The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

ASSAULT ON A CONSTABLE AT
ABBOTSBUTtr.

Charles Claxton, Henry Russell, David Oorniok,
Joseph Limm, Joseph Vivian, and Riohard Cornick,
of Abbotabury, Weft brought Up on Satrigday last,
before It Williams and B. IV. Williams, &qrs., on
remand for ait alleatilt Upon P.C. Poster in the elects.
tion of his duty on ChritAntas.day.—Mr. Symonds
prosecuted, and Mr. Howard defended.
P.C. Foetal. stated: I am a police.oonstable stationed
at MAMA:spry. Was there December 24th, on duty.
about midnight. 4 winter pest twelve I saw • crowd
of people opposite Claston's house, and went towards
them. Them were about forty or MON there. Joseph
Limos was playing a concertina, and all the others were
dancing and shouting round him, making a great sonic
All the defendants were peewee. David Corniek had
his jacket and hat off. In the Swan pablio-honee, about
• o'clock, I law all the defendants. Rumell asked
me to bins, I took the glees from his hand and put
it to my lips nut of mere courtesy, and banded it back.
I did not drink. Claxton asked me to drink and I said
" No, I never bare, and never shall.' He said, "You
I hope you'll never drink any more." Re said to
Russell, "The last time we were up here somebody
interfered: if they do Ii to.night, they will get some-
thing for it." This was an hour and a quarter before
I maw the crowd it the street. When I same up to the
'coedit told them to leans og making stab • belle and
to go home quietly. I was on dm foot-pavement at
this time. The party were both on the pavement and
the road. David Comic* jumped on the pavement and
stood facing me, and he pot his fists up ekes to in
face, and asked what I had got to say against him. I
said "I have nothing to say against you, nor anyone
elm put on your clothes and go home quietly."
Russell and Claxton were at this time Mending on the
road opponte me. Claxton said "You have informed
spina me and my sister, and done us all
the harm you could, and now yon shall
have it* I had laid information against his sister
for being in nalawfal possession of pow, and she was
convicted. Rummell and Claxton then tame up. claiton
hit me on the left Invest with his right hand. Ifa sp
stand the wad. At the same time Rummell pushed his
fist up in my face, and both said "Now you—if
you waste good hiding you shall here it." I put my hood
against (lotion's breast mad pushed him away, telling
him to keep his hands off me. He pulled off his jacket.
During the time I got of the pavement, he dem* at me
with bis right hand. I drew my staff. He said "We
don't can for your --- staff." He made • blow at me
lapin and I knocked him down with the staff. Russell
aimed a blow et me with his right hand, which I stopped
with my arm, lie made at me again, collared me and
Minsk at in. several times. The two Cornioks, Vivian,
and gemsl other% than gU me down in the road. My
itkoff wax taken from me Rowell knelt on my loft breast
and kept me down while others kicked ma Liam was
stonding close by my feet and mid "gift It to the
kick him, kill him." I was kicked on my lei:017, abbe
by where Liam was standing. About 100 s were
now collected. I called for amistonoe. cried out
" Murder' " fluding there was no chance of my getting
up. Mrs. OW and other women 0413111. At that time I
was laying op my hack, and Rowell was kneeling
on me, and otheft standing around me. My
hat was kicked off. I was very severely kicked
about the bead—a piece about the elite of • Morin was
breed of the top of my head, and was picked up the
nest morning I Not a man some to my assistance.
This affair was on for tot 5 :pinatas before I stied
"murder." I have been in bed ever since except three
days, and have been attended by Dr. Palmer.
Crose-exsznined : Have been in the ppliire Prof five
or six years; previously was a soldier le or 1111 year..
There were parties of singers on both sides the defen-
dant's party, who had been about the village carolling.
I never told them to go on. I had one gbuts of beer
that WAR and • pint of eider at five o'dodr la the
evening. Have since heard the ecneertins was won at
raffle that *veiling. The defendants wal pity were
darning, cursing and swearing, and so 05. I shook
hands with David Coreiak, who thereupon Put .12 his
jacket,but immediately after that be helped to pull
me down in the road, after I had Amok Claxton.
After I got up I went be the cottage ulf a man named
Arnold. whom wits and eaftwal other women west with
me. There wm a talk a little time ago in Abbotalsury
about me and my wife. I have never said I would be
down upon the parties who talked about me and
my wife. Have never said I would be down on
anybody in my life. We. at Frier Waddon
12 months ago. Will not say whether or not I got
the worse for liquor there; I rods home with Captain
Barnard. Have never been drank sines I have been in
the police force. Conde asked why I looked at him so
hard the previous day, and I replied, that I might know
him man, ma be was so muck like his brother.
Sarah Oill, of Abb tabory, gave evidence corrobora-
tive in some 11~111% of that of the policeman. '
Martha 0111, she daughter of previous Witelli• spoke
I. lesliag bleed from the broken heed of complainant.
She and Kuly Arnold emmoapontod him to Aisolfs
hOOO% eapywtiil him on Mawr side. .

