The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-19 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF SHOOTING AT_A CABIN

BOY IN PORTLAND ROADS.
James Metham, master of the schooner Harriet, of
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harm. Mr. George Andrews appeared for the prosecu•
tion, and Mr. J. Tisard, of Weymouth, defended both
prisoners. John Williams, a lad of about 18, and
very deaf, deposed that he had been employed about
a month on board the Harriet, going on board at
London. She sailed to France and remained • week,
when witness went ashore with Metham and purchased
various articles. The Harriet then came to Portland
roads. On Wednesday morning, the 6th, about 9
' o'clock, Methem left the vessel and went to Weymouth,
telling prosecutor to get everything cleaned up and to
' make some broth for dinner. About half-past 10 pm. the
two prieoners returned on board, Norris being accom-
panied by his mate and four sailors. Prosecutor was
then asleep on a form in the cabin, and Metham
'knocked him out of his sleep." The two captains and
Norris's mate sat down to drink, and in about half an
hour Metham threw some flour over prosecutor. Norris
took down a gun that had been hanging over the fire
place. Metham then charged the gun, taking • pipe
bowl to dip powder out of a bag, and then putting some
paper in the gun barrel added shot. Metham gave the
gun to Norris, who fired at prosecutor. Prosecutor
was struck in the neck and fell head foremost into the
captain's bed. In • few minutes he rose, went to the
. fire, turned over some beefsteaks, and fried some pota-
toes. His neck was wet; something white running
from it. When the steaks were put on the dish Norris
left, saying he Was going to London that night. Metham
then charged the gun again with powder and shot and
fired it. "Dick," a boy, was standing at the fire place
and prosecutor was seated in another part of the cabin.
The prisoners were drunk when the first gun was fired.
Metham fired at the bedroom door. Witness could not
hear either prisoners say anything before the gun was
fired. In cross-examination prosecutor said he did not
sign articles before joining the Harriet at London. A
mate left the ship when at France, so that only the boy
"Dick," prosecutor, and Metham, brought the schooner
to Portland. On the Thursday morning Metham went,
whore and remained away all night. On Friday "Dick
and prosecutor went ashore, and had a pint of beer at a
public house. He afterwards saw Metham, and he gave
prosecutor some money. At the public house prosecutor
spoke to the people about his neck, and made a glass
stick to his hand, raising a form so as to appear to be
riding like a jockey. He had seen such tricks done at
races, he having been brought up s jockey, and being
"rather sharp soon took the tricks.' Both lads re-
turned on board and afterwards came ashore again, and
saw a man who fetched a policeman. Prosecutor
had not said he wanted 6a. to settle the
matter, but thought he said to Metham that the
other captain who thot him ought to have
given him something. This was before the arrival of a
policeman. "Dick" was with prosecutor all the tune.
Prosecutor wanted to leave the ship before she left the
Thames. Richard Pearce, the cabin boy, deposed that
he joined the Harriet in the end of October, at Poole.
Metham brought prosecutor aboard about 12 o'clock
one night in London. About an hour after reaching
Portland roads on the 6th Metham went ashore with
some Custom House officers. Metham ordered witness
and prosecutor to have the decks and everything clean.
Metham returned on board about half-past 10 with
Norris, Norris' mate, and some sailor boys. Metham
found proseeutor asleep, and pulled him up by the legs
off the form. The prisoners and the mate then sat
down for an hour drinking brandy and gin, after which
Norris rose up and said 'Oh, captain you got a gun
aboard," and took a gun down giving it to Metham,
who had just flung some flour over prosecutor. Metham
took something out of a shot bag poured powder into it,
and put it into the gun. Metham then rammed it down.
Norris took the gun rammed it down, and pointed it at
prosecutor, Metham saying "Fire ;—go just above or
just below," Norris then flied, prosecutor reeled round
and fell, but soon got up and eat on a stool. Some
steaks were cooked and partaken of by all except Norris
who said he did not want any. One of the men said
when prosecutor was shot, "Oh, he's gone ! he's gone!
