The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-08-18 00:00:00

SOILEESETSHIR.E SUMMER ASSIZES.

NISI PRIM COURT.—MONDAT.
(Before Mr. Justice %Vituut)

A' PRAUDULINT
FLO* Male (on boil) was indicted for that he, having
on the 6th day of January, 1883, been adjudged beak.
not, did on the let day of January aforsead, within
mixt, days prior to each adjodintion, with intent to
defraud his creditors, remove, conceal, and embezzle
part of his property, to the mutant of £lO and upwards;
Mao, no the setae day, at Tauoton, after the filing of the
petition for adjudication, and also within three months
next before the taid adjudicatioo, knowing at the time
that he was unable to meet his engsgementa, fraudu-
lently and with intent to ditninieh the sum to be divided
amonpt his creditors. make &stay with his stock-in-
trade, fixtures. and effects, and after adjudication con•
coaled from the Court and his assignees debts due to
him; also, on the same day, at Taunton, being a trader,
did within three months next before the filing of the
petition for adjudication, under Wu colour and
Pr, tent* of carrying on business, and dealing in the
course of trade, obtain on oredit from his creditors
goods and chattels with intent to defraud ; also, on the
same day, at Taunton, being a trader, he did, with intent
to defraud his creditors, and within three months before
the filing of the petition for adjudication, pawn, pledge,
or dispose of °thereat, than by bond fide trepanations I.
the ordinary way of his trade, some of his goads end
chattels which had been obtained on credit and remained
unpaid for —Mr. H. T. Cole roncluded the prosecution,
and Mr. FAlin the delenoe.—The one for the
lion was this. The prisoner was formerly • fish r•larkse7,
I living at Taunton, and about 18 mouths ego he entered
nto partaerthip with a provision dealer of that town of
the name of Quick. The partnership, however, was
quickly diteolved, and prisoner opened • provision
dealer's shop on his own swoutit. Shortly before
Christinaa teat, the prisoner ordered of the merchants
with whom he wag in the habit of Wadies, and nearly
the whole of whom live in Bristol. an unondly lure
quantity of goods. Those goods were readily supplied
on credit, be baying op to dila time been pretty punctual
in his payments. On the afternoon of New Year's
day, howeeer, he, a man named Thomas Lock, his
book-keeper, and • third man named Henry Merrick,
the landlord of • beerbouse called the Geld Diggen'
Arms, called on Mr. Brannan, an auctioneer, residing
in Hammel-street, and requested bin, to make a vales-
, don of the stock-in-trade, lte. of the prisoner. It wee
eulz!ised to him by the yards; that the prisoner was in-
ato Merrirk in the stria of 298, that Male was unable
to repay the amount, that be had agreed to di pose of his
businese and stock.in-trade to Memck at • valuation, and
that they wished Lim to make a valuation. The valve-
' tion was made the same night, and amounted to 1:166,
chiding the hook debts, which, however, Mr. Brannan
had no instrutiou to vales, and which be put down at
C2B. The panne met at Mr. Brannan's at ten o'clock
that night, end a som of Imo we. handed over to the
prisoner by Merrick. The latter then gave Mr. Brannan
, instructions to sell the goods by auction, and by the
midnight train at two o'clock the next morning prisoner
absconded, leaving behind him DO information as to
where be was going, or when he should return. On the
morning of the 2nd January, one of prisoner's creditors,
Mr. Byrnes, of Bristol, went to Ttionton, and waited the
shop of the prisoner, and found that, notwithstanding
Instructions had been given to Brannan to sell the
whole of the stook by auction, a man was engaged in
painting out the name, and painting in it. stead
the name of Merrick. Mr. Snow had • convene-
lion with Merrick, who claimed the whole of the
property as his. An inquiry was made, and the
prisoner was adjudicated a bankrupt at the Faun
District Conn of Bankruptcy, on the sth of June.
Merrick then appeared to get somewhat alarmed, and at
five o'clock on. morning he removed the lamer portion
of the goods to a loft at the rear of the Wagon and Horses
IDD,-111 public-house which the prisoner and Merrick
were in the habit of frequenting. These goods he alleged
that be sold to Strawbridge, the landlord; but he was
afterwaids wen dealing with them, selling them in the
market, and shout the to•n. He also disposed of a
further portion of the goods. and the remainder we. sold
by auction by Mr. Braman, on the 7th, notwithatending
the protest of the mensanger of the Bankruptcy Court,
the proceeds amounting to £7l Is. The goods at the
Wsgon and Horne were IteD by Mr. Bytom, and were
valued by him at £2OO. The bankrupt attempted to
upset the adjadiwitioo, but after a hearing extending
over four or five days it was 000finued by the commie-
rimier. It was contended by Male and his friends that
the debt said to be due to Merrick was • bona flits one,
that Merrick, finding Male's affairs were not prospering,
pressed for repayment of the money, and that to
offered him the herniae. and stock at a valeatioe, Male
intending to return to the Ash trade, and endeavour by
menu of that to pay all hi. creditors. It was, however,
shown that one of the I 0 U's, raid to have beset given
for £lO, was dated the 18th of December, and was sub-
sequent to the time when Merrick alleged that be
threatened to take proceeding' melon the prisoner
unless he tepid the mosey. There were other circa.-
stances of • euspicions natare, and the commissioner, in
couequenoe, directed that Male should be indicted at
the assizes for • misdemeanour in having endeavoured to
defraud his creditors. Mr. Cole explained that the
prisoner was indicted seder the 221st mention of the Ad
of 1881, and time,, tailed witnesses, who proved the
above fade. The prisoner's ereditors were Mown
Bodgett and Co,, Messrs. 8y,,.. and Co. Messrs.
Turner, Lock, and Co., Mr. Cole, Mr. Biger;eod, Mr.
Herniman, Mows. Inns and Co., of Bristol, Mr.
Shetthrooka of Taunton, and Mr. Warren, of Teign-
month.—Mr. Edlin addressed the jury for the defence,
•nd the learned Judge, in summing up, pointed out that
the priaoner had not availed himself of the opportunity
he bad of calling Merrith and Lock in support of the
caw. His lordship also referred to the difference be-
tween the value of the goods as valued by Mr. Brannaa
and the sum actually realised, ootwithetandiag a forced •
sale over the beads of the aserenger a the Court of
Inakruptey ; to the difference between the amount at
which the book debts were valued, and the nun, they
amounted to in the balanewshon• namely, £loo—The
jury consulted for a moment, and then found the mi.
toner guilty.—The prisoner said he had bees advised by
Mr. Brannan to pay Merrieh.-11w leaned Jody, said
he did not believe the prisoner, and again remarked
upon the evidence of Merrick, who had bean seed by the
satirises for the value of the goods, 2200, and who had
allowed judgment to go by defsulL He sentenced the
prisoner toils months' imprisonment, and upraised his
regret that he could not make it dill more severe.

