should such be the case you
wi 1 Ifrfr",.. . • when the corneahill before you,
A
.... • i* . . question had iettor be decided in
epigram* •iswll.perheçsb. better for you to
lingtheiso that when A.Oomes to be dealt with
hem agiagei es* may be made for his future
detentiolihok: d Insanity be .preved.. I • regret,
thsgalli 40108.1ang - '44,,,ilogeeAß",hat.cel
there atejit• than Wee ottarg.sqoUrape ; atit
nopeaki to me that spine more stringent measure for
%h.% Arotectiqn of women is required then now exists._
To crime Leone which I fear 1/1110t on the decrease.
1 tiltill ttAiritiilliMitihrg moo: VW& MU MAW'
tr°l44l9o4Wl***whP 'Wt. cali to tlo9l4tatt
wastologeolactinlisrihouldm ho the best .
thrown round them. We nuuWdoall ia lour vower
to protect the at the mune time the greatest
diligence add*, Ilt tacptiredin exan#ning into such
cases. The parties are gonenaly alone, inad it is not
an easy matter to prove onesioneesnoe. His Lord-
Alp expressertlir fere_ rtlisdi 'there was alito, one
ig,t.lito "gereacia'f, "he ‘i4hoingl.,At
fp iontr I 1 1 Mir uittiiidiiitelidat ghat; it Wad a
case o 11-reckless character, and of a cruel and
ehocklig(dtespriptieni Lie did net think there we
any other cases.thp.t isterved -any cerement from
him, with theli eelsi esperiefice; but sheuld they
• -
('N'3floir tir be, tvoilld be happy to afford any
hi .... .•' th& applying to him for it. He
i die Vtpd pTtolc to their duties. -
. • . . ~, :,

tnnil
het:

Viii
11

ir.a"-•' • .1.t4.00:114450NP5.

4.1 ',tic, -, .
ail• 1
Fi '',_'Bilitimttrtv att .00iSitirilattlas.
"nts, 20, kbaeler, free °barged with breaking
ndFiliiinflat the dwelling-house of Elizabeth Law-
'reiteo46. Obtfe lithlosti,'on the 18th March last, and
stlalfhg therefriet 110.- lba Weight of Moon and 3 lbs.
weight of candles. 1:W• rooks. prosecute:a. Prose.
oietriefertidtat an. disowns sleeping on the ground-door,
and that about two o'clock in the morning in question
sha_amallisturbeel ~1* a hoist which she at first sup-
pyr,itsji, rat, Shegot up and found the noise did
bOMedd Wain ieribi deilltsbei Shen be light .' On I
going to the back part ofleetwe she found that half the
ididttllntid•wsorlgiv. had, berm temorod, and the beck
door was open: She then looked about her shop, and
3 be ot candles,
tviviikar_tio..l,slo said that about half-past
t oo' chic on tihe morning of the robbery he reamed
1 of the robbsiir from the proseoutrix. He
,Wieumined the premises, and found the back shutter rec
moved, leaving a hole mfiloiently large for a man to
get througlrafentside the house were footharks, which
'w 1eki411042/31ndainte! Prisfaler's father's house,
r I:prisoner oil. : The same afternoon he went
Se prisoner's-home, and saw his sister:- She gave him
.. . .
groMl9Fgellnist VI? &Tar'
rittotit.hair 'otrialchfritie Ouse ictassii' _
lessiady corivilkiided. &Wl* the two beings
IztXeonginsa dela, and it was quite evident
'*ring the boots bad pulled them Off,
a-Trigifer,,ashorrir • without them. He afterwards
tooke.tbs, ,prisoner. —to the field, and made him
tate...daft_ his boots and stockings, and the im-
pression corresponded With the footmarks across the.
fieldY. • 1111Sfl, r hbWeafer, was dans a week after AP
robbery. It appeared tkat.po_property wig found in
litiszeihafvg4lntsvilt.iordeuphoi:
itli ?vary
.it rtourall 134
e:fafeetekm,.but there was no perdhle7Vertifet,
11C-2- Briltantir AR WILYWOrrat
41444,10. Oriott;f 22, braientoulder, pled Mit,' gt
burglarionsiy breaking and entering the divellifig-house
of Frederiitbin, it Weymouth, on the 13th Ism'
hart; itnct" Waling' a' dixoenoy-piece and divers other
ailvdrhloWe. ' :He, alpleaded guilty et having .been
convicted of felOnT last year at . Bristol.—Sergeant
Laveedgrof 3Ari4pere, mid that when he apprehended
the Prisoner, be found ia his Pocket a libt of jewellers'
áo.-a4- Weymouth and, pridport. 7 The judge, in
Mtlitielo ow r
eir'l7llErnrottiall 21'1 bseuer7liagf•hi
&selves, ' matches, portion of a candle, either fee
foiciw 6pon &bre and. ,boxee—taken in conjunction
selthelhe .t theta liet of jewellers' shops was also in
ids risemessiettarberf apprehended, he liad. no doubt that
Mamas! nu slated , member -of , a.' professed gang of
bartlism t'irskiieg thews .things tri
ter+ with the fare
toWlk.,l;ol4l4s;rii-tan ort:lziag, in
p:ont
& ji. er i .' , .
?q' .."
"6imiLimilid os Cammnitra.

tiedia4f3ll9`P.A4ll44lll?fiedt .:07.1:4'
burying its. dead body, at Wirliane Minster, in the
monthretdannary last. The learned judge said that
from loo*.zr4V clanosigo in ins; case there was
DO 1.01160 WO' Wti el. tbhuu that the child was
stillborn. _She hpd , given herself up etterwerdts.4o
cliftflritgeok telte of ooniasimum ; Ind tak g
this silitssitaimideristion, and also that she had been
itk *a le* nbolet *I months, the sentence in her case
Isbakkim..thalbtshe be imprisoned and kept to hard
taboo, tokiketpaen ti I calendar month.
,
l/Ml*olr 'AT Limn RIGIB.
William Rig, 18, labourer, was charged with setting
firito aldirew riek, at Lyme Regis, on the 14th March
last, the property .of Hobart Cox Fudge, farmer.—Mr.
;millelppritsemited..—The proseontor merely ,proved
. 994Cith was destroyed with fire was lax
~?, I*, %Oaks et -prisoner, having nerter,szin
later
414. Vaivit;r, tt9eg tttia;u:tf trear4stilirrobb: ste ent:
the .prisoner gelatin the direction from the straw-rick.
.He was then about 30 or 40 yards from the rick. She
immediately afterwards saw amoke issuing from the
rickit,then appeared to hake been first set on fire.
tkle"d"Pg'irfra.'"4 r i rlyPed 41r.
Fle.l Wm'
seen. —Bergeant Tee said Ile 'too prisoner
intco-eatterly Dext.day. When he was in the cell he
4pietfor him and told him be wanted to make estate-
' . Alter the Usual caution had being given him,
prisoner sail •.O 1 with ,to tell you I did set fire to
etate. 1,11. it 'vi'llt ilet mat*, 1 didit
yt2litlive,tried_ . ,Wards sat that he bought tie
lyrt, and that he meant to set some-
thing on ire. uwe had riot been taken he should roost
likth Ill"; set ittp to somethm. * else. When before
illb aWilt...
t, 1 - -7tl' The priloper lithr"a hope r shall fiet
ti!Testlir "814 ......84 Meaner horifsaid -that Sergeant Tee
hi li- filin whenwhenhe ode the state. ment, to.oompel
but mgn .make it.--The jury fn ond the •prisoner guilt'',
suggesteAmmheThe surgeon
: ..•.p. ..41.4,vii,40 .04u4.0.c.k•Aw
goii!lsA..... •.' -ir°14041,r.... 441...,....rene55u1t 10104
- - appeared rery s i:eiTt`wrivi.'....`
14&it
% alVVrt b,*".4=14611
*null ,tui7r t5t:i.r.:;,...;.1.0.bai .../x.r.-•

and another pol onoe each. The chaplain Bald he was
tho best tourist and sibrewsleat prisoner in the gaoL
With regtrd to his stategont of having been in
Dortheeter gaol, it was true. He had been imprisoned
for a month for breaking windows. The other cares
had not been inquired into.—Sentenced 103 years' penal
servitude.