I do believe he'll die." After Norris left, Metham
having recharged the gun added some shot and pointed
it towards prosecutor. Prosecutor hid behind the table
and exclaimed "Don't fire ! don't fire I there's shot in
the gun; it'll sure to kill me." Witness also said "Don't,
captain! you'll sure to kill him," and hauled the gun
away, and as the weapon then pointed upwards the
shot was lodged in a bulkhead. Metham next got a pair
of scissors and cut some of prosecutor's hair off. Both
captains were tipsy. In cross-examination witness
said, while Metham was pointing the gun lie (witness)
made a ring for Metham to fire at instead of aiming at
prosecutor, and the gun went off in &direction opposite to
where prosecutor was. Witness put Metham ashore
next day, and witness might have then complained to
the police but he did not. On Friday morning prose-
cutor and witness went ashore and were met by two
gentlemen who directed the lads to Portland Castle,
Captain Manning's residence, the lieutenant of the
island. Witness called at • public house for a couple of
minutes before going to Portland Castle. On one
night at the mouth of a river in France Metham cut
prosecutor's hair. Prosecutor was just rising from the
fire place when Norris fired at him. Superintendent
! Everitt said he rreived a warrant for the apprehension
of Charles Norris, captain of the barque liolywood, and
he apprehended the prisoner at the Coal Exchange,
Thames-street, London, on Monday, on a charge of
shooting at John Williams. At first Norris did not
think witness was in earnest but on hearing the warrant
read he observed: "It's true enough, I did shoot at the
boy. I know it scotched his neck, but I was drunk at
the time. The captain gave me the gun • I touched the
trigger and it went off, and 1 did not know there was a
cap upon it. I said to the captain before I fired—are you
sure there's nothing but a bit of powder in it! and lie said
No." Norris added that the captain of the Harriet
had illused the boy very munch before he took down the
gun, throwing flour over and kicking him about. Some
of the flour went over him (Norris) whilst he tried to
' dissuade Metham from illusing Williams. Norris said to
Everitt further that "he supposed he must suffer the
law, and it would kill him." Witness examined the
cabin on the 14th and found it about 6 feet square.
There were some holes in the wall. Police sergeant
I Thomas Johnson said, that while on duty at Portland
on Friday, the Bth, hearing that a captain had shot at a
, boy, he -apprehended Metham on a warrant at Cox's
beerhouse on a charge of attempting to shoot a boy on
board a schooner in Portland Roads. Metham said
"No, he did not do it, it was the other captain; that,
the other captain took the gun down from above the fire
and fired it at the boy, and he (Methain) told Norris to
raise it a little and not shoot the boy." On that night
(the Bth), the officer went on board the Harriet and ex-
amined her. He found ehota in the captain's cabin
door; he took three out of the wood and picked 4 up off
the floor, and a discharged cap. There were eight shot
marks in the wood. In a cupboard he found a bag of
shots and caps, the bowl of a pipe and a powder tin.
Witness also saw a gun in the cabin. These articles
were produced. Witness did not me a ring in any part
of the cabin. Mr. Frederick Blackman, surgeon, of
Portland, deposed that he Saw prosecutor on the Bth,
and examined his neck. The neck had been burnt by an
, explosion, m also the side of the face. There were two
small wounds, mere scratches, on the neck, and a few
bladders produced by burning, and there were several
black marks apparently produced by gunpowder. The
wound was not of an alarming nature at all. Norris
said he was entirely innocent, and know no more of what
took place than a child unborn. Metham said nothing.
Bail was refused, both prisoners being committed for
trial at the next March assizes. On hearing that they
must go to prison both captains burst into tears.
(Before W. L. Henning, Esq.)—James Arnold, carter,
employed at Friar Mayne, was charged under the
Vagrant Act with being found on his master's premises
on Friday evening for an unlawful purpose. Mr. H. C.
Weston appeared for the defence. Henry Cross, com-
plainant's bailiff, stated that on Friday night about 8
o'clock he was in a mead near a carthouse at Friar
Mayne and heard a fowl cry out; four times the noise
was repeated, upon which witness went and warned his
master, who at once accompanied witness to the cart-
house, a boy following them with • candle and lantern.
Lucas held up the light and said, "here's the man in
the wagon; it's Arnold." Defendant replied " That's
the man." A noise being heard under a dung putt in the
carthouse the only living thing they found there was a
very large cat. Arnold paid, " You may look, foreman,
there's no one else here but me." Defendant was asked
" what he was up to there?, "Not after what you do
' think for," replied defendant. Defendant said he was
not after any fowls nor had he seen any. Mr. Lucas
said "perhaps he had felt them as he could not see."
There was a ladder reared against a pole upon which
fowls sometimes roosted, but no fowls were seen. Com-
plainant (Mr. Lucas) corroborated the last witness, add-
ing that he had seen the ladder which was placed against
the carthouse beam in the saw pit a few hours before.
Defendant was not hiding in the wagon but 'fitting up
on the reeves. P.C. Pomeroy said he was called upon
to apprehend defendant on Friday evening, and about
half-past 8 he found him at Broadmayne. On the way
to Dorchester defendant said "I took the ladder from
the saw pit, put it in the wagon, and went up with the
intention to cut a piece from a lambskin to nail round
my cottage door, and in reaching to the lambskin I
knocked a fowl off the beam. It was so dark I could
not see the skin. I did not go there for to steal fowls."
The policeman found some feathers in the wagon the
next (Saturday) morning, and there were two sheep
skins on the beam pole. The mwistrate (Mr. Henning)
after cautioning Arnold dismissed the case.
