The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-04-11 00:00:00

THI CliillGl.

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In charging the Grand Jury, Mr. FLOTIII said :
The calendsr which is f m your consideration to-day
nostalgia the names of ten prisoners, one more than
the number which cane under your consideration at
the cirresponding Quarter Sessions last year. The
cases are net of a very serious description, and bear
out the report of the Chief Constable rend in the
Court yesterday, which speaks of the general condition
of the crime in the county as fairly satisfactory. The
Chief Constable also reported that there were two
ticket-of-leave men in the county, and nine under the
supervision of the police. Of these one was known to
be in a 120102 workhoruse, two were considered to he of
doubtful character and occupation, and the remainder
were all believed to be earning their livelihood in an
honest manner. Now, there is • matter of very con.
siderable Importance, because. SA you are well aware.
the object of the proceedings here to-day, the
repreenion of c line, is carried out by pualoh•
meat where 'Arsons an found guilty, sad we
here also the object, which we cannot deal
, with in this Court, but which is our duty as good
I (46mm. via to prornote the reformation of the
offender. When pri opera are discharged, it is often
difficult for them—naturally difficult, awl, perhaps,
I we may almost say rightly difficult for persons tainted
I in their character by baying been subjected to penal
treatment—to obtain employment. And you, gentle-
men of the Grand Jury, I suppose, 1 may addrises as
persons who are generally employers of labour in this
county; and that consideration hes led me to inform
1 you that within the last few weeks, a society has bees
, formed in this conwy at the blatante of the visiting
justices of the prison—a society meting on the SIM*
ground as others formed in different parts of the
, kingdom, the object of which is toad all prisoners upon
their discharge. You will see at ono, that this society
if carried sot effectively, deals with the main question
of finding employment for prisoners on their discharge,
and as far as you may be able, representing employers
of labour, you will be reedy te 000perae with the
magistrates and members—because it is not confined
to magistrates—in accomplishing, that which must he
onto( our great objects in dealing with prisoners, viz.,
the reformation of offenders. In omiolusion, he made&
few remarks upon the cues of George Mills for
obtainiag money by false pretence., and of Tgrroas
Doddeff, indicted for nuolidoad7 cutti•S • loom,
ssaploysd lath, sossaiscitars ol hemp goods. Hs also

called the attention ot the Grand Jury to the fact that
I had the adeedar before than in • new form, in
Ad& be mired • lot of information rel•tba to tea
l; it had been drawn up by the authorities in
or bet he did not think it so rood ;tithe one they
used to adopt when they managed their own busbares.
TRIALS OF PRISONERS.