CROWN COURT.— Toenssr.
(Redoes Mr. Chief Justice Eau.)
THI CIIILD WORD= AT TAUNTOII.
Mary Gregory was indicted for the wilful warder of
her mats infant child at Taunton, os the 2461. of Jose.
—Mr. Here soil Mr. H were for the proometice ;
Mr. &lire and Mr. Cb for ths defence—The pri-
soner, • good-looking young woman, twenty-seven yeen
of ego, was for two or three years in the Ferries of Mr.
Norman Macdonald, a gentleman living is North Town,
Tauntoe. At the, beginning of May lost, the prieoser
beteg in the Ineily-wsy, and wishing to keep her situa-
tion • seen from her Weeds, implied lodging with.
Met Olden, a wester-wowsn, living at Lyngford. •
short detains from Tanaka. Prisoser left her serene
and went to Mrs. Oman's home, where ste was coo-
doed of • dm male okild on the 1114 of May. The
wife who &Waded her wished to tell Mr. Wbitwbara,
-ad mak hint to all oat and register the birth of the
Mild. The prieomer &Wised the offer, and as Friday,
the 22nd of Jam, she lett lira. Gaten's for the purpose
as abe said, of going to it. Whitwbarm's wid
when she retorted, SOMA leers afterwards, abe stated
that she bad done so, and repeated • soevenation white
elis alleged bad taken place between thew. That
' statement wee embemmentily proved to be setirely en-
tree. On the same day she tailed spoe afriemd of hen,
a Mrs. Marks. • shopkeeper, who toil her that she bad
beard that die led a child. Primmer denied the truth
of this, and mid she amid not think how people mat
NIA reports. Prisamer left her 'Mew au We
risZing of inia-Bandel, tAkiag hot AIM with her.

