The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-18 00:00:00

ARSON AT CHARMOUTH.

On Friday but, Henry Cook and Joseph Hodges were
charged before W. Housesll end J. I'. F. Oundry, &qrs.
with setting fire to • house at Charmouth belonging to
Mrs.".ttuart, on Friday morning, September 7th.—Mr.
Hillman, Nor., of Lyme, for prueention, and Mr.
Joliffe. of Crewkerne. and Mr. Manley for the prisoners.
Mr. Hillman, having dated the cam, called
William Gale, who said be eras • tenant of Mrs.
Stuart's, at Clurmouth. The property lately destroyed
was in his poossloo, because it was delivered to him to
have part ait p.lhd down, and a portion was pulled
do•n before Thuraday, the 6th inst. The building was
• large one, and was not a derelling•botue fit for !labile-
Lion, miles • wall had been built. Cross-examine-I :
It had not been inhabited for twelve months. The
bonse warn detached and laud the road; behind the
hoe., via • garden, and behind that • slaughter-house.
A large field was adjoining the house. The hones wee
open, as he had palled down one end, and so there were '
two side. and one end to it. He weld not say whether it
woo in the course of being palled down or not. Re-
examined Anyone could go over the whole of the
house. By the Bench : He believed there were no stair-
cases in the hoe..; ho thought they had been taken
down.

&mon phippen was called. but Kr. Joliffe objected to
his "mon. bring then taken, ae by Hr. Hillman's open-
ing address he appeared to be an accompliee, and there-
fore hi. evidence ought not to he taken, unless previously
anifirmed by other evidence. The Bench, however, over-
ruled his objection. Witnee• was then questioned. He
geld he was • 'toward of the Peninsular and Oriental
°novelly. He wee in John Wild's publio-honee on
Tbunday week lett. Ha left at eleven o'clock that iiict
Wawa. He warn with the prisoner that night.
Tbey west unbanging gate., and In went with them
down the street aa far ea Board's public-home. There
Warns gate unhang neer Board's. He went into Board'.
Loam with the prisoner& Clara Baud came down from

•bove and opened the door ; they all of them had beer I admitted that he mad* this statememt to screen himself
there. This was about 12 o'clock. They had • cone and throw the onus on others. The prisoner. cou d
?creation between them while n
there to the effect that not be convicted on the evidence of an atioomplice op
re
'
they had come from Moroomhe and that it was • lene unless I was corroborated in material points ; this
.vll, It • they stayed there about 20 minutes. Wht n they contended that the attempted corroboration in s
left 'Lard's they went up the street, the ptisoneie went instence was no niil correborslion at .1100 any 'extent
up the right aide and he went on the left side ex fee .or point. After a long whirrs., as he underetei,el the
Miss Short's house at the top of the town. They then in igistrates intend. to send the case for nisi, he
went down Upper Sea-lane, which is on the lift baud , the prieoners wood reserve their defenie. The m.p..
side, as (eras Mi.. Robins's large biome. They got over i trates oreurnitted the prisoners for trial at the neat
• gate into • field, and then went into • garden at the Quarter Sessions at Donde stet% and agreed to take bad
back of the street. This garden was at the back, he for each prisoner, himself Ilk C5O and two sureties in
thought, of the building that was burnt. Witness lost a on eaeh.
gold ring in that gerden marked s. F. From that Mr. lionnsell, at the conclusion of the ease, said he
'Arlen they all three went heck to Miss Short's garden, understood that bills had been tested *brut Chermouth,
end Ci nt down through the field to the old house, with the intention of iotimidating witness,' against
Cook asid "Suppose we go down and burn dowo that giving evidence. Ile would not mention any names, lout
old house." They all three omit down to the building would warn persons against such corduct, as they would
together. Hodges went up on the upper lantlieg of the render themselves liable to be punished for it.
room and he got up. Cook stopped below to keep The ease lasted fire hours.