' SKOPLINTING AT WKIMOtiTH.
An* r*Onspkill, 26, servant, pleaded guilty of stealing
30 yagds of silk ald 18 yards of ribbon,, the property of
-Jahn Sqalie Galara, dWelath, on the 4th July.l
*e also pleaded iguiltirlstealing shawl and 13 yards
of sikk,the prpoirlty of mimllenry Williams, draper,
44 Weymouth, oa the 44 July. She slappleaded guilty
of havieg been convicted of felony and sentenced to -
mouths imprisonment in Leeds- gaol, in the name of
Jane Nelson, in April of last year.—The judge, in
passing sentence on the prisoner. mid that she had
plaided guilty to two cases of larceny after a twelve
months' imprisonment for felony: Her sentence was
passed in April last year and her enlargement from gaol
would take place on the 3rd April in the present year.
It was luite evident therefore that to seek her reforms-
tion-byymprimmineat was melees. She had come from
Yorkshire and immediately commenced plundering the
so eTen in Dorsetshire to a very large amount, and in
tenrone a manner that showed her to be anything
but a novice in this work. The sentence therefore
which he would pass upon her was, that she be kept to
wad servitude for the space of four years.

-
OBTAINING HORNY BY PALM PRILTESCBS.
Francis Weal, 20, oordwainer, was indicted with
having unlawfully obtained, by falae pretences, various
sums of money from Ann Maria Worthey, the property
of Samuel Worthey, at Shethorne.—Mr. Hodges prose-
cuted.—The prosecutor said he was landlord of the
Lamb beenthop, Sherborne. The 18th July was
fair-day. Prisoner came to his house, and he asked
him to assist 'him to place a table on trestles, and
remove a hamper of ginger beer, for which he
gave him a pint of beer. Witness never gave
him any orders to go to big wife for payment of any
kind, or for money for any purpose whatever.—Ann
Maria 'Worthy said, that on the day in question the
prisoner came to her and said Mr. Worthy had sent
him for some bread and cheese. In about an honr-and-
a-half afterwards he came to her and said Mr. Worthy
had Rent him for some coppere,for change, and she gave
him Is. worth. . He came as3n for coppers for change,
and she then gave him 2s. nroith of coppers, telling him
to
t I Mr. Worthy to take care of his chars !,., for she
was et mle ting short. He next cae for so,: sixpences
i for tinge, and she gave him four sixpences. He again
asked her for bread and cheese, and she gave him
some more. Prisoner said the landlord was drank
all that day—that he did give the money to him, and
that he had that day perjured himself. Sentence : Three
mo*ha' hard labour,
CRIMINAL ASSAULT.
Bienry PevereU, 29 labourer, was charged with
assaulting Elizabeth Joyce, and carnally knowing her
against bee will on the 25th March, at Lytchet Ministers.
-=Hr. Rooks prosecuted, and Mr. Collins defended the
prisener.—Elizabeth Joyce said tbat she was 14 years
of age on the 21st of May last. She lived with her
tattler and mother at Lytchet. On the 25th March
she wept to see her grandmother. She left her grand-
moilier'e at lialf-pa.st six o'clock, and called to
see .Mrs. _Skinner, with whom she was acquainted.
Sher remained there some time, and Mrs. Skinner told
herishe had better go home as her father would not
lik4 her being so late. The prisoner was at Mrs.
Skihner'a when she left. While she was going through
the fields to her father's, about three-quarters of a
,mil*, the prisoner overtook her, and put his hand
r rouhd her. She told him she would tell her father, and
herleplied : "D
-7---)our father,l don't care about him."
.fifeiwent some distance farther, and then committed the
Offence for which he was arraigned. She struggled and
lijuleavoured to resist him, but did not hellos, SS she
,qpie crying, and she had not breath. Witness was sub-
jected to a long and painful cross-examination by pri-
soqer's counsel, when she denied that she had ever
..hre -been assaulted in a similar manner.—Sarah
slojce, the mother of the complainant, said that she
; membered her daugLter coming home on the evening
the 25th March. She heard her sobbing before she
ned the door. As soon as witness opened the doer,
, saw her crying, and holding her stomach. She
~.16
1. e a complaint against a person, and appeared greatly
*i misted. Witness and her husband immediately
'ml
Arent to Skinner's, where prisoner lodged, and
;zoom after they 'were there prisoner came
in. Her husband asked his name, and be
'refused to give it. He said, "I'll give yen some-
.thing else to look at before to-morrow night." Wit-
nets said. You have been "driving work with our girl—
yen ought to be ashamed of itvaseaultieg is gieltbirteen
years old." He said "Oh, d— it." They gave infer-
rAion to the police. • The next day her daughter took
t he where the assault was alleged to have taken place,
and there were dents in the grass where there had evi-
dently been a struggle. On the 27th she took her
daughter to Mr. Parkinson, surgeon. There were
marks on her linen, which were shown to the doctor.
.Her clothes were not torn at all.—Charles Brown
Parkinson, surgeon at W imborne, said the last witness
brought her daughter to his surgery on the 27th March,
arid from an examination which he mule be had no
esitatipn in saying the child had been recently au-
'awl in the way alleged. There was an absence of
rises on her body. P.C. Woodrow said that the
"mr, when asked for his name, refused to give It;
.s denied seeing her on the night in question;
s girl identified him immediately when
...s before her. Mr. Collins then addressed the
jury -for the prisoner,. and called Mary Ann Skinner,
who said hiss prisoner lodged at her hones. The prose-
outrix called there on the 215th March, about 7 o'clock in
the evening. Prisener said "Come in are; you
druid of a man D" and she said, "No, I am not
afraid' .of ter-, or three men." Prisoner said
I shall, ecinie up to your house to-morrow night, and
another :lodger said perhaps the girl will show you
through "this mud. When she went home, she went
out of the beck door, and the prisoner went out of the
ant door, and they went and talked for two minutes.
heq she went away he followed her, and the
'eked over *her shoulder. She seemed to give him
encouragement to follow him. Witness knew the girl's
tither and mother well, and wondzred they allowed
her to go on in the way she did without attempting to
stop her.—Sarah Banks said she had had some con vet,
Didion with the prosecutrix, and that she had told her
she was as well agreed as this man.—James Brown, of
Organford, said he had known the proseentrix-on five
occasions.—fleorge Lillington said lie had seen Brown
and the girl together in a barn in the middle of the
day, and they saw him there looking on.—The judge
asked the jury whether they , could see their way clear
to return a verdict after the evidence now given. The
foreman said the evidence was very conflicting, but they
would like to hear the reply to the defence from the
°outage/ for tho proseoution, if be could throw a little
more light upon the matter.—Mr. Weeks then replied
on the whole case, and dwelt with particular emphasis
upon the foot that the clergyman of the parish had got
up the defence, and brought witnesses who proved, by
endeavouring to prove too much that they had per-
fured—thailuielrea. The jtidr,e then snmined up, and
the jury retired for about an holm and en their retain
into ;Shirt the Newnan said: The jury were it
first divided on the subject, and they had agreed
that if the recommendation could be taken
to resent:lmnd the prisoner to the merciful consideration
of the court. The judge said that unless the
jury were unanimous in their verdict of guilty it
oould not be taken. The foreman: We are all
unanimous now. The judge: And you find the prisoner
guilty 7—Foreman: Yea, my lord.—The judge then,
addressing the prisoner, said it was for the jury, not
himself, to say whether he was guilty of the crime
imputed to hiss or not, and they had found him Luilty.
Thra Was their verdict, ancompanied with a recommen-
dation of mercy. As they had found him guilty
of the criers, it only remained for him to pass
on him (the prisoner) the full sentence of the law.
The crime was one that would admit of no extenuation.
It wail necessary to prote t the weak against the strong.
lie,
,st. strong, powerful man, had rubbed this girl
of her virtue—he had robbed her, perhaps, of all she
possessed on this earth. She had been placed in that
witness box and had given her evidence in a very
straightforward and becoming manner, and the jury
bellowed her evidence in preference to the evidence that
bad beembrought against her. They had, -however,
recommended him to mercy; but he could see in the
case no mitigating circumstances ; for not only
had be (tine prisoner) robbed her of her vietse, but he
had added to his crime by placing in the witness box
mangoes who sought to defame leer by imputations on
her character. The eentenee of the court would there-
fore be, that he be kept in penal servitude for the space
.of ton ',ears. The prisoner seemed almost thunder-
!stellar...by the sentence passed upon hint,