She expressed her intention of going 64111 to Welling-
ton to her mother, and a married ulster, who she said
was going to take care of her child for her. It has.
::17:i.orts....,soithnshosevt.rdadrinvoisi.tiredt.b.ri:heaoretinselip.rfous:roocutirivitoiehhit„eortm,:mtttliey.tr.:
the prisoner had been delivered of • child until after
she wel taken into custody. On Whit-Monday
as",_.tniolts between might and nine o'clock, the prisoner
tree:hire
.714Mrhh,:;...°1'4,77,...and
to
thwismtiouse...
u.thuen.hatishenmaot
kdthe
flamer ... .4 left the child at Wellington with her
ber a that it was peHectly weU. She took away
3rd mega, nd trent by train to Wellington. On the
ef ',out six o'clock in the evening, • mat,
cares& Mountateven, who tras walking by the side of the
liver 'Tone, at Teuton, near Firepoolweir, had hie
attention drawn to something on the surface of the
water, and caught in the branches of • both. A net
was mouthed, and the object was ditetvered to be the
body of • full-grown male child in an advanced state of
deeonsposition. Mr. Cornish, surgeon, wrac called in,
and he found that, with the exception of the feet, the
whole of the body was enveloped in • piece of coarse
Boone!, which was tied round with pieces of tape and
Moth. Attached to the tape which fastened the flannel
was the pocket of • woman's dress, and in that pocket
wee • brick, which had evidently been put in for the
purpose of sinking the body. He made • post mortein
examination of the body, and Isis opinion was that ti e
child was from a fortnight to three weeks or • month
old, that it had been in the water ten days or a fort-
night, and that death had been carved by soffocatioo,
produced either by drowning, or by the pressure of the
Ilannel on the mouth. The ending of the bode was, of
course, quickly communicated to the police in Taunton
and its neighbourhood. On the very day that the body
was found the prisoner returned and took lodgings for a
Unse at the house of a Mn. Woulaway, who kept
register once for servant& On Friday, the sth of
lone, in consequence of information he had received,
Mr. Goldsmith gent a police-constable, named Moore,
to WooLaway's house. The prisoner was rot in the
hones at the time, but she returned shortly afterwards,
and warn told by the servant that there was • policeman
In the kitchen. She then went through • side door,
and up stairs, muttering, LI she went, 'Oh, my poor
mother, they have come to take me." After the police-
man had gone, prisoner went into the kitchen, and said,
" Tye heard it all. She was greatly excited, wrung
her bands, and exclaimed repeatedly, "I've done it;
I've done It; I bad. baby sad I destroyed it." She
asked ebat she should do, and Mr. Woolaway told her
the weld not stay there, as the policenian woold return,
and advised her to give here& up to Mr. Goldsmith,
and tell him all the eireamstanoss. The prisoner scted
upon his advise. She went to the house of Mr. Gold-
smith, but be was not at home. Shortly afterwards,
however, she met him in the street, and told him who
she was, that she had had • child, and that she would
let him know all about it if he would go to his once.
Nothing further puled until she leached the once, sad
then the prisoner began her statement. but the superin-
tendent stopped her, charged her with the murder of
her child, and gave her the usual caution. She ex-
claimed, " Oh ! dear, what shall! do; Ida not care
what they do with me, but it's say poor mother."
Subsequently, at the sad of one of these repeated ex-
clamations, she said, "My child is dead." The same
night Mr. Goldsmith went to the boose of primmer's
mother, and in an upstairs room be found a brown
frock, from which the pocket had been torn out. That
drum, several witnesses depcmol, prisoner wore on the
Whit-Sunday night, and on the following morning; and
on its being put on the table of theguard-roont she said.
"That's into.; that'. the one I wore." The flannel
and strings were also stated by witnesses to have formed
part of the clothes which the child was wearing on the
night when it was taken away from Mrs. Oaten's
botue.—The examination of the witnesses lasted during
the greater pert of the day.—Mr. %dile addrused the
jury in an imps...dye speech on behalf of the prisoner.
He suggested in the ant place, that death had been
caused by animation through the mother having pressed
It closely to her breestr and that the body was plseed
Is the river to comsat ; and in theissoond place, that
the mother may have been attacked with poerpeal
Duni, and that while labouring under the paroxysm,
she might have taken the life of the child, of which she
was shown to have been very fond. He contended that
the evidence of the surgeon went to show that one or
other of these alternatives must have been the real
case.—The learned Judge summed up at considerable
length, and with great care.—The jury retired for
about three-quarters of an hour, and then returned into
Court with • verdict of not pithy, on the ground that
she was in as unsound state of mind at the time the
act was committed.

CONCIALIIRXT OF BIRTH AT SOUTH PRTHRILTON.
_

Mery Jane Bonen, Percent, wm indicted for -oon-
sealing the birth oilier femelechild, at South Pethertoo,
on the 15th of June. She eras found guilty, but there
being palliating eircomstenees. she VIM sentenced to
only a fortnight's imprisonment.