Dr. Parker, in practios at Abbotabary, said os
Christmas-eve P.C. Foster cams to him house. lie wee
very faint, and bleeding very much in the head. He
could not give information at onoc—h• was too weak
from in.. of blood. On the top of his head he found a
goug..d wound The o Md. of he ocilp into the bone
was removed- Witness „lid wliot he ecnoeive I to be
emmooary, and h., ott..,,ced him t . the presont time.
The woumi won decidedly seri.... Toe coorahls also
bad • canto... 4 wound juot behind ehs nor. lio corn.
plumel of other Mu.seo, hut nothing of any mot riol
riooseqneoes. Ti. wound ,m the head might hove
boon lucked out with Irony hoots.
Cr.ll•l•oll4MiliPfi : t might ham. been dono by a fall
on an incnnality in ti,. groong. Ciaoton lied A veiy
metiers con.u.e I wound I it !nigh' bare been wals-d h •
"°"`""n " C..•144,-r.ll il Vim unlit for hi.
duty in her Itijesty's oervice. After he had attended
to th c ,netshle. he eralk4 home.

rills was the case for the prommution.
Mr. Ifirranl *aid he wee glad to learn from the
evidence°, Mr. Parktr that the emend. the Polk.mut
received were by no means fno wined a character as
ass Ilr.t represented. fie reintrked on the general
limns given be parties enjiying themielves at Chriate
mes tune, and endeavoured goitre., that the interference
of the constable areas from an animas he had against
Clinton, that he tin werrantab'y mitaulte I the men, end
in cons-queues got hurt himeelf.
. . .

Jnb Cluelt. carpenter, of Weymovth, deposed that
on the filth December he went to bhotehnry, awl in
the evening eat with hie wife in his mothepin•law'a
hon., when he hoard the playing of • cone nine. and
minebnAy making • 00. J. Went to the doot aud I.e .rd
the ptlioanan and mine one having a few word, lie
went •monmit them, and saw some one jump on the
pavement and say, " What have you to nay scai•.st
met, Some women Raid that was David Carnick. lie
went up to him, and after David Cornick h sli•ken
hands with the conatahle, he and C .rniek went home t
Cornick's home tog titer. Tney met the singers and
tslked to them, lie heard some one shoot "murder"
at that time.
Crow-examined : ISt not recoznise anybOdy in the
crowd except Daeid Cornick.
George Ford, of Abbotshury, farmer, said on the 21th
Deoemher be was out with the Ringers, and Itettil ih.
noise of the row. Saw Cluett and David C teniek. They
same and spike to his uncle, Jemie Whit*. SD tante
from where the row was going on with the policeman.
Cromezamined Cannot say no disturbance teak
place before they name hi us,
William Vincent, another singer, spoke to Cluett and
Cornick coming to them while there was a row and
screams of women opralte Claztercee.
Croseexamined uornlak had had • little drink.
George 0111,of AbboNbury, mid on Cbrtames-eve be
was out with Richard Cornick. Vivian, and Hors. Found
them *here the connertima was playing. Saw David
Cornick .bake Windt with the policeman and then go
away. Sa* Clacton get on the pateinent, when the
policeman protbed him at Claxton 'had not stretch the
conatable. Constable jumped from the Pavement to the
road, followed up Claxton and knocked him down. Then
he taw the policeman fall down; did not moo anybody
knock him down. The people flocked around. Dui not
go near the policeman, and Richard Cornick and Vivian
stopped with him, and went away just before him; they
did not strike the policeman, or take any part in the
row. . . . .
" "