Before Mr. J. Flom, M.P., Colonel Bingham, Mr.
Middleton, Jun., Mr. N. Pearce, Mr. J. Batten, and
Major-General Henning.
William Edwards, on bat, was indicted for felony,
on Fehenary 7lles by stealing • lamb, at Beaminster,
and Pleaded not Ville. The lamb wan valued at 35.,
and was the property of Samuel Holloway.
Mr. F. J. i.remplor said the man was a shepherd foe
Kr. Holloway, and had not been well. On February
7th Mr. Holloway went round and looks i at the 'beep,
and observed an ewe with twin lambs. Prisoner
worked on the farm, and in the evening the lamb was
goes. Prisoner made no effort to find it, and • lamb
was afterwards found in possession of a woman, to
whom prisoner admitted having sold it for a shilling.
Mr. Holloway had 80 or 70 ewes in the Park at
Northfield Faroe, and saw an ewe drop two lambs.
Next morning one of the twin was gone, but prisoner
said he did not come that way. A lamb had been
offered for male, and P.C. Roper afterwards produced
him a crose-brod chilver lamb, which matched the
other of the twin. His shepherd had no right to take
lambs.
Primmer said that Mr. Holloway had previously
told him that when an ewe could 'sot ksep • lamb he
Gould sell it and divide with his son.
Mr. Holloway denied this ; his son mold • lamb three
or four years ago, and gave prisoner a shilling or two
out, but he had WOK given perinirsion to prisoner to
sell any lamb.
Mrs. Alias Day, wife of Richard Day, of Bearninster,
dealer, said primmer asked her to boy a lamb, and she
bought it for a shilling, and sold it to her sister for
hallo-crown. She was in the habit of buying and
selling young lambs in the Mlllloll.
Emma,wife of David Meech, dairyman, of Bea-
ming/Air, brought the lamb of her sister, and afterwards
Ist P.C. Roper have it.
P.C. Roper, charged primmer, when be said—"l did
take one of =aces lambs out of the Park, and solo
it to Mrs. Day for le."—Prisoner now statedbe did not
know what he said, in his fright.
Prisoner had nothing to say to the jury; but he
produced a letter, which was handed to the Chairman.
Mr. Floyer pointed oat that the alleged permission
to said lambs was denied, aged that the only recognised
dealing in them took place three or four years ago.
The Jury found him guilty, after some minutes con.
sideration.
The written character sect up wan signed by • person
aimed Edwards, and the Chairman &Add if this was a
relative of prisoner. Prisoner, with • vacant look,
shook his head.
The Chairman said farmers' property must be pro-
tected, especially lambs, respecting which they must
trust servants. If be had been employed as • shepherd
at the time, he would have been more severely dealt
with, but the Court were disposed to treat him
leniently for this first offence.
Two months' hard labour.
rasa> AT rOrrtAnD.
George Mills (27), seaman, was indicted for obtain.
lug by false pretence' El iSa from Moms Moore, at
Portland.
He admitted getting the money, but said he had been
thinking heavily, and did not know what he did.
Alter hesitation, he declared he 'id not intend to
deprive prosecutor of his money, and this was taken as
• plea of not guilty.
Mr. Pearce prosecuted.
Moose Moore, landlord of the Castle Inn, Portland,
said the prisoner came to his house on Monday.
January 23, and said he was master of a little vessel
In Weymouth, trading for Mr. Sanders. coal merchant,
and wanted • little money, as other masters of Teasels
do.
Mr. Moyer asked if this was the general character of
IMAM of resole I (Laughter.)
Ur. Moore said he often Ist them have money, sad '
be let prisoner have El and then 106.
Mr. John Sanders, coal mei chant, Weymouth,
denied that prisoner was employed at all for him.
There was no other Mr. John Sanders, coal merchalt,
at Weymouth.
Sergeant Fathom brong t prisoner from Wusham
to Dorchester, and on the wai rant bong resd to him,
prisoner said—" I had been &Miring very heavy, and
I am very so:ry for what has been done."
Prisoner said he ha I been very bad in his head for
the last three years; be met with some friends, and
went drinking heavy. For the lad eight weeks he had
been under the care of the doctor, and wished to call
him to spinet t his apapa of mind,
Mr. Myer: He can't speak t y or state of mind
when you were at Porttau I. lie may say you had
been drinking • great deal too much; but that is no
recommendation or defocus. I Isn't know that I can
call Mr. Good. To the jury, Mr. Floyer pointed out
that the man had beim sane enough and had sufficient
mental power to toil his etory and get money out of
Mr. Mo. re. All that could be said was that Mr.
Moore saw he wad in such state of liquor that he was
not a proper psrson to lend monsy to; but there was
no evidence of that, audit coo'd not in any sense be •
defence.
Foetal guilty.
Prisoner pressed Met Mr. God might be beard;
but the Chairman thought that prisoner's having been
driokiog wan no defence. He (Mr. Floyer) hal bad
• good deal to do cub insane persons; but prisoner
was, no doubt, quite sane.
Mr. Pearce said he un iersti» 1 prisoner wan in a
very bad state some weeks alter he was admitted, and
it was more than ordinary drunkenness. The prose-
cution had no wish to press the prisoner.
The Chairman said Mr. Good c told not speak as to
his state of mind when he obtained the money.
Mr. Lock sail Mr. Good might offer an opinion.
The Chairman: An opinion is nothing.
It was again suggested that perhaps Dr. Good's evi-
dence might alter the complexion of the case.
The doctor was not called, the Chairman stating his
seidence could not be admitted as bearing on the case.
Mr. Flos er c tattooed that if prisoner was capable of
optking up • story and getting money of Mr. Moore,
be must have been in such • state of mind as to be
rennomibie for his actions. It. should be sorry to
sit in thin, or any Court, lithe plea of drunkenness
were to be urged es an muse for crime.
Two month.' hard labour.

ISDICLITT ASSAULT.
William If .iii (38), labourer, was indicted for in•
droantly assaulting Louisa Atkins, on Feb. 1312, at
Litton Cheney.
He plesdod guilty, and had n) deism*.
Mr. tidal was for the prosecution, and said this was
a bad uses, and if prisoner had not he interrupted,
probably a more serious offence would hare been com-
mitted.
_The Chairman said the same. The girl was 18 years

_
of age.
Six moutlid hard labour.
ATTUIPTED 8011CIDIL
George 0 onond (19), baker, pleaded guilty to at.
tempted suicide.
Pawner's mother was called forward, and the
Chairman said it was difficult to know what to do
with attempted suicides. They heard that the family
did not live happily at home, and the must try and
make things comfortable.
Sh• promised to do so.
The Chairman said her rooming up showed a right
!millet He exhorted Oemood not to do snythlug
so foolish again ; they undentood that he had don,
and not got all he expected for it; but it was very
foolish of him.
Bound over to come up for judgment when called
on, and then discharged.