wateh. He knew that bee ie.. be said he did. After Charles Oliver was chardol withlineiting the prisoner
that Hodges and himself told Cook they wens not tall Cook to assault the constable. He pleaded gnilty, and
enough to reset, the thatch, so Cook got up on the expressed penitence, so was fined fii. and ousts, or ID
landing. Cook then took some paper out of hr. pocket default seven dm e. imprisonment.
and tned to set fire to the thatch, by shoving lighted
paper up the thatch. The paper WA. lit by matches
which Hodges had. The thatch did not catch fire
the first attempt. Cook tried some more paper
and that would not do. Cook this tore some
paper off Vie wall and that took me., nod
they left the thatch smouldering. They all went
away directly. He sent home. This was about twenty
minutes to three. His house els about • 'Porter at •
mile from the building. It attack three o'clock jest as
he got into the home. He sew nothing more of tire fire
that night.--Crom-examined : He was at borne or. Friday
Sr Saturday, no one interfered with him. He made his
statement to Mr. Tacker about therms, before he beard
a reward was likely to he offered. It was not at the
suggestion of the police he sent there. Mr. Tucker told
him they had sufficient evidence to convict both Cob
and Holies, and therefore he had better make • clean
breast of it. He male this .tatement to screen himself
and show he was drawn into it. His object wee not for
reward bet to remove the blame from himself and throw
it on othen. Ile stayed at Mr. Tucker'. from Saturday
to Monday, and had been to London since. Ile had been
home nine days previous to this Are, lied could go to es
again when he liked. On this Thursday I.e had ban
drinking at Wild's public house two or three hours,
they bad all drank pretty well. Ile wii• the principal
person treating there that night. his only drank
beer there. He was sot "on,' but he was "on"
enough to go taking down gites. The prisoners
and himself hail two quarts of beer afterwards at the
George Inn. He joined in the talk shout their having
hal • walk to Ilorcomise Like. It wan untrue, he told
a lie then. He was Ind telling lies now. He mien%
drunk. He couldn't eey how many quarts of beer lie
h lood to dope.n of at Wild's. lie had been in Char'
moth all thet day. Ile diii not remember whether 1 e
went into a public house ant day before he went into
Wild's in the evening. Ile went into the George at
seven o'clock that evening, braid. going thereat tweli•
o'clock at night; each time he had drink there. He did
noise near It,. fire that night ehen it was burning.
Ile leek good care to keep away. He did not say to
Cook that they'were not sell enough to reach the thatch;
it wee Hodges maid thst. only new the thatch
smouldering. He did hot see the fire het ak out, and diit
know that night wit-thee it broke out or not. Ile did
net deny in the presence id several perSOne on Friday
knowing anything about the fire, be ill .leny it to •
Im/iceman, who he helieeed came from Lyme. He
saw Jobe Hodder and William Hr.:ford on Friday.
He nerd CP ki ow diehus Hodder. lie did not re.
mealier 'eying to Joshua Helder end William Brad.
fors: that he knew oothiog about the fir , and that be
was in bed ell might; he could not swear to it ; lie dil
rememb.r saying anything to them about the fire.
He thought he had some conversation with Bradford
on the ruldect of the police coming to him about his
boot., but he did not iennuaher telling then, he told
the policeman that he had mithihe to do with the fire;
he euu:d not 'weer whether be did or not. On ila'or.
day he gaw Douglas It 'aril arid John Hodder, The
It. algid Ibes ban beau alluded to, batbecould soli
roactimer saying to Jews Holder he dot not know
who set the house on Are • he could not swesr
whether he did or did not, H. mill not remember in
the preenice of Board saying he knew ntit!iing shout
the fire ; he could not swear whether he did t.r nut.
After be left Wild's he did not see either of Cie
risottos emehisit.---Hee iteminid ; lie was the
worse for liquor whin he left Wild's.