bttua..
pAeolger,
that he d
b4t the

plo,ouglit

FRIDAY.
PERJURY AT WinnOng*.
Meow Setart pleadediptaty of wilful and corrupt
p:Ery at Wimborne. The Judy, in passing sentence,
sai that this case arose out of an application for a*
o of affiliation. The order rested on some letter
whieh hot been- written by the prieenters—When-litd
applieation for atilhation was trade, he (the prisoner)
said that he did not write the letters ; that he could
' not weite ,• that he was unable to sign his name,
except with IicTOBIL Now he (the judge) regretted to
say the crime to whieb the prisoner had pleaded guilty
Mur7117.17 omiblt One" eVen11)11, in cases of this
data*.lft the presint'inatinee The magtstrates con-
aideind the esie of so glaring a nature that they felt it
to be their duty to take the matter up and order his
committal far trial for this serious crime. The prisoner
had pleaded.goitty be the ehargirpreferred against him,
and it was his (the judge's) duty to pass upon him a
somewhat severe sentence, which was, that he be im-
prisoned and kept to hard labour for the space of 3
calendar months.

THE PRESTON MURDER.
Jolts, Cox, 39, labourer, was indicted for the wilful
inurder o Adam Stapleton Puckett, at Preston cup,
Sutton Points, on the Bth July.
Mr, Stock and Mr. Bore were weasel for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Turner, at the request of the judge,
de/Ended the prisoner.
Me, Stock, in opening the ease, said that the prisoner
at the bar, John Cox, stood before them charged with
the crime of the wilful murder of Adam Stapleton
Puckett, 0n,41.9 fidavipi.t. missei they were
well awarnrde IMO charged
41111Vittlionngissior, aid it wouL4 thgleinklieadig
hirittlo ocoupPtheti%-ndlisVpMatinigi
natiiri sit OW iniltdrY triftfiricilffile MAI 10
longer ()campy their. tips°, tim trial necessary, and he
would probably beg Argo Ili duty by simply
statin t mrij trxlntltiow t
them,
that t tesgAtt
evidence *Lebec& AL i
L *trig' s ponillh of that
inquiry. The deceased getirlem-rs- Adam Stapleton
POSidniallinta listrlidon..abdialfoithiaarr,llreldicifiat
Broackwiera....llpretametbe Ainsatatepteistdit xertain
clistriot, in which the,perish of Preston cum Sutton Pointe
was situated. In this parish were two villages, the
glirliving tri the- Tillage of Pieston. The house
which he misided was a poor cottage, con-
sisting of ' only :two inoms, inhabited by the
Emir, moth'er,lbe ,Prisoner, and bis two brothers.
Previous .to ttti 7 event the prisoner bad
heed' fn • heillb, and for some weeks
had been itte y"the-cleteased, Dr. Puukett.
Prom the' sbite' of the &Liana itn4 the pri-
soner's 'health, fluted been deemed- the deneased!
advissble yousoire the Vining I‘soeklukule
peril% reoeyety q=ollitzr;,-xt proceeding to which'
Petenss vs% On the alternoonot

the Bth of July Mr. Puckett and Mr. White, the
relieving officer, went over to Preston for the purpose
of removing the prisoner to the Unionhouse. By the
gate of the garden they were met by the father of the
prisoner, and had some conversation with him. Mr.
White then proceeded to the Ship Inn, in the adjoining
village, to procure a horse and cart for the purpose of
taking the prisoner to the Union. While Mr.
Puckett went into the house to see the deceased
and to prepare him for being removed, the
next door neighbour seeing Mr. Puckett
go into the hones, and knowing what his mission was,
bail the curiosity to go to her bask window to listen to
what was going on. She there heard a very loud dis-
mission going on between the prisoner and the deceased.
At length the prisoner got very violent. She then
went out and saw Mr. Puckett holding the door. She
saw two of her neighbours, and fearing the violence of
the prisoner they went back into her house and looked
out of the window. They then saw the prisoner
striking the deceased with • stick several times. He
nest went to a neighbour for some brandy, which was
given him through fear, and he then returned to his
house, procured • saw, and cut off the hand, foot, and
head of the deceased surgeon. Having done this, he
took a somewhat circuitous route through the fields to
Osmington, Ho went away in a somewhat curious
garb, having no trousers on, but which he toult•away
with him in a big, and subsequently put an. At
Ostnington he was taken into custody, when he
admitted that he had cmtunitted the murder. Of the
homicide there could be no doubt, and the question
for the jury, he understood, would turn upon tee
question whether be was in a sane state of
mind at the time of committing the act. It might be
urged that the prisoner was in such a state of mind
that be was not responsible for his acts, but he begged
to inform them, subject to any correction which his
Lordship might make, that the jury, to return a verdict
of insanity, must be satisfied that lie was not only
' insane, but that he was in that state of mind that he
did not knew right from wrong—that he was not aware
that by his act he WAS offending against the laws of
' either God or man. . _ .

