The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-10-24 00:00:00

TRIALS OF PRISONERS.
There were 99 prisoners for trial, fire of whom wore on
bail.

FIRST COURT. WEDIFINDAT.

Wore Mr. J. FLOYM, x.r.. Chairman.)
The following gentlemen were mom on the Grand
Jury :—Messrs. R. (lenge (foreman), H. Cross,
IMnn, It F. Davey, E. Dite, W. Drake, T. Drake. W. H.
D. Crocker, Geo. Galpin, W. Millar., Samuel Gitlard. W.
Harris, W. Hooper, L G. Hallett, Chas. Holland, Itobe&I
Miller, W. Mackerell, W. Sprake, T. W. Sanford,
Seymour, C. Scutt, W. Wl:omonth, S. Wallace, R. J.
White, and Wm. Warren.
-

• CAUTION.
Several Jurors did not answer to their names, which,
the ettsiugais said, might be due to the lateness of the
trains. That could not be admitted as an excuse; and,
had it not been that, fortunately, a sufficient bumber had
answered to their names, flneamust have been imposed,
for the public business could not be kept waiting.

Till C 11•11411.
The Climaxes, in the course of his charge. said he was
afraid they could hardly look upon the increase of crime
as accidental, for the same had been noted at the last
sessions. He was informed that this state was found to
prevail also in other oountiss, and it was suggested that
it might have arisen from • deficiency of employment.
This was confirmed by the fact that no less than half of
the prisoners in custody for trial came from other countie•
Mr. Irloyer having referred to one or two cases, then drew
the attention of the Grand Jury to two Aots which been
the elast session. The first woo the Act to provide for
etter arrangement of divided parishes, which ofterod
powers of annexing detached portions to the pariahs* to
which they might be more nearly contiguous. It also
permitted Osardians to allow a man and wife, after the
age of 60, to live together in the workhouse; and it
enabled traitress of • pauper to pay over his annuity to the
Guardian,. It also contained • clause giving a right of
settlement to any person after three years residence in any
parish, without receiving relief. The second Act to which
the chairman alluded was the Elementary Education Act,
and, having spoken at length upon it. the Jury retired to
consider the Bills.

APPNAL CAM
Reginsv. Norman and ileac—This was an appeal by the
the defendants, against • decision of the Bearninster
Division of magistrates Mr. Templar supported the con-
viction ; Mr. Collins and Mr. Lock, argued for the defend-
ants.
The facts were extremely simple. The conviction was
under the Poaching Prevention Act, 25 and 24 Vic., c. 11.4.
sec. L On the Bth of September last, P.C. Webb, was on
land at Loden, watching for apple stealers- About six In
the evening, he beard the report of a gun, and saw
William Norman and Albert Gale, coming across an
adjoining field. Norman lets out threshing nusehines, and
Odle is • labourer. Norman had • gun. and Gale a dog.
Webb could see what took - but they covld not see

place.
_
him. When about 200 yards from hun, a partridge rose
and Norman shot it, and picked it up. Ile then re-loaded
his gun, and beat over • piece of swedes. He then
lost sight of them. Knowing that he had no
power to search them on the land. Webb
got on to the turnpike nod and waited for them.
Ultimate :y they came up, and he asked them what they
had pit. They said nothing. He searched Gale, and on
him found a partridge which had been recently shot.
Norman had his gun on his shoulder, and produced a
license It was, however, only • 10a. gun license. He
demanded the gun, and after • struggle secured it.
According to Webb they were stufWing for it, when
Mrs. Norman came out, drew the sud, of the gun, and
the policeman became possessed of the stock, and Norman
retained the barreL They were both summoned before
the Beaminster Bench on the 25th of September. There
were five magistrates present, Lieutenant-Colonel Cox
being the chairman, and the Bench were unanimous
in inflicting a fine of f.. 5 on each. It was against this
they now appealed on about seven different grounds, six
of them chiefly were to the effect that the evidence of
Webb was untrue, and the other was aimed at the
magistrates, alleging the conviction was unfair and
prompted by prejudice.
The Court had therefore decided to try the ease Wei
again. Webb stuck to his story positively.
On behalf of the defendants there was a tremendous
array of witnesses called little boys, little girls, farmers,
scot and industrious labourers, and an innkeeper and ail
three learned Counsel addressed the Bench pro and ems.
The Court after • three hours hearing retired, and after
a short absence, returned into court and announced they
were unanimously of opinion the conviction should be con-
firmed, and costs to follow
APPEAL AGAINST • RAT'. —Marks Hombre, Seg.,
appellant, and Tlie .orerserre of it-re Regis end Assessewon
Comesiftse of the Wareham and his of Purbeck Union,
under the authority and consent of the Board of Guardians
given pursuant to Section 1 of the 27th and 25th Vic.,
cep. 39, respondents
Mr. Lock, instructed by Mogen. Lacey and Son, of
Wareham, for the appellant: and, Mr. Collins, Recorder
of Poole, instructed by Mr. Freeland rater, solicitor to
the Assessment Committee and Board of Guardians, for
the Aseessznent Committee, Mr. Udal with him. The
overseers of Bare Regis had declined te be represented,
and did not appear.
This case involved • long and ingenious argument—
raised in the cant by Mr. Collins—whether this appeal
could be allowed at all in absence of certain prelimMary
inked,