THI ALLEGRO CROILTT TO A BEIVANT AT BATH.
Alfred Gardiner Wensley 2.1, upholsterer, •nd Lacy
Wensley, his wife, were indicted for sessolting Jane
Reynolds, at Bsth, on the 22nd of July. Mr. Saunders
prosecuted ; Mr Cllier, Q.O , Mr. Priderus, and Mr.
Cole defendd the prisoners. The facts of the MAO are
well known to our readers, they haring already
appiared in our eolumns.—The prisoners were both
acquitted.

Robert Morgan, charged with stealing a sovereign, the
property of Joseph Taylor, at Castle Cary, on the 7th
April, 1883. Not guilty.
Morris Newbottaci, tin-worker, convicted of setting
Are to the dwelling-house of O. Hector, at Curry Riven,
on the 30th May last, was senteneed to seven veers'
portal Nervitede.
George Rose, eonvicted of assaulting and ravishing
Shea Hautboy, at Swainswick, on the 30th May, was
sentcnoed to six years' penal servitude.
Sarah Jane &wit, draemaker, was charged with
endeavouring to conceal the birth of her child, at
Dander, on the 27th May. but the bill wu ignored.
George Johnsoti, labourer, was convicted of a rape on
Elizabeth Con, • girl under the age of ten years, on the
25th day of Jane last, and sentenced to 15 months' hard
labour—Albert Wills and John Tomkins, for a similar
offence at Yeovil, were acquitted.
Richard Landers, buteber, was charged with stealing
an order for the payment of £35, also the sum of
£9B 15., the property of Michael Landers, at Dulverton,
but the hill via ignored.
Henry Sprague, labourer, was convicted of assaulting,
with 'gloat to ravish, Jane Salter, at Aabbrittle on
the 24th day of Jay, and sentenced to sin months' hard
labour.

--Iti-chard Rudman, labourer, was charged with the
manslaughter of John Emery, at Wedmore, on the 2nd
May, l 863„ but the bill was ignored.
John Smith, alias Joseph Mrs, and Msry Smith, alias
Margaret Clank were convicted of • burglary at Salcott,
on the 23rd of June. Th. male prisoner was sentenced
to 12 months', and the female to 6 mouths' hard labour.
George White, labourer, waa oonvicted for indecently
erudite, Mary Fear, she being at the age of nine
years. at Beckington, on the 4tl July. Twelve months'
bard labour.

Richard Waite, carpenter, was oonvieted of stealing
two five pound notes, four sovereigns, and other
moneys, the property of Thomas Grist, at Horeingtoo,
on the 7th July. Sentenced to tin mouths' bard
Labour.

Itam John Bullock, labourer, was convicted of
violently asesulting and ravishing Mary Hollister, at
Edition, on the 12th July, and sentenced to eight years'
penal servitude.
Frederick Humphries, pladerer, was convicted of
moulting Hams Hull, sod stealing from his person, at
Bath, on the 7th July. Sentenced to twelve months'
hard labour.
Sarah Bishop, labourer, was charged with stealing
money, at Tolland, on the 2Dth day of July, but the bill
woe igoored.
John Puddy, John Lachman, and Lot Fisher, were
charged with assaulting and ravishing Blisatieth nu
Paddy, at Wadmore, but were acquitted.
John Knight was connoted of !stealing an iron pick.
axe, the property of John Broaches, at Clevedon, on the
AugtM, and sentenesxl to one month's hard labour.
Jules Pencil, engraver, was convicted of stealing an
Imierness imp., at Wallace, on the 31st July, and sen•
tented to one mouth's hard labour.
Josapb &yea, labourer, was convicted of eseaulting
and ravishing Elisabeth Watts. at USIM• on the let of
August. Serdarrood to eight years' penal servitude.

WELLS. Soitznser Arrolutrrs' Cum—On
Friday, according to the usual custom, the members
of this club dined together at Wells, Mr. Randolph,
of We're'''. presiding. The attendance was
numerous. Mr. W. P. Pinchard, who had acted as
=foe the last twenty-five years, having
that Aim at the Assume held at Taunton in
March last, a very handsome piece prolate, consisting
of a centre piece for a table, with elaborate orna-
mental work of vine branches and grapes, and
supporting a cat glans vase for flowers, was presented
to him by the club. On the pedestal was the follow-
ing inwription :—"The Attorneys' Club of Somerset
to W. P. Piothard, their Trimmer mei Secretary
for twenty-five years, in grateful and lasting
remembrance of public merit and private worth.
A.D., 1863."