Cross-examined: Saw witiody kick or strike the
policomsn. Might have been done without his seeing it.
Thomas Danford, of Abbotsbury, eaid there was en
"tippet" with Cornick. He saw Claxton knocked
down ; be (Clazton) had not struck a blow.
George Hayward bait to be reminded by the &inch
of the solemnity of taking an oath. H. said be taw the
policemen push Clatter' off the pavement.
ffrank Hall went out with Ft. Condole. Vivian. and
George Gill. Heard the policeman tell the party
around the cioneertina to go home. After some con•
venation David Coreick went away. Saw the police-
Man push Claaton down, draw his staff, and knock him
down. dation had npt struck the constable, and the
people oried " sharee,"
Cross-examined : Did not know soy in the crowd
besides those be had mentioned, although ho had lived
at Abbotabnry all his life time.
Gregory Gill spoke to seeing David Condi* go away
with Ciotti immediately after shaking hands with the
constable. Claatoe woe getting on the pavement,
having some straight out of his boost., w en the police•
man pushed him off, took out his staff, followed him
and struck him down. Claxton had not struck or
threatened to strike the policeman. People cried
"shame," and seminude(' the eonstable.
Joseph Rayne gave corroborate evidence, and, when
being cross-examined, wae taken in • fit, and had to be
led from the Court.
Sarah Danford saw Claxton pushed off the pavement
by the constable and tire& down. She afterwards
buttered his bead. . _

Dotage Ford, one of the singers, said David Cornick
and Closet spoke to some of them while the row was
going on opposite Claxton'., and afterward* weat to-
wards his home, away from the row.
Nary White told of the knocking down of Claxton
with " great vengeance," when some people called out
"Oh, he's dead." When P.C. Foster some oat shaking
his bead he said, "Oh ! if they had killed roe I think
nobody would have taken my part." Witoess said,
" Oh yes they would." Seeing some blood and dirt on
his head said she would get some water to wash it off.
The Gan was cleared while the Bench considered
their decision. On resuming, Mr. Williams maid they
had given the ease a great deal of consideration, and
tried to corns to a right oonelusion. There had been a
great deal of eVidenoe given, and the statement of the
witnesses, for the defence did not agree enough to
make them doubt the policemen's evidence so far as they
could judge, whatever gave rise to the affair, it seemed
at least a cowardly assault, of all the mee present not
one seemed to have offered the slightest help; th
women only gave him assistance. The sentence was
that Russell and Claxton be lined £3 including most*. o
2 months' hard labour, and the others 22, or,ii month
A week was allowed to pay in, bat immoral gave the
money at ones.

WEYMOUTH.

MAYOR'S BANQIIIIT.—Tbe Mayor entertained, Co
thatolay .?.nog b. mionban of do corporation
st his residenos ia Vicstoris-tarrade.