notices to the Assessment Committee, req. by the
Union Amusement Amendment Art, V ancl-48 Vie.,
cap. 30. He quoted the cases of "Reg. a Great Western
Railway Company," 38, Lao Journal, ICS., N.C. 89, and
contended that • fresh application must be made to the
Committee on each occasion of a new rate being made,
before such new rate can be appealed against He then
dwelt at length upon the arguments raised in that case by
the present Mr. Justice Field, which were endorsed by
the judgment of the Court of (ueen's Bench before whom
that came was argued by him, as then Queen's Counsel,
before his being made a Judge of Queen's Bench.
Mr. Lock having replied, the Chairman (Mr. Floyer) was
about to deliver the judgment of the Court upon this
preliminary point, when Mr. Collins intervened, and
said himself and friend, Mr. Lock, were about to confer
and try to avoid the certainty of an expensive litigatioo,
which would follow with an appeal to the Court about, if
the mattter was not now settled. In the end it was
arranged that the rate should be reduced from £3/5 to
£2OO for Mr. If ambro to pay on.
Mr. Lock then stated that their costs would amount to
£5O, but offered to take
Mr. Collins said .Cl 5 and that Mr. Filliter's only object
was to save expenses.
At length it was settled that the rate should be
amended by being reduced to £9OO, with £2O in full of
costs, to respondents. An order to this effect was made
by Mr. Floyer, the chairman, with the cuicurrenco of onunusually full bench of magistrates, who sat with him,
including also Mr. John Hales Calcraft, Chairman of the
Assetement Committee.
There were singular features in this appeal on both
sides, particularly the mode in which the rate was allowed
and published at Dere Regis, which we understand would
have led to endless litigation and expense. Both
appellants and respondents May congratulate themselves
on the ending : and any new valuation list will be open to
amendment and alteration when brought before the
committee, if they deem it neoeseary. The solicitors, Mr.
Collins observed, were the only losers by the matter being
thus settled.
Mr. Collins, in the course of his argument on the prelim-
inary objection, handed over to the opposite counsel and
quoted a strong opinion given by Mr. Denby Fry, the
author on the law of rating, and also assistant avoiding
counsel to the Local Government Board, on • case put to
him, in which he advised that Mr. Hamlin, was not now
in • position to appeal. This objection, however, as above
stated. was not pressed, as it would have left the main
question open.
THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ON THE GREAT
WESTERN RAILWAY.