(Before Henry Frampton and W. L. Henning, Esqrs.)
—Mary Ward, a married woman, of Piddletown, and
who said she worked for Mr. James Harding, of Water-
eon, was charged with stealing a sack bag, the property
of Mr. John Bridle, farmer, Tineleton. P.C. Hitch said
that on Saturday the 9th he met a marine store dealer,
named John Long, and in his bundle was a piece of
sack bag. Long told the officer that he had bought it
of prisoner. It was found to be part of a sack belong-
ing to prosecutor and bearing his name. Prosecutor had
since looked over his sacks and found them all right
with the exception of "No. 5," the one now produced.
Prisoner formerly worked for Mr. Cake, of Islington,
whose farm adjoins that of prosecutor ; and she said
she could have a character extending to 11 years' good
conduct. Prisoner said the bag had been left at her
house some time ago by a shepherd boy and consented to

baiM Mtn Matter adjudicated ripon pnder the Summary
Jiirisdiction Act; but, prosecutor not wishing to prose
tlie case against her, 'he received an impressiVe magis-
terial admonition and was disci's:pd.—Another
charge of a similar character was then preferred against
her and her husband Charles Ward, a piece of a sack
the property of Edward Saunders, as well as some pieces
belonging to Mr. Harding, of Waterson, having been
found in their house by the policeman; but the -bench
deeming the case portion of the last and remarking that
they had a doubt about the identity of the property,
dismissed this charge also,
BOROUGH PETTY SMESIONEI. Townhall, Monday, Jan.
18.—(Before John Brisor and J. F. Hodges, Esqrs.)--
Peter Hickman, litter at Atte.gail works, Pas miunnoned
for astaulting George Hadley, Manager of the gas
works, and destroying a cane, value 10s. Mr. G. J.
Andrews appeared for the complainant, and Mr. M. C.
Weston defended. Mr. Andrews having briefiy opened
the case, called the complainant, George Hedley, who
having been sworn said, he was manager of the gas
company in this town, at which works defendant was
likewise engaged oubordinate to complainant. About
half-peat 11 Friday Morning conhplainant met defend-
ant coming out of the commercial room of the Antelope
Hotel, when defendant said, " If you go into the room
you'll find him there. He'll give'e a glass of wine."
Complainant answered that be did not want to have
anything to say to defendant, but would be obliged if he
would go about his business. Defendant then called
complainant an offensive term. Complainant said, "If
you call inc that mune again I will call a constable."
Defendant next struck complainant a back-handed blow
in the eye, upon which complainant struck him across
the shmilder with a walking cane. Defendant seized
complainant by the throat and both fell to the ground.
A gentleman came from the hotel (Mr. Hodge of Lon-
don) and with much difficulty prevented defendant from
further assaulting complainant, but he (defendant) deli-
berately picked up complainant's cane, which was a
silver mounted Malacca one, and broke it across his
knee. In cross-examination complainant said he had an
appointment with Mr. Hodge, having written to that
gentleman telling him that he would find Hickman in
Dorchester. Complainant knew that defendant was in-
debted to Mr. Hodge; and when the defendant came
from the Antelope commercial room, where he had seen
Mr. Hodge, he was met by complainant at the corner of
the gateway. Complainant denied having answered de-
fendant at his first salute with "You dirty thief; how
dare you speak to use in the street," or words to that
effect. Complainant felt annoyed at the way in which
the words about " the glass of wine" were uttered; lie
had only communicated with defendant of late by writ-
ing his directions in an order book • and defendant had
been treated in every reepectlikeother persons under him
and had never done more; he denied having ever thrown
an iron bend at defendant's head had not heard com-
plaint referring to it, and did not recollect any gas di-
rector speaking to him about throwing an iron bend at
defendant. Complainant would not swear that defend-
ant did not say " You old scoundrel, what do you mean
by calling me a dirty thief ;" and that it was in rouse'
queues Of such expression that he struck defendant with
the cane. Complainant denied having said to defendant
"You had better go back to Jersey, for I will be your
bitterest enemy." But complainant had told defendant
he had better go back to Jersey, because defendant was
wanted there; but this was not said at Mr. Wellspring's
about a month ago. Complainant was about to leave
the gas works. He said he never kicked defendant's
shins in the Antelope yard. Complainant thought he
struck defendant with his fist before they fell to the
ground. The cane dropped from complainant's hand.
In answer to Mr. Ensor complainant said he was
positive defendant struck him (complainant) first with
the back of his hand. Frederick Fuszard, waiter
at the Antelope Hotel, said that on the °Cession
in question, whilst standing at the hotel coffee room
door, he saw the assault, and corroborated complainant.