A Wasz op PILLYZIL —liestings for united prayer
are announced to be bald every evening this week
at the National School-room the meetings to be pre-
sided over by ministers of difiereot demonstration&

Anosom -the sums anoounoed for the Mansion
Home Fund, for relief of the sufferers by the recent
colliery explosions!, in the Times of Monday we
notios, "Collected at St. John's shun* Weymouth,
by the Rev. Jon. Stevenson, £32 9i. 4d."

filtunranct.—The soboolllK Alinander, of Wey-
mouth, Norris master, has bees reported as totally
wreaked at Great Yarmouth, the crew Wog all
sawed. The vessel parted from her cable on Monday
night, and drois on Yarmouth Sands. She was in
ballad., and bound from London to Hartlepool. She
was owned by Mx. G. Lino, of Portland.
Tan porters engaged on the Quay, together with
• number of seamen, and their wives, about 200 in
number, were regaled with an ezoellent tea, on
Tuesday evening, at the literary Institution. pro.
Tided throngh the liberality of the Rey. J. Mauled
and other gantlmmoc. Atm tea addressee were de-
livered and a very happy evening speed.
Datum Hyrum:Am Fail CIWILCAL —On Tburs•
day last a bazaar took place at the Teespersno.room,
in Park-street, on behalf Me above religiose associa-
tion. A public tea for the same object we after-
wards held at the same placie, and the evening
concluded with • " service of song" by the tomnbere
of the Gloucester-smart Chapel, who acquitted
themselves ably. Brief addressee were given during
tie intervals of the main. _

Dimes= Swina.—The cotter Pallas, of
Jersey, Het" master, laden with potatoes, from
Dakota for Gloser‘d, patted horn her anchors at
Kingroad in the evening of the 24111 alt., and was
driven up the Severn. Afterwards she struck on a
rock, and sunk uff Oldbury a total wreck. Two of
the seaman were on Wednesday relieved by Mr. It
Damon, lion, agent to the Shipwrecked Mrrinen'
Society, and sent on to their homes.
PAILISTIV Tat.—The annual tea meeting to the
parents of the children atteadiog St. John's School
took plans in the Sobool.room on Thursday evening
last. About 220 partook of the agreeable report.
The Rev. J. Stephenson was present, and moan
-
panted by several friends, namely, Rev. J. Vandrey,
Nev. P. Tuber Dr. Smith, Mr. IL Devenish, Mts.
Mogg, Mrs. U. Thrums., Mimes Ray, Mies Frampton,
Mrs. R. Thompson, Mine/ Penny, ha Several
pieces of music, vocal and instrumental, were per-
formed, Mr. Thorne presiding at the piano. A very
pleasant evening was concluded by an address from
the Rev. J. Stephenson,
Its. R. H. Axxtrarr, of Weymouth, has written
a condensed summary of atmospheric conditions
during the past year, whioh he says has been fertile
of meteorological phenomena. The year wee marked
by great insalubrity, and in some of the summer
months the &sib rate exceeded the estimated
average of nearly a thousand. During the month of
August, there was but one solitary cloodlees day.
He very aptly calls November 11111111 ill rairabilie, the
marvellous epoch of meteors, This month was
marked by &straitlye gales, disastrous floods, and
other signs of violent atmospheric perturbation.
Tha rainfall was of very unequal distribution, and
some of the northern counties were deluged by
swamies torrents, while others were visited by
scarcely their normal average. Meteorologically, as
well as in so many other respect., 1886 has indeed
been • memorable year.
emotion aftxuszae.—Thoenas Wright or some
hotly else lately essayed or proposed to write the
Caricature History of England, or rather the history
of England from caricatures; and Weymouth not to
be behind the world has put forth an artistic con-
tribution in illustration of our times, which will be
found advertised in another opinion. This cartoon
entitled "New Leoe of Business" will be found far
abov• the average style of drawing and grouping.
It represent. wader a mediaeval arch, the ritualistic
department, and immediately adjoining, the new
department of "Messrs. Mow and Son" who
"reepeotfully inform their friends they have just
returned from Rome with a large assortment of
copes, albs, Moles, tuniolee, obssubles, and other
vestments ; any quantity of (Wad spoons in
Meek." Mach as we may have heard of these
mime articles and we begin to believe that we have
lately beard quite too moth, we mast confess oar
inability to have indeatilled them without the aid of
thin freehand drawing. There are also "pastoral
Moves for cole—large demand." The books amid
on a rather limited shelf include a breviary, a littoral,
and a direotorium ; and there are some paintings of
Sainte, particularly of "St. Fano* ancient Ist‘sor..
Pulpits are marked cheap," and so stitchs so
the ritualistic department torrents with •ar sag 2
▪ ladies and gentlemen, Roam is next door,
there are exhibited no detain,
_dreams, for them
shoat to go over" and the whole ono* is lie la
burisique and ridicule.