_
Zecharieh White, examined by Mr. Montague Bere,
said: I am one of the relieving officers of the Wey-
mouth Union, and Mr. Puckett was one of the
medical officers. On the Bth July I went with
Mr. Puckett to Sutton, where-prisoner lived. The
house is a low °se, with two rooms on the ground
floor, one of which was used as a bedroom for the whole
family. On our arrival at Sotton we saw the father
at the gate, and had some conversation with bins. Mr.
Puckett went into the house to see the prisoner, and I
went to Preston for a horse and cart to take him to the
Union. I stayed at the Ship,'wbere I went for the
horse and cart, two or three minutes, and then re-
turned. On returning, from information I received, I
got two or three men, and on going down to Cox's house
I saw a hand in the road, and also the head of Mr.
Puckett. I afterwards went intothe garden and there saw
the body of Mr. Puckett, with the head, a hand, and •
foot cut off.
Cross-examined by Mr. Turner: Previous to this
I had had some conversation with Mr. Puckett about
the prisoner. He said, it was a bad case of Cox's—he
bad had the brain fever. On the doctor's book the
word " phrenitis" was written. I asked him if there
was any necessity of sending him to the asylum, and he
said "No, there was no occasion." If he was sent to
the union two or three weeks to be kept quiet he would
be right enough.
Mary Ann Hanliam said: I live at Sutton, next door
to Cox. The family consisted of father, mother, and
three sons. On the Bth July I saw Mr. Puckett go to
prisoner's house. After he went in I went to my back
window and heard Mr. Puckett say "Now put on your
clean shirt and go with me." Prisoner said "don't
bother use or ru beat your brains out." Mr. Puckett
said, "Oh, John, if you strike me I'll strike you again."
Prisoner said, "I should like to have a round or two
with thee." I then heard a terrible noise, and heard
the prisoner jump out of bed. I feared there would be
danger, and ran out of the cottage, and met Miss Galpin
and Mrs. Croft. We all looked back and saw Mr.
Puokett holding the door of the cottage with one hand
and a pair of tongs with the ether, crying "help, help."
I feared there was danger, and ran into my house and
locked the door. On looking out of the window I saw
prisoner beating Mr. Puckett, who was lying down.
The prisoner had two sticks—one in each hand. After
he had done beating the doctor, be went in and put
on a white shirt. Before this he had only a
flannel shirt. After this prisoner got • saw
and sawed off Mr. Packett's -hand, foot, and head.
Before prisoner put on the white shirt he went past my
house to _Mrs. Croft's and begged a drop of brandy,
which adte wire him.
Cross-examined: Prisoner's mother had before this
said ho was light in his head at times.
Jane Galpin : I live at Sutton Point:. On Tuesday
th* Bth JOY 1 Mn.. Hanitam. I saw Mr. Puckett
110 Cox's house ho ingthe door with ohs hand and opair
of twigs in the other. The prisonerthrust-a stick out
of the window, and Ur. Puckett then id tgo the door
and tried to get into the road. The prisoner dame out
• of the door with • stick, having the appearance of being
part of a bedpost. I was frightened and ran into Mr.
Benham's house, where I looked out of the window
• and saw prisoner beating Mr. Puckett.
Cross-exemined : I had been in Cox's house while
pgisoner was ill. He kept talking and had fits. He did
not seem to know what he said. I never saw him have
fits.
Anna /Jeri* Croft : I was near priioner'e door on
the cozening-of iha Ali Jolt. ler. Pnckett was bolding
the door. I went home and prisoner.iftereards carob
to-our door, having two sticks in his band. He said
"Open the door, open the door." I said I could not,
and he 'replied several times "I'll beat the door in."
He then come to the Window, and said "Open the
window, open the window." I said I could not open
the window. I did subsequently open the
_window.
He said he had killed one and he had two more to kill,
and I should be one if I did not give him some brandy ;
but that if I gave him brandy he would not hurt • hair
of my head. I gave him a small drop of brandy, and
he asked for some water in it. I gave him some water,
and he took the cup away. He had than only a flannel
shirt on.
Crossersamined I .hia been in his house during his
illness and heard hire make a noise.
Sarah Willis said :My house is about two yards from It.
Cox'.. On the evening of the Bth July I saw Dr. Puckett
holding Cox's door t then heard a great noise as of a
Window breaking. Dr. Puckett ran away immediately,
and prisoner followed him, threw a large stick at him,
and knocked him down. My children were close to
Cox's gate, and I ran for them, and plaoed them in a
neh,hbour's house. I afterwards saw prisoner frying
across the fields towards Osmington. When in the
second field he took off his flannel shirt, which was
under the white one.
John Ford, enginernan to the Weymouth Water-
works: On the Bth July I was called by Mr. White to
Cox's house. Just before we got there I saw a man's
hand in the road. I afterwards saw a human head
lying by the side of the read. I picked them up and
placed them in the garden beside Mr. Pncketre body.
I immediately followed the prisoner, and on arriving at
Detnington found he 11/113 In custody. I asked him
'where the saw was, and he said in • field adjoining the
orchard. On coming down towards Preston he said he
took b— good oars when he knocked down the old
he didn't get up again.
Richard Downing said: I live on the rood between
Sutton and Osmingtort. On the day in question I was
in my garden and heard some one call. I went into the
road and saw the prisoner. He had a cap, shoes, shirt,
and jacket on—no trousers. Be married a stick in bbi
hand. I asked him for it. He said he could not give,
me that, but he had one in his bag. He then took a '
stick out of the bag and gave me, saying he had "killed
hue, end cut his bead off." He did not say who he
bad killed. He asked me to to with him and take care
of him. I took him to the Plough stable and assisted
to dress him.
Cross-examined: The prisoner called use by name
while in any garden.
Maria Notley : I live at the Plough Inn. In conse-
quence of what had happened there was • largo number
of peopls assembled, round our house on the evening in
question. Some one gave me two sticks, which Igave the
policeman.
P.C. Bartlett : I took the prisoner into custody at the
Plough Inn, Osmington. I charged him with murdering
Dr. Puckett, and he replied "I done it." On our way
to Sutton, prisoner said he had cut off Dr. Packett's
head, hand, and foot. I asked prisoner's father
where 'the saw was, and he said he did not know. Pri-
soner then replied: "It is in the field near the bars
beside the orchard where I got over." The saw was
found there.
Cross-examined: The prisoner said be had taken the
spectacles and money from the pocket and thrown into
the water.
Superintendent Underwood said: On the evening of
the Bth July, I saw the ,prisoner io the police cell at
Dorchester. I told him; he was charged with the
murder of Dr. Puckett Be said I should not have
murdered the old b----- if he had.not nulled my hand
scr tight. He added "I murdered him and sawed off
_ _ . .

his head,;nd hand and foot, and threw them into the
road, and his 4-- old head rolled like a b— old
pumpkin." I asked him if he was iIL He replied no;
be had been ill but he had been better for the last two
days. He said when be WU ill be felt as if he had
water on his head.
Richard Cox said lam the father of the prisoner.
He had been ill, and 1)r. Puckett attended him a fort-
night before he -was killed. He said my eon was in •
very bad state. On the second time he came he said
my son.had the brain fever. The first day the doctor
was called in my son talked all manner of nonsense.
Re ran away on the Saturday previous to the murder.
My son Islam went after him about half a mile and
caught him. When he started to run away he had a
pitcher in his hand, which he afterwards filled with
stones.

Cross-examined: On the Bth July, when Mr.
, Puckett and Mr. White came, I advised them not to
go in. Mr. Puckett said " I'd better go in, I daresay
I shall quiet him." I told him he had better not go.
If he did there would be mischief.
Be-examined: It was a fortnight before the murder
Mr. Puokett said the prisoner had the brain fever,
Witness never heard Mr. Puckett say his son was
getting better. On the day previous to the murder
be was better. On the day of the murder he got a
stilarter of a pound of butter and greased himself all
ever with it. He was not in bed all day. On the
dal of the murder he was in his bedroom, in a
state of nudity, and tearing about in his room. He
10t on his flannel shirt at half-past two and got into bed.
Intones did not think the prisoner knew that Mr.
Puckett was going to take him away.
Mary Cox, mother of the prisoner, said: I recollect
when the prisoner was taken ill. It was two months
before the Bth July. His mouth was locked, so that he
could not speak, sometimes for an hour, and sometimes
for half-an-hour. Just before the doctor came he had
gals, but appeared quiet. When Mr, Puckett came,
be ake'l toy son it he was married? He replied, "No,"
aud Mr. Puckett said "It's a good job, for you are in
a very bad state." A fortnight before the murder, the
prisoner got hold of my daughter-in-law's cap, and said
he would knock her brains out. On the day of the
murder he tame out of the bedroom for the razors and
wood hook. I told him I had put them away. I bad
put them under some cabbages in a garden, Rabe had
threatened to beat my brains out. He had some meat
sad butter to eat, but be "'neared them over his body,
Instead of eating is. He af,id he would beat my hrabm
with the chamber utensil if I entered the room.
Mr. kmeketilligeikitended him the prisoner got
better; fihertly beterd itie murder happened, the pri-
sOidltalotieStetee berearried to the asylum, or
414161 ittikois whonte