-,---- .- -- -- ---_,- ---- -----
CocgrT ConsLaecLaar.-sdajor FasitPros brought Jlociek Barge (214), grocers' assistant, able to read
up this report I-- and write well, was charged with attempting to kill
" Bills for the repairs at the several police stations and murder himoeie, at From. St. Quiuton, „, the f,th
amounting to £47 es. 11d., were ordered to be paid. of sootomeor.
&Guides for painting the external woodwork and 0011' r
work of all the police stations (exclusive of the justice The prisoner, who appeared dill very week and
rooms), had been accepted amounting together to the sum downcast, pleaded not guilty.
of .M 2 lee. 6d. The Clerk ot the Peace has produced to Mr. Udall prosecuted (instructed by Mr. Thomas
your committee • bond signed by Superintendent George Co. ailed.
Flomnce, .1 the Sherburne division, and his surety, end • The magisterial hearing in this case, it will be
bill of ,C 1 Pis. 2,1. (including stamp) for preparing such remembered, took place in the county prison, when
bond, which was ordered to be paid. Messrs. Stroud and evidence, OS upon the present occasion was given
Co., the contractors, ha%e executed a contract for keeping showing that, on the evening in question, the pri.
In lemma the ten several police carts for ten years at •
eontr, who had tailed in business at Bridport, had
fixed sum. The drainage of the Sturminster station has
been completed, and the water is now reported to be pure taken a ticket from Dorchester to Maiden Newton.
and good, and the wall has been completed according to He did not get out at the latter station' but pn weeded
the estimate named in the last report. The yard and on to Evershot, where a 'sorter named Davis saw him
frontage of the Sherborrie station has been gravelled as lying on the seat, and the door of the carriage wet.
ordered at the last amnions. Your °emulate. having Examination howed the carriage to be saturated with
obtained through the Chief Constable tenders from several blood and that the prisoner had cut his throat. He
large army contractors for the supply of clothing and was placed under medical attendance • and be said
sccoutrements for the police force for a further term of
" • 'trouble two years, from the 31st December next, recommend the during the course of the evening. It is that
Court to accept the tender of Messrs. Hibbert and Co. for has done this-failing in busmen and my wife going
clothing and accoutrements, and Messrs. Almond and Co. to service. I have done this myself; I throwed the
for caps and helmets. The Chief Constable has presented knife towards the window."
to your committee a memorial, nemerousl dat. The prisoner's statement before the magistrate was
requesting that an additional constable shouldbe that, after his separation from Christian people, with
appointedfor the Ein'K'n district, in the Wile Wree whom he had been associated, he began to doubt his
division, the population having increased re than
mo 1.000
since the last causes, there being 200 additional houses. Itc,:ePtanee of God, and did nut know what he was
and these are stillincreasing. The Chief Constable supports doing.
the view, of the memorialists, and requests that he should The Chairman to the poisoner: Do you wish to say
have the power of appointing a third-class constable. This anything in explanation of this sad thing?
the committee strongly recommend the Court to sane. Prisoner : I have nothing to say, sir.
thin. subleet to the &Rpm's' of the Secretary of State The Chairman to the Jury: I need not sum up this
A sum a .£4,000 has been repaid by the county to the man to you, gentlemen ; you hive heard his own state.
account of the Superannuation Fund. The treasurer's ____,
accounts for the quarter ending at Michaelmas last show "e°2l.
receipt to be £4,011 3s. 2,1., and expenditure including a The jury found him guilty.
balance in treasurers hand of Lditi di. id. .f. 4.081 3.. 2d. The Clerk of Arraigns: Have you anything to say
The expenditure for the ensuing quarter has been why the Court should not pass sentence upon you?
estimated at 1:3,71/3 13a 6d. The committee recommended PHsoner : Nothing whatever air,
that a rate of one half-penny in the i, amounting to The Chairman then addressed prisoner in a very feel.
£1,753 13a. Bd., be ordered at these sessions. The cost to ing manner. He said: Th 4 la a very painful case, and
Inspecting weighta and measures during the past quarter one most distressing to hear. It is dad that a man of
has been e. 17 16,, 10,1. ; the amount received for stamping
unfortunately
respectable Appearance should have been
led to attunpt your own life. I
weights and measures for the past quarter has been
tit 7s. hid. ; and one moiety of the amount received for _ lortenete4
Penalties during the moue quarter has been £47s. Pd- have no wish at all te harrow your feelings or to
07 lea. 7,1. : cost to the county, 3d. The number of aggravate the distress whic.k lam pure 'mu must feel
convicted before justiccs during the past quarter for haring committed so reprehensible an act. I do
.r.-Ceo 19, the amount received for Penalties hying not wish for one moment to increase your sun, for I
£l2 The 6.1. hot* m , from what you have yourself said, that you are
WI This report, which was of such alarming length, ah eto look upon your poeition in a better light-with
was, at the eaggeetion of the Chairman, when Major more trust and confidence in God; and, Laving happily
fraunkton had got about half-way through, received !men primer yeti from death, that, au far from renewing
and adopted. any attempt upon your life, you will try to lives
SIMKO Cot-RT.-Mr. Williams and Mr. Albert
Haulms were appuilitea to sit in the second Court. every Wall should lice--iu the discharge of duties
- which are true, lied, and good, and never think of
'Fag CHIC/ CoIIiITABLICIe RIUNAIT was read by the
Cum: doing anything of the like again. The Court do not
of the Pasco e-
e 1 have ea. beam, et Laytnig bef. in wish to pass any sentence id punishment upon you-
with the regulations 01 the ss.i.r, a State.tj'''::;;Z"''nis' they will only bind you over in your recognisance* of
=Le SW, pass quarter. The number eg "mai al) to oome up for judgment when called upon.
1.7 tbe conatabolarr has been pm sad they The sentence was greeted with applause in Coosa-
were Malt with as follows :-Diasharesd, 413 ; swaserny of oourss, at ono, stopped.