PORTLAND.

CHURCH MICIFICFPAIIT 90C1117. —The Mk 01 fancy
articles on Thursday, considatiog the severe weather
resulted in what we may term a complete moose&
The artidlee exhibited were Of varied and pleasing
character, and it will be gratifying to the supporters
of thu above ',MeV to learn that in all probability
Lb. handsome slim of iW w.ll he forwarded as the
net pmiita of the sale. Many thanks are doe to the
wife of our worthy rector. Mrr. flogwrth, for the
anions efforts made by her to prouilte the object in
view,

BORACIII OF TUB MIIRCIIIBNT SHIPPING ACT
IMPORT/INT Cass —JaMe• Corn.-. • ship maker, of
London. woosummoned before H. Williams awl
Williams. It•qrs., last Saturday, f..r ea offonoe under
the Merchant Shipping Aot.—Mr. R. B. Cumber-
land appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade to
prosecute, and Mr. R. N. Howard for the defend-
ant, who admitted the ferns stated in the informs,
Lion. —Mr. Cumberland stated that the case was
brought under the 450th section of the Merchant
Shipping Act, which imposed very heavy penalties
noon persons who finding wreck in the tnited
tingdom did not deliver it to the receiver appointed
under the Act. The maximum fine was £lOO, hat
the amount was left to the direretion of the magis-
trates. The defendant was the master and owner of
a small coasting weasel, The Sea, of 123 tons, beloni.
ing to the port of London, and on the 21st
December the vessel arrived in Portland Roads from
London. and wee hoarded by Mr. Bozall, chief
officer of the Coastguard. It warn his duty, se deputy•
receiver of wreck, to question the master as to
whether be had any wreck on board. He did we,
and the master replied that be had not. The officer
haying received Information that there was wreck
eta board, pointed out to the master • ship's main
boom with some gear attached, and asked him if
that was not wreck. The ouster denied it, and
repeated his denial, and further declared it was cargo,
omeigned to Mr. Roberta, broker at Weymouth. The
officer not being satisfied with the stationent, called
the crew together, and he elicited from them
and the mate of the strip in the master's
presence, that the boom wee wreak, and had been
picked up by the master and his ore* whilst the
vessel was in the river Thames, at Limbos's
Creech, on her passage. Having taken the wreck
on board, the vessel proceeded down the river,
paeans Graveseed, which the muter must have
keoern was • boarding-station for officers of custom_
and • place where be was bound to deliver op the
wreck. But he possed it, and on the voyage he
devoted part of the gear attached to the boom to the
porpoise of his own ship, and when he arrived in
Portland Roads denied to the deputy-receiver the
true character of the boom and gear. He considered
this • very bad case, still on the part of the Board
of Trade he did not sib the Bench to inflict the full
penalty, but be did ask them to consider that
defendant was not only the master of the ship, bet
the owner, and was certified by the Board of Trade
in the capacity of master ; yet, though put in that
responsible position, he set a pernicious example to
his crew and to everybody who might become
acquainted with the facts, and deliberately with
malice prepense violated the law. He felt it his duty
to say, 1111111 he hoped Mr. Howard would tell it to
his cheek that if it could be proved the wreck be-
longed to any particular vessel, defendant would
have been in • very different position—he would
have been at • criminal bar on a charge of felony
under 24 and 25 Vic. He hoped this case would
make defendant more careful for the totem—Mr.
Howard expressed surprise that Mr. Cumberland
should have mode such a statement, after he had
written, admitting the facts stated in the informa-
tion. By the Act of Parliament, the master was
bound to give notice of finding wreck to the receiver
of the district in which it was found, but, of course,
he did not stop on his voyage to do that, when be
had got an imfmrtmit our, for as be wee bound to
London he would have given notice to the proper
authority there. Defendant wee perfeetly right in
refusing to say anything to the deputy-receiver at
Weymouth. It was • very trifling case, and he
hoped the magistrates would take • lenient view of
it.—The Beach inflicted a fine of £6 and caste, with
double the value of the wreck, viz,, £l3.—Mr.
Cumberland asked for espouses for two seamen,
necessary witussess. —Mr. Howard opposed, saying
that to keep and fatten witness.' for seven days was
nothing less than bribery. —The Bench refund the
application.