was in prison ha was better attended to than at home,
and ho would sooner be there again.
This being the whole of the ease for the premonition,
Mr. Turner addressed the jury for the defence After
dwelling upon the painful position in which the prisoner
was placed, pointing out that if this crime were proved
against him, he would have to suffer a death of ignomy
which would never be forgotten, the learned counsel
proceeded to pay a high tribute of respect to the seal
and ability with which the deceased discharged the
duties of his office, as medical officer of the Union;
and the high esteem in which he was deservedly held in
the neighbourhood in which he lived. He had well
nigh pained 60 summers, and not • weed of reproach
had been breathed against him, either as to his private
or public conduct—in other words, he lived in the affec-
tion and esteem of his fellow-men, and his melancholy
I and was a subject of grief to all who knew him. The
circumstance then, that such a man had met with a
eielent death at the hands of cue whom he sought to
do all the good in his power, niight well harrow up their
feelings, but lie asked them to give the subject that
calm consideration which the case deserved, till they
had heard the whole of the facts to be brought before
them. That the prisoner had unfortunately been the
author of Mr. Puckett's death, was too true ; but the
the evidence that he should call before them, coupled
with some portion of the evidence that had been
given, would, he believed, show most con-
clusively that at the time this deed was committed
he was not responsible for his conduct. The learned
counsel then glanced at several portions of the evidence
that had been gives, bearing upon the extraordinary
conduct of the prisoner during the event, and said
that the evidence of the clergyman of the pariah, and
the surgeon of the prison, whom he should call, would
tell them that the prisoner's conduct, upon the very
rase of it, proved him to be at periods unconscious
of right and wrong, and irresponsible over his actions.
The medical officer of the gaol was decidedly of
opinion that the disease under which the prisoner
laboured was catelepsy, a disease which was very rare,
and which was often taken for epilepsy. Mania often
resulted from this disease, ant during periods of excite-
ment there might be violent fits of paroxysms to which
the patient would be subject, during which periods
he would be incapable of governing his actions. He
. reed extracts from medical works to show that the
' sYmetemo of catalepsy were similar to those expe-
rienced by the prisoner. Aftfer dwelling on this subject
at considerable length, Mr. Turner called
Jeremiah Joiner, one of the warders of the
gaol, who said: I remember the prisoner at the
bar in gaol in September last. The sentence
would transpire on the 3rd December. On the morning
of the 29th November I saw him in his cell. I thought
him dead. His limbs were rigid and very cold. I sent
for hot water to place his hands and feet in, and sent
for a doctor. He remained in this state for about an
hour. This was on Saturday, and he was insensible the
greater part of the day. On Sunday he was insensible
at times, and on Monday he was better. On the Sun-
day he was so violent that we were obliged to strap him
down to his bed.
Cross-examined: The bed to which he was strapped
down was in the infirmary: He was violent all night,
and attempted to strike one of the prisoners and myself.
Since he has been in gaol on the present occasion be
has spoken of being strapped down on the previous
occasion. Be said he did not want to be strapped
down, nor to do any violence, as was the ease on the
former occasion, adding that he remembered well
about it before. He would now take care, and be quiet
while he was here.
The Rev. Talbot Baker, rector of Preston, said: I
visited the prisoner during his illness. On Saturday
the 30th June, I administered advice to him, lie was
then in bed. I saw him again on the following
Monday, when his mind seemed rambling very
much. I determined, in 'consequence of what I
then saw, to see Mr. Puckett. I asked him if he
was sufficiently strong to walk, and he got up spasmodi-
cally and pushed his fist violently against the nailing.
On the sth July when I visited him he bad the covers
of an oldbook and appeered to be reading. I knew he
could not read, buit pretended to read aoniething like
the following :—God said I am coming to thee John
Cox on purpose to take thee. I'll bring thee to S.prin,‘
Bottom. I have marks which God gave use last night."
I replied " poh ! poh I My good man you know that
is all nonsense—there is nothing of that then." lie
kicked down the bed clothes, and palled up his night
shirt and pointed to his sideo, saying "here, don't you
see the marks Gel gave me." Qn the day before the
murder I visited. him with Th. Puokett. Dr. Puckett
felt his pulse, and then asked the prisoner to let him
look at his head where a blister had been placed, when
prisoner again kicked down the bed-clothes, and pulled
up his night shirt a; be had done on the previous day.
I asked the doctor es ha the propriety of his being sent to
an asylum, but he thought it would be sufficient to send
him to the Union. Witness, however, requested the
friends of prisoner to pat away all dangerous instru-
ments.
Mr. J. Good, surgeon of the County Gaol. said: On
the 30th November I was sent for to attend John Cox
In the gaol. Its limbs were rigid, eyes wide open,
and his extremities were cold. I had him immediately
removed to the infirmary. On that day and the next
be was insensible more or less. On the following day
I saw him strapped down to the bed, and be appeared
more violent then I had before seen him, On the
next day (Tuesday) he seemed prostrate. Since he
has been in gaol this time, I have questioned him
respecting his symptoms on the 30th November. He
said that he awoke up in the middle of the night under
feeling -of uncontrollable laughter. He said he tried
to restrain himself, bat was unable. On the day he
left the gaol, I made a note in my minute book. It
was "John Cox, epilepsy, query, delirium," and
stating the symptoms. When I was first sent for,
I had • strong impression that he was feigning
his illness, from his countenance, pulse, tic., being so
contradictory. I have carefully noticed him since be
has been gaol this time, and my belief is that he is
afflicted with catalepsy—• very uncommon complaint,
especially in males. He would have those feelings
which he described as water on the brain, and on the
slightest provocation or excitement manifest the
I Paroxysms which the prisoner had exhibited.
Cromessmined : I have changed my opinien that It
is catalepsy since I wrote in My minute book that it is
eorilmePania thet.hpawrtyoultlenal rapmabilneis. During the fit
of distinguishing
right from wrong. I have beard it stated the way in
which the prisoner became excited on the present
instance, mid the paroxysm which followed in the
dreadful minder of Dr. Puckett, were such as might be
expected from • person suffering under catalepsy.
)Ir. Stock then replied upon the whole of the case
especially on the question of the sanity of the prisoner.
He maintained that the paroxysms spoken ta by the
surgeon did not necessarily result from catalepsy, and
that the conduct of the prisoner in the commission of
this dreadful crime was such as might have been mani-
feted by a man whose previous habits had been such as
those of the prisoner, under the influence of passion or
drink. The conduct of the prisonet had unquestionably
been most violent, and in some respects very extra-
ordinary bet it would be a precedent most dangerous to
society, if all extraordinary acts should be attributed to
Insanity.
The Judge then summed at considerable length. He
said that the case had undergone considerable investi.
gallon, but not at greater length than it deserved. It
was perfectly true, as laid down by the counsel for the
prosecution, that the law assumed all cases of homicide
as being cases of murder, till the contrary was shown to
be the facts; and it would be for the jury to say from
the evidence before them, whether it was such as to
prove to their minds that the prisoner, at the time of
committing this act, was not mesterei his own actions—
whether he was incapable of distinguishing right from
wrong. The case was one of themostmelancholycasesthat
hail ever been brought before a tribunal. The deseased
was in the discharge of his ditty, when for the faithful
discharge of that ditty, he met his death at the hen&
of the matt whom he was seeking to benefit. Bat the
jury most not allow this fact to obscure theirjudgment
as to the prisoner's state of mind, but weigh well the
evidence that had been adduced during these proceeding,.
His lordship then went through the principal portions
of the evidence, pointing out what parts told for or
against the prisoner's sanity, and left it for the jury to
say whether or not the prisoner was of sound mind
when he committed the murder. If they believed be
was of sound mind, they would return a verdict of
guilty; if, on the other land, they had reason to believe
that he committed the act while in an unsound
state of mind, they would return a verdict of
not guilty, coupled with the words "On the ground
of insanity." The jury consulted for about eve minutes,
when they returned a verdict of "Not Guilty on the
ground of insanity." The judge then ordered that the
prisoner be kept in safe custody during Her Majesty's
pleasure. The prisoner, who appeared thoroughly
conscious of his laosition during the proceedings mani-
fested the greatest satisfaction with the verdict of the
jury, and red down the steps with the greatest agility.

