The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-02-01 00:00:00

A HARD CASE.
To Ma Editor.

have just ren—e-.1 my liberty alter a month's
confinement in the Dorset County Gaol, and to-day I
realise the full meaning of liberty, having been as it
were shut off from the world for • month. Nearly 17
years I bore the scorching run of India, many a weary
day.s march rye had through the jungle I have stood face
to face with the enemy, fighting for old England, I have
shed my blood for my country, and for many years peat I
have received • pension of &I. per day for my services.
This would be • poor sum to subsist on, but thank God
I have been aide to earn by my industry as a day labourer
Jed enough to maks two ends meet, but nothing; to spare.
My health has been anything but good, through my lent
residence In India and wounds received while there. I
have often gone to work when I really was not able, end
last spring I was laid up for weeks together, and had to
pay for everything out of &L per day. At that time there
was an order out by the poor-law that I should pay Is. 6d.
per week towards the support of my parents, and I was
obliged to go ioto debt fur common ueosesariee, and when
poor people get • pound or two behind it takes along time
to pull up again. Well I could not pay, and I must suffer
the penalty of not complying with that order. On Satur-
day the llith of December I went to my work as usual, and
about breakfast time I was fetched away by a policeman,
and taken to the County-ball, lbws, in spite of my
declaration that I could not pay, the Bench ruled that I
was able, and I was taken away handcuffed to the County
Gaol. My month of degradation is just expired—l will
not say degradation, for the disgrace is not mine—let it
rest on all those who support and maintain • cruel and
unjust law as that under which I have suffered. A law
that would grind and crush the HISZTOIV OUL of the bones
of a man, that is but one stem above • pauper himself. I
am now about 51 yaws of age and ain suffering from
• esthnis, and sometimes have great difficulty in breathing.
I Ispeed pounds in physic or I could not live, and to do
this I have to deny myself of many little things I should
be glad with. Thanks to my pension I shall never want •
crust of bread, but I do not know how soon I shall be
depending entirely on that for lily eubsistence. Those
who have known me for years can't say aught
against my character. I always tried to live and pay
my way as an honest man sheuld do. Why parse- '
cute me at soy time of life and make me hate the
country I have fought for, or curse any of its laws.
Shakespeare says, "You seem of late to make the law •
tyrant." Is it not, indeed, tyrannical to try and squeeze
la ed. per week out of me, to go direct to relieve the
rates My father and mother (God bless them), they are
over 80 years of 118 -
they have been receiving relief about
seven
years. Many yews ago they were better off and
paidrates themselves, but through misfortunes they had
to labour In the fields, and they have been on Sir John
Mitchell's estate over 40 years, and have brought up a
family of 10 children out of 12 decently and with respect.
Not one of them ever charged with dishonesty or ever
been In gaol till this aue occurred. They are now
receiving la, per week, and two loaves of bread. Out of
that they are Is. week
per wk rent. Rather than
to be divided
to Mr oldwht=set them go down
the grave in and not them with the
thought that the little get is begrudged to them.
(Signed) JAMES BARTLETT. Dewliah,
Pensioner, late of the 10th regiment Foot.
OAII3.
TH2 Paulin ALYARAC.—This annual sheet has just
been Wood he the Rev. W. Barnes, and besides a state-
ment of the pariah accounts showing how the offertories
and charities have been dispersed . it contains an ale.
tionate address to his psttshfonens, giving an account of
his stewardship OTTE the sear's offertories and the Chris-
tian work in the parish." The almanac also =lndies
other infOrMittlOU as to the year. the Church festivals,
postal regulation, to., and will. be of service to the
parishioners.

TOLOANCL —The Panotia Daughter : "rm glad to
hoar that wee don Object to a few Candies beans Diana
on the Altar these dark Nyeninga min Brown Ttio
sixteens "Bess you, Mug. I age they wun't &MIMI
caadlis—caly Composiks r—PsagA.