The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1871-01-24 00:00:00

THE EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY AT
OSIIINGTON.

The polioe hove so far cleared up the mysteiy
attached to the theft of four pigs from Mr. Andrews's
Wigton at Onnington, which was followed so suspiciously
by two cues of arson at Wiofrith. that four men—
three labourers, who it is aliened stole, and • publican,
against whom is the charge of receiving, were appre-
hended; and on Wednesday they were brought up
before H. Williams, Esq., at the Shirehall, charged with
felony. Their names are Tboissas Hibbs, George Hewlett,
gnotanssel Brine and Jaws HrlcAisss. Mr. Symonds
prosecuted, and Mr. Howard defended. • .
Mr. Symonds said the prosecutor had a barton at
Onnington, in which were some pigs, arid on the night
of the 11th four of the pigs were stolen, and also some
tailing barley and ohs,/ from a barn adjoining, Two of
the pigs were found in Hatebins's stye at Wiefrith on
Friday, and on Saturday the other two were foend
straying in the village. P.C. Powell was set to watch
the two pigs at Hutchins's: During his watch • fire was
discovered at the Bad Lion, and Brine asked the we-
ttable to go to it, but he refitted. Subsequently a fire
°warred at • makthouse in the parish, and again
Brine, aooompanied by Hewlett, went to PoweU, and
usvecalbiaoesurgedhinitogoio the fire. Bat it was in
vain. On the Wednesday afternoon it would be shown
Hibbs, who keeps • horse 'sad waggon, was with
Howlett sad Brine at "the Plough," legion and
isitearly in the evoniog to go horns. There were kinks
from the turnpike road leading to prosecutor's bailee,
which it would be shown were made by Hibbs's horse
and wsogoo. The horses' shoes were peculiar, and,
would be produced. Hatoh,us was found dealing with
all the property, and the other prisoners were is aloes
communication with him.

P.C. Henry Powell, stationed at Osmington, said:
Last Thurso:ley I heard Kr. randrew's Down barn had
been broken open, and that two sacks of barley, and
two of chaff had bees stolen from the barn, and four
pigs from the yard adjoining. I and Mr. Andrews
went to the barn. I found the look of the barn door
had been broken, and in the barn I found • piece of
iron which proved to be the latch of the gate between
the fleld and Pox welL It was about a foot long. I saw
some auks thrown up on the straw. Examined them.
In two there was a little barley, and in the ethers a
little chat, but nothing Many consequence I Produce
the barley so found, and some from the floor where the
sacks had been standing, both now mixed together. I
found the tracks of a horse and waggon leading
from the turnpike road between Poxwell and
Osmington, through PQX well ewe-loam up to
the gate of Mr. Andrews's eld and on to the barn. I
then saw tracks of • horse and waggon back from the
barn to the turnpike road, and towards Warm well-moss,
In the &onion of Winfrith. The moths of the horse
and the wheels were very plain and very deep in the
ground. I covered up several of the marks inside Mr.
Andrevres field, On Friday, in company with Supt.
Hare, I went to the barn, and saw him take ,the
manure of the home's tracks, the wheel tracks, and
the width of the wheel bonds. We then went to
Thomas Hibbs's house at Winfrith. I saw Hibbs the
previous Wednesday between Ossnington and Preston,
in company with Hewlett and Brine. We searched
ilibbe's hones, and found same barley, mixed with Indian
corn, in the pantry; and wider the stairs • sack of
chaff and part of another: Supt. Hare left me in
charge of it. while the Superintendent went to another
plass. In abut an hour Sank Hare returned with
Hibbs in custody, accompanied by P.C. Kingman. We
put the corn and chaff, as also the prisoner, in Supt.
Hare's cart. Then I and the Superintendent went to
the Crown Inn, kept by James Hutchins, This was
after the wife of Kibbe said something to 'Hare; Hibbs
was two or three yards oft I heard part of it. 'bet
could not tall what it woe- At Hutobins's we went to
to the piptyes. Hare entered on*, and in consequence
of something he said I also went in. We found eight
pigs tbere, two of which answered the deseription of
two of those stolen from Kr. Andrews's. Hutehins's
wife came out and said something, in oonsequinee of
which we went to Andrew Read's, the post-offise at
Winfrith. We fund • carter from Todnoll mill
named Thomas Whiting coming out of Read's house
with • beg on his back. We spoke to him, and he
serried the bag back to the hones, end pinned it along-
side another full bag. We •xands.d both sacks.
They contained tailing barley. I have samples of their
oontents, and produce them. Read was present. Some
conversation pegged about the bultry,and eltinutely one
of the bags west sway by the outer. I retained my
Vand Read took oat about • peak from the
ttaid went to Tadnoll mllls. Bane sonversation
weed between Sept. Hare sad Read respecting some
Pt• Slam& thug asked if Mashies'. name WM
INSIMIMPL