he could not sleep, and was in great pain from de-
fendant's violence, so much so that he could not resume
his employment for come time.—The gist of the defence
was them was provocation on the part of plaintiff ;
that he was drunk, and also that he first assaulted com-
plainant. Much amusement WaB created on the exami•
nation of the surgeon on the part of oompilinant, by
reason of his indulging in language peculiar to his pro-
fession. The learned counsel for defendant requested
witness to translate the language into plain English for
the benefit of the jury.—ln defence Sir Frederick Slade
salt the story told by complainant was a highly coloured
one, and if Ids client had been ttilty of the violent con-
duet ascribed to him by complainant, it ought to have
subjected him to a criminal charge. He urged that
there was at the bottom of the affair some sharp, bust-
ling attorney, who hoped to put some money in his
pocket by the transaction. He contended that if de-
fendaut was apprehensive of danger from complainant
be SIM justified in acting in his own defence. Ho asked
the jury, supposing they had a shepherd and a flock of
300 sheep, and went to one of the fields and found the
sheep running over and damaging the wheat, would they,
when the shepherd returned, sprinkle him with rose-
water? If, under the circumstances, they did not use
a little strong buguage, he should not believe they
were Dorsetshire farmers. Further, he advanced that the
complainant was drunk, and he hoped he was so for his
own sake, to disprove that they had an insubordinate
class of men, to which defendant belonged in the county
of Dorset. It was, he remarked, in favour of his client
that lie had not been brought before the magistrates,
nor had any demand been made for compensation before
the action was brought. His lordship, in summing up,
said it was for them to judge of the amount of corporal
suffering which had been entailed on plaintiff, and by
which they would have to regulate their damages if
they considered the plaintiff was entitled to any.
There might be some discrepancy in the evidence of
the medical gentlemen on sonic points, but in one they
appeared to agree—that plaintiff was considerably
bruised. It was for them to say whether they did or
did not believe that the defenaant had acted with
great violence, without sufficient provocation,
thus entitling the complainant to substantial
I damages; or whether the plaintiff hsdbrought it upon
t himself, and thus entitled only to nominal damages.
The jury, after • deliberation of about fifteen minutes,
returned a verdict for plaintiff for £l5.
BREACH or PROMISE OF MARRIAGE.

- - -
Pope v. Hallett.—This was an action brought by
Caroline Pope, of Okeford Fitzpaine, against Joseph
Hallett, a farmer living in the same nerghbourhoed, to
recover damages to the amount of £5OO for breach of
promise of marriage. Sir Frederick Slide, with Mr.
Saunders were for the plaintiff, and Mr. Cole for the
defendant. Mr. Saunders having opened the pleas, Sir
F. Male said that plaintiff sued defendant for breach of
one of those solemn engagements which might be plea-
sant to one party to terminate, bat ruin and destruc-
tion to the other party. He said it was the old story—
great attractions and convenient opportunities—and de-
fendant appeared to have taken advantage of them, and
by. plaintiff be had three children. The plaintiff lived
with defendant's mother, and therefore there was no
necessity for letters, which would account for their
absence. He traded he should be-able to prove that
defendant had made the promise of marriage, and had
deliberately refused to put it into effect after a four-
teen years' courtship.
Hannah Pope said : I am the sister of plaintiff, and
know the defendant 'Joseph Hallett. lam not married.
Many years ago my sister entered the service of defen-
dant'a mother—it was about fourteen years ago—in the
capacity of servant. She remained there nearly four
years. Mr. Hallett was there also. Her sister left
there and went and lived in another situation in the
same pariah. While her sister wee at Mrs. Hallett's
she became ill. Mr. Hallett (the defendant) was very
friendly with my sister. Defendant was very kind to
plaintiff generally. Sent her (witness) every night, when
plaintiff was at home ill to see how plaintiff was, and he
wanted to kiss me so as for me to go home and kiss my
sister. (Laughter.) He had also given me money for my
sister. Afterwards her sisterhad &child ,and she had heard
defendant say a little while before it was born that he
would marry her and make her his wife. The child 8818
christened George Hallett—the sem ens use defendant said
as his father. Some time before the second child was
born he again said ha would marry her, and let them
have as many children as ever they would before they
were married be would always keep them. A third
child was barn, and defendant again expressed his in.
, tention of marrying her sister. That child is 3 years
' old next month, and the eldest i 8 9 years the sth of this
mouth. He always appeared kind and attentive to her
slater, and kept the ehddren, and had seen them walk-
ing together scores of times. She had seen them
itogether in a great many places: He bad talked to her
sister about marriage at different times. Defendant
had given her sister pounds of money to keep the
children. My sister is still living in the same parish,
at home, with her father and mother. I know a family
of the name of Lambert, and her sister went down
there sometiines. Defendant heti married another
woman about Easter last. Since then he has siren
something to the children, and it was only until the
last seven weeks that he has discontinued keeping
them. He now keeps a farm, and is considered to be a
man well off.—Cross-examined : He gave her sister a
half-crown for each child per week. Sometimes it was
more. I can swear that he always kept the third child,
just the same as he allowed for the other two
children. The youngest child was as much defendant's
child as the other two. I have seen him notice the
third child. I teard Lim name the youngest (the
third) chili's name Samuel, as he said it was exactly
like his.brother Sam in Londop. (Laughter.) Before
her sister went to live at Mrs. Hallett'e, her sister had
bad a child by a Mr. Benjamin Phillips. She (witness)
did not know that Mr. Phillips had promised her sister
marriage. He was married. I do not know that
my family was unlucky. I have had a child, but
have been fortunate enough to find a father for it.
Her child was born about a twelvemonth ago. I will
not say that the father of my child promised me mar-
riage—that was not to be tried that day. The first time
he promised to marry my sister was when I was out
walking, about nine years ago. I heard defendant pro-
mise my sister marriage just before the second child
was born. fdy sister summoned Mr. Phillips about the
first child, but she did not know the result. My sister
lives with my father and mother in a house belonging
to the parish, but pay rent for it. I have seen the rent
paid.—Martha Lambert was the next witnesi called.
She said lam the wife of Thomas Lambert, • farmer
of Okeford Merrier,: I.know the defendant, who is a
farmer, and I alsolnow the plaintiff, who has worked
for ine occasionally. Had known her a great many
years. I know she had had three children, and I have
heard Mr. Hallett say that he always intended to,
marry Caroline Pope, and would have done so years
ago had it not have been for his mother. I have heard
him say he was the father of the three children. Mr. ,
Hallett had said that lie Wished to have a good wife,
such as she made Lambert. I told him he ought to
have married Caroline Pope, end then be would bare
had a better wife than she made Lambert. She weld
not say anything as to his means. He drives a horse
and trap.—Cross-examined: Could not say to whom
the horse and trap belonged. Am not a particular
friend of the Pope's. I will swear that defendant said
be was father of the three children. He came to my lionise
about business a little before Christmas 1861. Mr.
Chitty's clerk bad been over and spoke to her about
this action.-81r F. Slade replied, and then addressed
the jury on the evidence. Ile asked, what foundation
was there for the lest witness to be charged by- his
learned friend with "swearing by the card?' It was,
In fact, intimating that she was telling a lie. What-
reason had she for telling that which was untrue? Thl
questions of his learned friend were breeches-pocket
ones—pounds, shillings, and pence. He apprehended
that they would be of opirion that the defendant 'was
called upon to pay such damages as would enable the
plaintiff to keep the three children out of the workhouse.
He alluded to the corers thrown out against the
attorney for the plaintiff—Mr. Chiety—which be thought
came with a bad grace from his learned friend, who had
held many briefs of Mr. Chitty's. He contended that
the evidence was irresistible as to his being the father ef
the children. Promises by defendant, both before and;
after the marriage, he contended had been proved to
have been made.—Mr. Cole, for the defendant, thought
that his learned friend bad taken one of his old briefs
when he talks I ofeolemn engagement,injured innocence,
early ruin, and, early yielding! But what becomes of
thip eloquent language when she had a child
Nr;i
to her acquaintance with Mr. Hallett? h
was the case? The words used by his learned
friend as to defendant being rained, he must have
known to be utterly untrue, as that event had taken
place previously. He asked, was there a scrap of paper
or an independent witness in that case to support the
claim? The payment of money for the maintenance of the
children was not sufficient to prove that the defendant
was the father of the children. They knew that men
did pay money rather than be dragged before a Bench
of magistrates. Did they believe the promise was
made? Even eupposingthat they did come to that con-
clusion, a farthing he thought would be sufficient to
meet the justice of the case. His Lordship having
carefully summed up, the jury returned • Verdict for
defendant.
Godwin v. Wright.—A verdict in this ease was taken
by consent for £32 10s.