STRALISO rovna AT LTTCIIIITT.
Merles Crutcher. 20, hawker, indicted for stealing
15 fowl.. value £1 17... the property of Daniel Hallam.
Mr. Ude! prosecuted.
Prosecutor hod 19 fowls. at Lytchett, prisoner ii a
rispy. On g ing to his fowls in the morning, Mr.
&Ilan found • dead fowl inside the house, and the
heads of several chicken, also a double-bladed knife,
while merle, of hob-nailed boots were on the ground.
Prisoner had been several times on the premises, and
knew all about where the fowls were, and he admitted
that the knife found in the fewlhonse wee his; the
bootmarks in the fowlhouse corresponded with the
marks of prisoners boots, while, when arrested, be
asked was there no other mark, because there was
another man there with him.
Mr. Hallam, brick manufacturer, said he had 17 bens
and two cocks in afowlhouse near his back-door. It wee
not locked; but fastened with • chain and pin. They
were all right on Monday, February 27th; but on the
morning of the 28th only two or time came
out; but as it wee raining very heavily, he thought
the others rayed in. On Mar.:l let only thr.,e
came, awl he went into the house, and saws fowl with
his head off, several heals about, and • deep knife
on the firer of the towlhouse, alongside the dead
fowl..
Three fowls and the claw knife were produc.d.
M-. Hallam said the marks in the fewlhouse cor-
responded with the boots brought by the sergeant.
Mr. Heury Phillip., who keeps the Itailw•y Inn at
Lytehett, saw prisoner there .on the evening in
foretion, about a quarter of • mile from prosecutor's
place.
:4ergesant Cantle, from Corte Mull,n, spoke to the
footwear, and the clasp knife. Apprehended Cruteher
at Consti,ntion Hill, when he owned the knol., rook
him to Wimhorne, and found blood on his coat and
trowsers. The vaults .4 the boats were very remark
-
ilia, having been first hobbwi with small hob., awl
afterwards with larger ones. Went back to Wimhorne
and toll prisoner it w.s his boot that made the tracks,
when hi said lie WAS drunk ; was th.re any other
man's track there? " The knife," he said, "we. hatidel
to me when I came out of gaol on Mon lay." Pr i.oner
mid—" I was killing pig 4 on the 4th of March, the
wind wag rough, and the blood went on my tr more."
The sergeant state I that be found the marks on the
Ist March.
P.C. Spelling an March 7th, found • bag in a hedge
with 13b dies of fowls. This wee in a sh.ubbery at
Creekmoor, about a Mil• from prosecotor'r, and u a hie
road home.
P.C. Durrant, from Wareham, sal 1 he gave the
knife to prisoner on the 30th January.
Daniel Hallam, jun., raw prig .ner near their Wet
mi.es, with this knife, eating bread and cheese.
Found guilty,
lle had been previously convicted—at Winchester
In 1881, of stealing a sovereign, there were also five
other conviction,.
He asked the Chairman to be as light at he contd.
The Chairman sail this was dealing in rither• whole.
sale way, 'titling 15 trwls, and there wins other
convictions. Their ouly doubt was whet,or they
ought not to send him for penal servitude ; 10.. t were
willing t'give him one more chance, and sent him for
18 months herd labour, and two years' police super-
vision.

TAKING AN UNIIIIIILA.

John Wood (21), drover, stealing an umbrella the '
property of Ambrose Charles Orchard, on the 6th
March, at Melcombe Regis,
Mr. Wills prosecuted.
Pnrescutris Iceps the New Arrival Inn, Park.
street, and kit her umbrella in the corner of the room
Oa Sunday. Ned day prisoosr came in with another
and saw the umbrella, when he prop wed to his com-
panies to steal it, bet his jdsad was afraid he'd be

found out. Hoverer, Prisoner took the umbrella, and
It was afterwards found ou
. .bun.. . .

Mrs. Orcb,rd, on her reinr—n—from church on Sundsy,
hiar,l sth, put her umbrella in the smoking.room,
and on Tuesday, between four and live, she missed it,
and informed the polio,.
John Miller, • boy, of Burdon.buildings, was at the
New Arrival with Wood, who a•ked if he should take
the umbrella, when witness repliod—" No, or you'll
set yourself Into • bother." Witness went out into
the bar, leaving Wood In the smoking-room. Arnold
came and fetched thorn to the railway station, where
Wood took the umbrella from under his coat.

--
The boy Arnold oorroborated.
P.C. Hansford saw prisoner in High West-street
with the umbrella, when prisoner said he picked I. up
on Monday near the railwo station.
Prisoner had nothing to say.
Found guilty; • previous conviction in 1880 (after
another cinviction) for sheep-eteatiug was proved.
The Cnairman soul p isoner bed .402 so punished
before tbat it 11/0016 I aloe, it wee:weary to send him to
penal servitude. Umbrella. were, no doubt, often
stolen, and it was regarded as • trivial offence ; but
prisoner scanted to be in the habit of going into houses
and picking up what he could. After giving him a
severe caution, the Chairman sentenced blue to mix
months' hard labour.