BATIL—We deeply regret to ennounoe that
Edmund Davis., Esq., of Beryl-house, near Wells,
died on Sunday morning, after a abort illness.
Deceased was secretary to the Lora Bishop of Bath
and Wells, and Treasurer to the Wells Corporation.
ifs wai Vogl respected, and hi, death will be
mourned not only by hie widow and children, but
also by • largo circle of friends.

1111:080MER NORTON. —On Monday afternoon
• tea meetieg of the members of the reading room
and frisnds took plebs on the Vicarage Wm. After
fall join* had hese done to the good things pro-
vided, • game of cricket took place. After dusk
the company re-assembled in the tent, where for
their further amusement vocal and inetnimental
music was provided. A vote of thanks was accorded
to the respected vicar for the use of his lawn, and
the exertions he and hie family had used for the
enjoyment of his winters. The doxology wee then
sung, and the meeting overate!.

FEWMIL VoLimes, CORPS. The Oasette
of last week Walled the appointment of Edmund
°easy, Fag., of From., semistent-eurgeon to the
Fromm Ride Corps. This rank is bold by Mr.
Coekey only in the 3rd Somerset %melon, the
numerical saperiorionty of the From. Company
..titling him to precedence.

BRISTOL—Our city authorities as Monday and
Tuesday walked the boundaries of the Borough, •
usual and laudable oustom, as salient as the
times of the Romano who, we are told, were
accustomed yearly to make the round of the
boandary stones, crowning them with Bowen and
and offering up victims to the (led
flerelslaits. This latter osremoey would seem to
bectllel of our modern " bumping," several
vi " baviaj been sacrificed after that fashion
on iloadz,a. We do not hear that blood was
yet it will not be denied there were
=um/ phiadesys By the by. that seine God
Terminus, one good quality which we hope
is by oar shisf Civic Deity. fie stood

or ste,tj.,u on the Tarpeian rook, and when
onortstostonne,tly for his limits. Terminus had • temple,
farquein the proud sought to remove it, in order to
erect a temple to Jupiter, old Terminus refused,
like • jolly 01,1 brick as he was, to have it shoved •
single inch—
; el mopno cunt Jove temp& tenet."
Ixratrricum—The girl Mary Ann fielding,
recently committed at the Bristol Police Court on
the charge of willfully murdering her
child at Stapleton.. WAS tried at Gloucester on
prosy, and, the pry having found her guilty
of manslaughter, she was sentenced to twelve
months' hard labour. A year ago this girl was
a respectable servant a scoundrel brought
her to shame and disgrace, but in the trial no
mention is made of him. The girl bears the weight
a the sin and the crime, and the primary cause of
both no doubt holds up his head as an innocent man-
The young woman Ann Whyte, charged with forgery
at Bristol, liras also among the prisoners tried on
Friday. Several highly respectable witnesses gave
her a character for honesty. The jury, however,
found her guilty, and the sentence was deferred.
It is notified, as a curious coincidence, and one
that proves that moderation and medicine are hand-
maidens, that the Temperance Conference and the
Medical Conference have been sitting contempor.
aneously in BristoL This would seem a confirma-
tion of, and at the same a contradiction to,
Longfellow's couplet—
" Joy, temperance, and repose,
Slam the door in the doctor's note."
Matta FOR Ilia Mn LION. Organization and
combination are wonderful agents any taught the
Barons bow to achieve Magian Marta, and they
enable the working claws to have a dinner of three
courses for 4d.! Several months ago, when the
experiment of People's Dining Halls was first tried
in Glasgow, we called attention to it, and expressed
• confident bops that the day was not far distant,
beo, for • basin of soup, a pla:e of meat, with
potatoes, and pudding, the Bristol artisan would pot
down his sixpence on Vie table, and get three half.
pence in change. Two such establishments have,
within the last week or ten days, been opened here,
neither upon a very extensive scale, it is true, nor
in very attractivelooking building*, but we are told
that, for good food and cleanliness, there is • toler-
able security in both. Generally speaking, we are
not for carrying out the principle of organized trade
monopolies, whether in banks or cheap battered
rolls, too far: and there is a tendency that way of
late years -for joint-stock companies to kill indi-
vidual industry ; but in the matter of the working
man's meals, or the &Wore' h noes, these are two
things which cannot be too soon taken out of private
hands. The latest People's Dining Hall established
in Bristol is iu the parish of Temple, possibly not
very far from the refectory of the Red Cross Itnighta ;
and, however unromantic the speculation may
seem, Brian Is Bois Gilbert, or the grand master
himself, might have smacked his lips, had he been
able to read the tariff, and find that, for 4id., he
could bare such a dinner as that already described,
and that for threepence a cup of coffee, with a roll
and butter, and a boiled egg, would be placed before
him.