In defendant's cottage, looking north. Between it and
the fenee, in froet of it, there was • space of 4 feet 11
inches. At the time he surveyed it there was a portion
of a close boarded femme remaining, which enabled him
to judge of the original height of the fence. It was as
in lieu of a three-foot open one, would have the effect of
ftehnecewindTeowe
rect a
darkening the window. Cross-examined: There were
edliodsensoixt-fkoonot wietnheee
onrie aerilnya las three-tootligl'as
existence of the latter he was not sure. lie had made
some high buildings near, and also some trees; of the
as experiment as to the obstruction of the light. He
had had some boards gradually raised, and he found the
light to the coons was toniderably lessened as the
boards ascended. Ho could not any it was so dark that
lie could not write. In the afternoon of a summer's day
he believed the sun would fall on the window. He
could not reccollect that from the inside of the window
you could see the sky.—Thousas Ainsworth, a dairyman,
living at Charlton Marshall, remembered living in (Idea-
-1 dint's cottage, There were some out-houses adjoining,
where houses now stand. The primp stood under an
outhouse, leaning against a wall, now taken away.
He occupied the cottage nearly two years as a yearly
tenant. He always had the water from that pump.
At the time be occupied the house there was no fence
between his house and Mrs. Bennell'a. There was no
other place for him to get the water. Cross-examined:
The window referred to was a low one. Polder had
told him that he had prevented people from taking
the water. Re-exainined : If he stood a little way back,
of course he could not see the sky. It did
not give a very good light, and did not require diminish-
ing. There was no necessity for a shade or sunblind.
—James Dennis, an old man of 83, said be lived in
Bastard's eettage for 20 years. He remembered Pence
living there before him. Pearce is now dead, and he
(witness) succeeded him in the tenancy. When he
lived there he always had water from the pump. He
was first "ranted" a good many years ago— he could
not say how many. In Mrs. Belmar, time he had the
water for 10 years without Interruption. He used it
for two years after Mrs. Bennell's death without being
interrupted. When he first went it was all a fair road*,
the pump—" no fence, no nothing." There was no
fence before the window to interfere with the light.
He recollected Mr. Polden putting up a fence just in
front of the window. It was about two years ago.
He first pot up two ldnale rails about tin...s foot front
the ground. Afterwards he put • fence six feet high.
Could not see out of the window, either in the morning
or evening. The six-foot fence was put up about ten
months age. Cross-examined: He reeollected the cot-
tage fifty yews ago. It was first made into • cottage
about thirty-five years ago. It lies originally •
slaughter-house. When it was converted into a cottage
the window was put in.—Clementine redden said she
lived with her aunt, Mrs. Benuell, many years, and
until her death. The house belonging to defendant was
left to her. She recollected the pump in her aunt's
, garden. She recollected • man named Toops living
there.—Sir F. Slade was proceeding with the exami-
nation of the witness, when his lordship said he did not
see the effect of the evidence, as plaintiff had admitted
that which he sought to prove.—Mr. Collier believed
the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict for 405., as de-
fendant had failed to prove his case. He contended
defendant had not made out his pleas, and that
the pump was not included in the devise to
Clementine Pelden. There was no questioe as
to the position or locus in quo of the pump.
A well cold be sunk, and plenty of water obtained on
defendant's premises. A desultory conversation here
ensued, ending with Ainsworth being rosined to state
that the river Stour was about fifty yards distant from
the defendant's cottage, but he should not like to drink
it. They could get water within 20 feet of the surface.
—Mr. Collier again addressed the jury for the plaintiff,
and se-stated the facts of the ease, remarking that if
defendant had sought permission to take the water, it
would no doubt be granted willingly, gratuitously, or at
least upon payment of • nominal rent by defendant;
but when their locks and doors were broken, then
people generally stood upon their rights. He urged
that the fence erected by plaintiff did not materially
interfere with defendant's comfort. The defendant had
not taken the trouble to whitewash the room, which
would render it tolerably light.—James SoMtt, an
architect and surveyor, was called to prove that he had
taken the measurements between the fence and the
window, of five feet. The differenee of the inch, as
stated on the poet of the defendant, might arise from
the irregularity of the wall. The room. referred to is
• very small one, with * low ceiling, lie should say
that it was, generally, a dark, gloomy room,
whether there was a wall or not. No direct rays
could enter the room ; they might enter int WI oblique
manner, and there might be a little diffused light. The
fence made no material difference to the entrance of
light. He took his memoranda with the close, fence up,
and be could see to read and write with It imp.—Cross-
examined: He should not like to have sushi an obstruc-
tion opposite his window. (Laughter.)—Re-examined
Light did not go round corners.—Mr. Collier replied on
the evidence, and contended that he could not see what
difference the erection of time fence effected as regal*
the light, and that defendant was wrong in pulling It
down. If they thonglit so, then they would glee a Yea-
dict for plaintiff. Sir F. Slade, on behalf of defendant!
in a facetious speech, said he was surprised at the air
gestion thrown out by his learned friend that it Was.
defendant's fault he had not more light. Plaintiff
builds ups fence six feet high; defendant reinonstratee;
and plaintiff says, "Oh I you goose, why dont you speed
half-a-crown to get your house whitewashed, and be
thankful for the light Providence has given you"
(Laughter.) He maintained that the erection of the
fence prevented the free enjoyment by defendant of his
tights. His lordship haying gemmed up, putting it to
the jury to decide whether or not the light in de.
fendant's cottage was sensibly diminished by the
erection of the fence.—The jury found for defendant,
for whom a verdict was returned ; leave reserved
to the plaintiff, to move to enter a verdict for
40s. This concluded the civil business of the assize,
and the Court then proceeded to the trial of prisoners.
Charles Pike, on bail, was indicted for criminally
assaulting Emma Bennett, a girl seven years old, at
Shapwick, on 6th July. Mr. Dinka& prosecuted, Mr.
Cole defended. The offense, it appears, was committed
, in an outhouse belonging to the Sunday School at Ship-
' wick, and the little girl, ratherintelligent for her years,
gave her evidence in an ingenious manner. Sentence—
Nine months' imprisonment-with hard labour.
The business of the Atssiaes concluded at about six
o'clock.