P.C. Ilass std. leationed at Channouth, said on Thurs.
day night, the Gth instant, at u.o o'clock he eftw the
building in quite a safe °audition. He next saw it our
Friday inorsing, about half-past three, having received
information it was CM fire; ho went anil fount it wee.
There were no attempts made to ;unit out; there is no
engine at Channouth. The building was consumed.
About half-paet six Sergeant Batty and P.C. Legg
directed him attention to some footmarks ; they then
traded them from about the Convuleaceet Home,
.just
below the Steam thesame side of the road,to 511 r. w•i,
g4.', which they found regalia: the ell•pel gate, oppesite
the George Inn. Thee then traced the foonnerks to the
&orgy Inn itself. They then return. d up the town
treeing the fimtmarki. They coni I see on the road tiers
Were two hobs out of • right boot, atid one out of tie
left boot at the wale. In another (mem •rk they dis-
covered • trace of five new hob-, One marks were on
' the right hand side going up the street. They traced
the footmarks to Mr. Paliner's at the top of the street,
thence to Moe Short's g•rden, and thin to the garden
to ttie building which was burnt down, up
close to the ratlines operating the garden from the
building. They fermi no other foot molts:they searched
most csrefully. They went to the prisoner liodgis
between 'oven and e,,11 on Friday wonting. They
...id mobilo( to Hodges before inking him question.
About the prelims. night. (Mr. Jolhffe objeera I r0i1...0p
questionu having being put by the police then, and to
evidence being now taken.—Sergeent Batty asked
Hodges what time he went to bed the previous night,
and he said half.rest ten. He then asked if he were not
at Wilds the previous night. Ile admitted that he was,
and said he went home hen he left there. He than
told him to considir him-elf, did he not go down after-
wards to the George. lie said no. The impact th•
said, if Mr.. Board said that lie, Cook. and Fippen went
t her house (the George) about 12 ri'eleok. would she be
telling the truth. He answered, "Well, I wes there."
Ile(witness) thin asked Hodges for the boots he wore
the previous night, and he gave him the boots he then
hail on. He then went to Cook's about quarter•pod
eight with P. C. Legg, and asked him what time he went
to bed, and he said he did not go to bed at all that night.
lie asked him where he was, %net he said he was at
Wild's till eleveu o'clock. and afterwards went as far as
the turnpike gate. lie then asked him if he bat been
to the George that night, and he said he had not, but
afterward, admitted that he had. Ile then asked him
or the boota he wore the previous night, and be gave
them to him. Ile produced llodges's boots, on which
there are five new bobs on the left from the tip, and on
the right boot one in the centre and three on the outer
edge, the nails in the clamps at the heel left minks also
on the ground. He then produced Cook's boots,. There
Were two bobs out of the right boot on the inside, and
one out in the Said of the left boot. Them biota
were very wet and dirty when they received them.
They then eompared the boots with the marks,. the road
and at Prior's gate, and at Short's garden. and in the
garden of the building, and they corresponded exactly.
They covered up the marks as soon as they saw them
with fist stones to preserve them, and when they got
the boots uncovered these merles to compare them
with the boots. He took the primmern into custody on
Saturday night at ten o'clock. Cook asked who gave
them into custody and swore about the informer. He
(witness) searched the garden adjoining the house the
day before yesterday and found • ring marked 8 F.
which he now produced. Tbunday night was a rough
night, blowing very herd, and wet and stormy. Wull
public-house is thatchel, and is near the building, and
there are some thatched houses opposite the building.—
Crose-ezamieed : During the ere he saw Cook on top of
Wild's house to help in °sae the house aught fire. He
also saw him in the road near. He saw him first about •
quarter to four. He did not see Hodges there during
the fire. He would swear be was not at the fire when
witness was there; if he had been he must have seen
hint. He left the fire about half past six, and returned
about half past eight, and pared the premises twice
between. He saw some footmarks in the garden about
seven o'clock. People during the fire went on the
Premises, bet did sot go into the garden. When be
left the premises he went down the road with Sergeant
Batty and was away about 20 minutes. This was before
he went Into the garden. He 'mild not swear the
prisoner Hodges did not go into the garden while he
was away.