THE GALE.-DESTRUCTION OF A PORTION
OF THE PORTLAND BREAKWATER.

Wirreourm Sunday. A most furious gale,
equaßiog that which occurred in the early part of
January of last year for disastrous results, has again
visited the eolith-western portion of our coed.
Although the hurricane of Saturday last was not so
destructive of land as that of lest year, at sea it was
felt with all its fury. From au early hour os Satin
day morning the wind blew from the south-west
accompanied by one of the roughest and the
highest tides that has been known since 1824, when
in November the &plass& was partially destroyed
and three men drowned. The am had been breaking
over Portland Breakwater all the morning with great
power, when at about three o'clock, a portion of the
staging, which connects the two portions together,
and through which ships are destined to pass when
the work is completed, wee washed away, as was
also • staging around the circular fort at be utter-
most end. About three hours afterwards soother
portion enooulabed to the strength of the storm,
leaving oaly about two-thirds of the staging un-
injured. In ocesequenoe of the heavy sea which at
this time was raging great fears were entertained
that the lamp at the extreme end of the Breakwater
could not be lighted as no oommunication now
existed with it, by reason of the staging being
carried away. In such weather has prevailed during
Saturday this would have been attended probably
with the most serious consequences, as remele had
been seen to hare made for Portland Roads
and without no light to guide them, it is only too
likely that many would have 'truck on the Break-
water and become total wrecks. In this trying
extremity, however, Captain Ball, harbour master
of Portland, ecoompimied by a few brave fellows,
tithed their lives in • Portland " lerren," and
succeeded in effecting • communication sad lighting
the lamp. A light well known to mariners as the
" Judi-in-the-basket," situated at the entrance to
Weymouth harbour, was also washed sway, and the
mast strewn with portions of timber from this
structure and the Breakwater. Considerable anxiety
, was manifested for the safety of the shipping ootaide
as well as inside the Breakwater, and a large berque
at Its extreme end was in great danger throughout
the whole of Saturday, five of her crew having left
her • week previously and the captain being on
shore eedeavouring to get others. It was feared
that she would drag her anchors and come ashore,
but happily she contrived to weather the storm
In Weymouth harbour, several reseals drifted from
their moorings and sustained damage, including the
schooners Marnhull and iloniilitr- Amongst the
small craft more serious media occurred. A large
+herr!. belonging to Mr. Venue, drifted front bar
thoborst 5, sad
ei
will dashed to phloem, as was also a
lighter to Mr. Wsford. In Weymouth
Bay the sea broke over the &planed' and several
houses were intindated,whilet the violence of the wind
was so great that mossy people were completely
carried off their feet. No loss of life has fortunately
occurred. At the time of our writing the wind has
considerably abated, blowing gently from the south-
west, and Weymoutbrands are covered with permits
anuiously leiking for any valuables which the ground
sea might have oast on shore. The Commodore
steam tug has being lying for the last 48 hours with
her steam ip ia readiness for any einergenoy.