WEYMOUTH. Parry sions.—Before the
Mayor and Aldermen Bower, Devenish, and Ayling.
—Thomas Farwell, a fly driver, was summoned for
:overcharging a fare he had taken up at the railway
Station on the previous day. it appeared that a
gentleman hired the defendant at the statue to take
him to Claremont. The defendant took him there
and charged 66., whereas it ought to have been
only half that amount. Mr. Howard, who
appeared for the defendant, said it waa dearly a
cage of mistake. The defendant supposed that
Claremont was in the parish of Wyke, and beyond
tho municipal boundaries of the, borough.—The
Bench said they were much obliged to the com-
plainant for bringing this case forward, as they
feared there was too much of this overcharge going
on. The defendant had been brought up that day
week for an infringement of the Bye-laws, and if he
were brought up again he would have his license
taken from him, and prevented running at all. In
the present instance he would be fined 7s. 6d. and
costs. —Patrick Connell, a private in the 63rd
Regiment of Foot, was charged with stealing a
monkey jacket, the property of George Northover.
The prosecutor said he was an apprentice on board
the Corsair, lying in Weymonth harbour. He went'
on board on Thursday night, and saw the prisoner
lying on the forecastle asleep. He asked him who
he was, and he said "a friend." Finding ho. was I
very cold, he threw his monkey jacket over him,
and the next morning when he got up he found that
both the prisoner and his monkey jacket were gone.
Samuel Marsh, a brickmaker on the Nothe, said
that on Friday morning the prisoner came and
brought the monkey jacket now produced for sale.
He said that on the previous night he was playing
at bagatelle with a sailor who had no money, and
he purchased his monkey jacket of him for Is. He
did not wish to lose anything by the jacket, and he
did not wish to get anything, and he would there.'
fore sell it again for Is. Witness, therefore, to pre-
vent his losing by the bargain, bought the garment
The prisoner elected to be tried by the Bench, and
he was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour.—John
Boyd was charged with being drunk and disorderly,
and assaulting P.C. Harvey, while in- the execution
of his duty on the previous evening in front of the
Royal Hotel, during the time the band was playing.
The defendant, who fainted while the ease was going
on, was fined 10e., and costs, 31., and in default,
committed for 14 days.—Samuel Meech, shoe-
make,r formerly in the Weymouth polio* force, was
brought up on a warrant charged with aam
his wife. Mrs. Meech detailed severaliluitlntaol
violence she had received from her husband,
and said she was afraid he would
do her grievous bodily harm. The defendant on
his part made himself particularly ridiculous, by
stating numerous petty annoyances from hie wife.
It was evident from the complaints of both, that
when they took each other "for better for worse"
that they had not heeded the Apostolic injunction
of not being unequally yoked together, and thatcon-
frequently, constant bickering% were going on
between them. The defendant was fined 41)5., or to
be imprisoned for two months. The money was
paid.

WYKE.—On Thursday vestry meetings were
held in the vestry, and at the old TownheA Wey-
mouth, to consider the report of Mr. Wyatt, the
diocesan architect, relative to the state of the piers
and arches of Wyke Church. The Res. H. C.
Pigou presided on both ow-salons. Matorphitect's
report set forth that little harm had, ae yea, ensued
from the cracks that had taken place in the pillars,
but unless remedial measures were at once adopted,
serious injury might be apprehended. The founda-
tions of the pillars had never been good, and the
bases were the same size as the part above ground.
The recent alterations in the church had also
weakened the masonry. The architect advised
that a block of concrete, four feet square, he
placed under each pillar, and on the concrete two
large atones, each three feet thick, which would
render them perfectly safe. The Chairman said that
he had found from inquiries that each pillar would
out from .C 8 to £lO, and as there were eight
pillars to be strengthened, the cost might be
stated to be .tBo.—Mr. Wyatt had also pointed
out a settlement in the south-east part of the
chancel, which he (the Chairman) had attended to.
At Wyke the vestry decided that the church-
wardens and Messrs. Swaflield, Sims, and Pretor,
be formed a committee, to consider the best means
to be adopted, and the Weymouth meeting
were asked to appoint a committee to co-
operate nith those gentlemen. Some of the
ratepayers thought that the defective state of the
church arose from the imperfect drainage of the
tog, and another said- *eh tkey night aa wed
throw the money into thirtood au to do whit wee
10$1S1.- 2.:{
.re lase< r brociße tehtosib pave 1

•
recommended in the report Ultimately Messrs.
Bartlett (churchwarden),and J. A. and H. Devenish
were appointed a committee to co-operate with the
Wyk e gentlemen.
PORTLAND. THE PORTLAND VOLUNTEER
A RTILLERY CORY& —On Tuesday last this corps
was inspected by Colonel Anderson, R.A. The
members formed at the Armoury at Easton, about
4 o'clock in the afternoon, under the command of
Captain Brown and Lieutenant Eliot, headed by
their brass and drum and fife bands. Having re-
ceived the inspecting officer with the usual salute,
they were put through • number of exercises with
small arms, after which they were told off in gun
detatchments to: exereise on the 24-pounder guns
with blank cartridge. The non-commissioned
officers first manned the guns, and the other detach-
ments followed until all bad taken their turn.
During the progress of the gun drill, Colonel
Anderson asked numerous questions of the men re-
specting their several duties. The answers they re-
turned seemed to give him great satisfaction. After-
wards addressing them,he expressed himself as being
much pleased withtbeir progress, theiraecoutrements,
and general appearance, snd stated that he would
take steps for their having a proper battery for
firing shot and abelL The corps afterwards proceeded
through several villages on the island, headed by
their bands.
BLANDFORD.—Dr. Shaw, who has given so
much satisfaction with his entertainments where..
ever he has gone, gave two performances in the
Townhall on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings to
numerous audiences. He, in an interesting mannerl
contrasted the conjuring of ancient times with their
clumsy apparatus with that of the present, and ex-
plained clearly many of his experiments. Tower&
the close of each performance he sang some sour
and melodies, dressed in character, illustrative of the
music from ancient times down to the present. At
the close, numbered tickets, corresponding with
those held by the audiences, were put in a hat, and
drawn by a tradesman of the .town, and the prises
belonging to the snooseedvd trambereereire distributed
to the lucky owners. The prizes consisted of work-
boxes, writing-cases, desks, concertinas, electro-
plated tea-pots, &a. Mr. Robinson was the for-
tunate holder of a ticket on Tuesday, having finet as
a prize a beautifol silver basket, inlaid with Mee
glass. We have no doubt, should Dr. Shaw visit
this town again, that he will have overflowing
audience*.

BOURNEMOUTH.—On Wednesday afternoon,
the 16th inst., as Faber Inwards, Req., the well-
knowutem perance lecturer, was on his way to Christ-
church, in company with Mr. G. Curtis, of Poole, to
deliver a lecture, the horse started on Poole-NI,
Bournemouth, and turning the corner leading to
the Royal Anna Inn stables, the ear upset, twill's' g
out the occupants. Fortunately the gentlemen
escaped with a shaking, and proceeded on their
journey shortly after. The damage to the valuate
, was of a alight nature.