The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-12-05 00:00:00

EARM Clt.

.....---
At Thoniliury, in Gloucestershire, on Monday, George
Harper, fanner, of Redwick, a man of considerable
property, was charged with shooting, with intent to
elate, or do grievous bodily harm, on the 15th November,
William Jefferies. jun. snit Thomas Barnes. It was proved
that on the day named a case of trespass between the
defendant and a neighbour h&c' been tried at Thornbury,
in which the neighbour was victorious. At night he
celebrated his victory with a bonfire. fireworks, ite., in his
garden, close to the defendant's house, and collected a
crowd of forty or fifty people. When the rejoicings were
at their height, the defendant loaded and fired his gun
five or FIX times into the midst of the crowd. Most of
those present received one or more iif the small shot, and
the two prosecutors were very seriously hurt. Jeaaries
receiving A shot in the right eye, which has destroyed its
sight, MIA Barnes a score of shot in the scalp, neck,
shoulders, .t,'.--The defendant use c ~,,, niitted for trial at
the assizes, but was admitted to bail, himself in .Clll.l, and
two sureties in 1;159 each
AN "Ei li 'ENTRII r l'A ILSON.
A nue which excited much interest was heard before
the iii ~,,, ty magistrates at Taunton on Saturday. Thu
1 Rev. Walter William Walter was charged, on dm coin.
plaint of Miss Isabella I &ince. is lady, with having, on
Smiley, the Tlitli of November, and on various other days,
„In the parish of Bishop's Hull, insulted and annoyed her,
wherefore she prayed that he might be required to tind
sureties for his good behaviour towards her. Mr.
Trenchant appeared m for complainant, and Mr. Cook
(Messrs. Reel and Cook, Bridgewater) for defendant. It
appeared from the evidence of Miss Dance, who resides at
Bishop's !lull, where defendant also resides on his own
property and is said to be very wealthy, that for years lie
has been in the habit of annoying her 11) singing an
immodest song. He is somewhat eccentric. and in day-
light, when he goes abroad. he wears a mask or visor,
which completely covers his face, hut enables him to see
everything "within ken." On Sunday tnorning Miss
Dance, aceompanieil by her servant, WWI on her way to
church when defendant, who was coining behind her,
Input to sing " I've four nits) little brustarils—nice little
souls." She walked as fast as she could to get out of
hearing. anil the rev. gentleman also hastened his paces.
She got into the church before him.., and as lie was passing
her pow he shipped and said something to liar, but the
only word she was able to make out was "'lest" She
became indignant, and, rising in her seat, sail, "Go out
of the church directly." Mr. Walter kept saying " 1
don't know you," and then went to his seat, which iwas
further along the aisle in which Miss Dance was sitting.
She went in search of the churchwarden, who win not to
be found. Then she spoke to the sexton, who shook his
head, "as much as to say that he had nothing to do with
it." She then returned to her seat, as the clergyman was
entering the church from the vestry about to commence
service, saying that she would write to the Bishop. She
bad heard the some eons many times sung by defendant
to annoy her. Mr. Cook—it was the old song then.
(Laughter.) Witness continued to say that she was
apprehensive of a continuance of the annoyance. In cross.
exariguation, elm admitted that her principal nnson for
laying tlie couiplaint was hi make defendant desist from
"breildng the Sabbath" and setting "a bail example!.
Everybody in the church heard defendant speak to her.
She admitted that she allowed her anger to exhibit itself
Mn the church, and that to prevent a repetition these pro-
ceediugs were taken. Mr. Cook said that he would not
attempt to jointly his client's conduct, but submitted
that he (defendant) had done nothing to warrant the
Bench in calling upon him toiled sureties. Mr. Trenchard
maid that since defendant hail enhireil the snort he hail
turned towards Miss Dance and spat at her. Mr. Walter
1
here denied that he had done so, and said that he did not
know " the woman." The Bench bound him over in his
ovrn recoignisanee in 450 to be of good behaviour to Mist
Deeps for six menthe. Mr. Walter said that she Weld
gain nothing by baying taken thaw PromedingL