In cross-examination, he added that the affray took
plasm in the Antelope gateway, close to Cornhill. Wit-
ness would not swear that complainant did not call de-
fendant " • dirty thief ;" but he heard, he thought, de-
fendant Bay to complainant, "You old scoundrel what
do you mean by calling me a dirty thief ?" Thought
this expression by defendant was before any blows were
struck. But in re-examination he said he did not know
what words were used after complainant's address re-
specting the word "vagabond" and the blow was struck
by defendant. Mr. Weston, in defence, hoped the judg-
ment of the Bench would be withheld until after a crow;
summons by Hickman against Hedley had been heard
when Hickman would be able to tell his version of the
matter. He (Mr. Weston) understood that on defen-
dant coming out from Mr. Hodge he delivered to com-
plainant a message from Mr. Hodge, which complainant
replied to by saying, "How dare you speak to me in the
street you dirty thief"—a statement supported by the
fact that no verbal communication took place between
the parties at the gas works; defendant denied striking
complainant before receiving a blow from the cane.
Mr. Andrews pressed for an immediate decision. Fax-
card said he did not see anyone but the parties and Mr.
Hodge.—The case of Hickman v. Hedley was then
proceeded with. Mr. Weston appeared for the complain-
ant and Mr. Andrews defended. Complainant (Peter
Hickman) having been sworn, said he was gasfitter to
the Dorchester Gas Company. On Friday morning he
went to the Antelope with Mr. Hodge, of Hatton
Garden, having met that gentleman at Mr. Tulloch's.
On coming out of the Antelope commercial room he
said to defendant (George Hedley) " Mr. Hodge is
waiting for you; I dare say he will give you • glass of
wine." Defendant, in reply, wanted to know how
complainant dared to speak to him in the street, and
called him a dirty thief. Complainant turned round,
called defendant an old scoundrel and saying if he used
such words again he would shake defendant out of his
shoes. Defendant then struck complainant across the
left shoulder with a cane, complainant not raising a
hand against him, but atriving to take the stick away.
Defendant next kicked complainant's shins, and struck
him in the right eye. Complamanttliengot the cane away
and broke it. Complainant at the present time walked
lame owing to the kick. In cross-examination complain-
ant said not a soul was present at the time, and defen-
dant struck him with a stick ere Mr. Hodge came out
of the coffee-room. It was perhaps two minutes before
persons came from the bar hearing defendant bellow.
While struggling for the !Mick, said before both fell to
the ground, defendant kicked complainant. Complain-
ant positively denied striking defendant with his fist in
any way. It was not usual for orders to be entered in
complainant's time book. The cane, which was pro-
duced„haduot been in complainant's possession but at the
Town Clerk's office since Friday. Mr. Andrews ad-
dressed the bench' and called Frederick Fuzzard, but it was
agreed to take his statement as before given. Mr.
Weston then replied. Their worships consulted and de-
cided on fining Hickman Xls. including costs in the
first :lase; and, in the second case, the same person was
ordered to pay Is., the costs.
•

(Before hie Worship W. Manfield, Esq., Mayor' and
..T. Ensor, Esq.)—Mary Mark, a common girl of For-
dington, was summoned for using abusive language at
Tubb'; corner. A woman named Brown stated the
case, saying that the improper words were used on
Tuesday last. Fined 55., and. 84. 4d. costs, which was
at once paid.
• • "- •

COMMITTED TO DORCHESTER GAOL.—Assizes : John
Orchard, stealing money at Weymouth ; James
Metham and Charles Norris, shooting at, with intent to
do bodily harm, at Portland; Charles Pickford, stealing
ducks at Cann; Charles Daniels, stealing plough trace,
Ice., at Wyke Regis; John Hawker, assault with
intent to ravish at Thornecbmbe. Hard Labour :
Daniel Studley, assault at Thorncombe; 2 calendar
months; Benjamin Davy, George Davy, and Joseph
Staple,stealing fence at Stoke Abbott, 3 calendar months ;
Hugh Bincoe and Henry Legg, breach of the
articles of war at (Royal Marine Artillery) Gosport, 168
days; James Jacobs and Francis White, night poaching
at llampreston, 3 calendar months and then to find
sureties; Henry Shiner, stealing turnips at Toiler Por-
corum, 1 calendar month; Samuel Gillott, vagrancy at
Marnhull, 3 calendar months; Andrew Powell, night
poaching at Wotton Fitzpaine, 3 calendar months and
then to find sureties; Edwin Lees, vagrancy at Gilling-
ham, 3 weeks; William Strong, stealing ducks at Brid•
port, 3 calendar months; Herbert Hockey, ditto, 1
oalendar month; William Ellis, stealing barley and
oatmeal at Winfrith, 14 days; Henry Wareham, steal-
ing potatoes at lwerne Minster, 1 calendar month ; James
Mackdonald, stealing lead at Sherborne, 2 calendar
months.