The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-07 00:00:00

WILTS SPRING ASSIZES.

The commission for holding These Assizes was opened
on Monday at Devizes by Mr. Justice Crom pton. The usual
pruclamation against vice, /cc., having been read, Mr.,
Justice Crompton charged the GrandJury,and the trials
of prisoners proceeded.
William Green pleaded guilty to embezzling
El 16e. 6d., the property of his employer, and was
sentenced to Fix months' imprisonment.
George Pearce was charged with stealing one sack sad
five lambs, the property of his master, Mr. F, Walker,
on the sth February last.—Sentenoed to four months'
imprisonment.
John Sergeant pleaded guilty to stealing a aow's skin,
the property of Sarah Pearce, and was sentenced to
three months' imprisonment.
William Harris charged with causing the death of
Kate Bongban, aged five years.—Aoquitted.
Henry Botcher was charged with manslaughter.--Tlis
jury found him not guilty.
James Boucher and Elizabeth Beard were acquitted
for unlawfully taking Catherine Allen Box, a girl ender
the age of 16, from the possession of her father, who
had the lawful custody of her, against his will and
consent, at Market Lavingtt:n, on the 13th of
September.
Matthew Mitten was indicted for stealing five plough
irons and a bag, the property of Phillip Norton, at
Bremhill, on the 20th January.—Mr. T. W. Saunders
prosecuted—The prisoner handed in a long written
defence, addressed to "His Honour my Lord Judge
and the gentlemen of the jury," asking them to well
weigh the facts of the case. He declared his innosience
of the robbery,and adhered to the tale told to the pollee.
He said he knew well the native of an oath, and bad
therefore kissed the Testament while writing this
letter, saying "So help me God" to the truth of what
he asserted. If his statement was not true, he should,
after this, have expected instant death. God Abnighty
knew that he was innocent, but he thanked his
Heavenly father for having given him this opportnnily
of repenting of his past rebellious and wicked life. fie
was a widower, and had had a confinement, a funeril,
and two robberies in his house within ten day.; and as
he was about to be married again, be appealed to the
Judge and jury to have mercy upon him, and to give
him an opportunity—for the sake of his dear ohildren—
of establishing another comfortable home. If they
would do so, he would be careful in future to "exercise"
his cloth before taking it away from a fire plum—His
Lordship having summed up, the jury at once returned
a verdict of guilty.—His Lordship ordered the prisoner
to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for Nix months.
William Berret was charged with wounding Benjamin
Francis, at Steeple Aehton.—Mr. Swayne prosecuted.--
The prosecutor was unable to attend.—The prisoner was
sentenoed to six months' imprisonment.
_

Emily Robins pleaded ga- ilty to stealing a pair of
boots, and was sentenced to three months, imprison.
ment.

Rachel Legg was sentenced to one month's imp ieow.
ment for concealing the body of her infant child.
G. Durham pleaded guilty to stealing lead.—Three
months' impriseriment.
Andrew Burbriige was charged with steering •
bisket containing several articles, the property of Mn.
Moore, of Ladbury.—Sentenoed to four months' mi.
prisonment.
William Donovan was charged with stealing,and John
Moore with receiving,ll yards of baize and a frock eoat,
the property of Mr. John Attwood, draper, Devises.—
Donovan was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.
—Moore anti acquitted.
Moses Martin was charged with having, on the night
of the 6th November, set fire to • stack of straw, the
property of Thomas Hawyard, at Great Bedwm.—
Sentence, ten years' penal servitude.
George Conseil', was indicted for • burglary in the
house of Jeminia Stokes, and stealing a private desk
and other articles, at Devizes, on the 11th of February,
—Acquitted.
Elizabeth McCaul was charged with unlawfully
forging a certain request cote for the delivery of goods
with intent to defraud Edward Speckley, at Warmine.
ter.—Three months' imprisonment.
Mary Ann Jefferiea and Emma Potter were charged
with stealing £.5 10s., the property of Mary Jefferies, at
Broughton Gifford.—jefferies was acquitted; Potter
was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.
Ann Sparer was charged with setting fire to a
dwelling-house, the property of Henry Godolphin
Bigge, Esq., at Codford St. Mary. —Acquitted on the
ground of insanity.
Samuel Sawyer was charged with violently assaulting
Sarah Buckland, at Melksham.—Aoquitted.
Alfred Smith was charged with stealing wheat, the
property of William Fowle, at Market Larington.—
Acquitted.
littcs logoginc.—Walier Charles Ireland, csaimite,
ting wilful and corrupt perjury at Fisherton Gaol ; Mary
Ann Mansell, stealing an apron at Stanton St.