Sergeant Batty, stationed at Lyme, went to
Chermouth on Friday morning last and saw there
had been • fire, and some wilful damage done. He
corroborated P.C. Hazzard's evidence, Lel said be
.agnivtad en utoe
noticed the peculiarities in the foot-marks before
he saw the boots. In ion,. places they found
three different footmark., but in others they could
only trace two, as the other was • plain soled boot
as the others.
Cook asked him twice on Friday,
after he had
the boots, if he could have them he
get them mended. He (willows) said be weld not let
them go till they had done with them. Cook said "If
I had known what you wanted them for I +mild have
had them tapped, and that would have screwed you up
about the footmarks ; I was walking about with those
boots on yesterday, so those merles on the ground are
no use to yon."—Croes-examined He simpected
Hodges when he went to him Friday morning and asked
him questions about the previous night. Ile told him
to °madder before he answered him, which he thought
was • sufficient caution, that was the only caution lie
gave Hodges before his answering the questions as be
was not a prisoner them—Re-examined : lie made use
of so threat to either of the prisoners whoa 'eking them
questions to induce them to answer him.
Mary Beard, wife of Daniel Beard. landlord of the
George Inn, said on Thursday night the 6th inst., the
prisoners and theleritneas Phipperi were at her house
betwees eleven and twelve, and she thought stayed
about • quarkr of an hour or twenty minutes ; they had
• quart of beer. fille did sot see them have any more.
Cross-examined : The three bad certainly been drinking,
and looked *little the worse for liquor. Mr. Tacker
and three of the pollee came to her house the next
morning. She did not hear them threaten her husband;
they
_talked to him when she was not near him.
Bohai Trayte, shoemaker, at Channouth, said he
lived just opposite where the hre was, and saw the fire
that morning, he believed it was about half-past two.—
Cromexamined : He believed the field with the iron
gate between Miss Short's borne and the building where
the fire was, was in the occupation of the pri.oner Hodges
uncle. The fire lusted several hours. He went to it as
mos as be could. There were not many at the firs
at fine but there was • great many moving about
there after. He few people go into the garden Aber the
fireless down, flees may have been fifty tooole or
more about the fire at one time. The fire abated
between five and six o'clock- He did not go to bed
onarb..gaieaaue!,flowegi".nanput*tdlwltiht:rdswagwalth:fidwaaaohlenreli;t°t;hesebtg alter;i::isb*et
rains.4th:;iirerLmil_mmereTbing:...ilib:eiw.:4::l4:7neorYinit driseling rain. He ledleeed he saw ee„..-7 try
Hodges there.He did not see

CH I DEOCK.

FATAL ACCIDL3T7-1;;i-Thtirsday Mr. Bmster,
deputy c"roner, ld an inquest on the
JAMS' COMM, • carter in the service of Mr. Hallett,
he body of
of Brighthay farm, who was killed the previous
afternoon. The deceased and his son were hauling
gravel from a pit on Eyp• down, and as they were
returning to ltrighthay between two and three in the
afternoon, James Collins got upon the shafts of the
waggon and stood up, and be told his eon to drive
on the horse& He was quite sober. When they
had gone about 40 Tinia, the son, mu turning round,
saw that his father haA fallen and was between the
two wheels on one side the waggon. Before he
could stop the horses, the hind wheel went over his
ohm& A carter driving about 190 yards behind was
called and ran up. They lifted the man up, and he
breathed two or three times, but did not speak. He
was placed in the waggon, but he was then dead,
and taken to Brighthay. It seemed that his ribs
were broken in. The deceased was 38 years
and was subject to tits. The jury returned a verdict
of accidental death.