The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1879-11-25 00:00:00

STEALING A DUCK.

At the Comity Petty Sessions on Tuesday, before It C.
Goodden, K.q. (chairman), Captain Pretor, and Colonel
Swatßela Jelin Penes. Wirer and Georg., /lardy were
charged with stealing • duck, the property of Mr. John
Guppy. of Preston. and Oliver woo further chared with
assaulting Mr. Guppy.
The prosecutor, a farmer. residing at Pretton on the
11th of Novemher counted the 'lucks, and on Kalinin,'
morning counted them sszain, and missed one duck.
Came to Weymouth, went to Mr. George Andrews' stall
in the Market-house, and identified the duck (proiluets!)
by peetili3r rifle round its neck and it. sreneral app.: tr-
ance Went to iniver's father, and told bite of the theft,
and he said he did not care what his son did, and would
not spend • farthing on bini. When he was coming omt7
from the house the pi ounce Oliver sought hold cif hint,
tearing out the buttons of hit waistcoat, aud struck him
a violent brow in the eye.
Robert Burt. labourer in the prosecutor's employ, also
ide•tiftwl the I lock.

Mr. Janie. Smith, living at Waterloo Stores, Ratlipole.
was at the Swan Inn, Preston, on Wednesday last, in
company with a roan named Mundell, saw the primmer
Oliver, and heard him ask a man if he had wen " Homan),"
a nickname for the prisoner Moly. and the man maid—
" Yes he is out at the corner." Ile then asked Menden
if he could ride with him to Weymouth. and he agreed.
They then left for Weymouth, awl met " Hopper." I rliver
said to him " Where hast thee planted them things
" Hopper" replied "Up here in Ser.:alert's field." Ile then
asked Mut:e'en if he would let " lb o per " ride with them
to Weymouth. and he consented. Ile hatl a rush basket
1 on his shoulder, and.hefore getting into the waggon he
went up a little lane el.. by and was away seven or eight
minutes. on his return he threw the basket into the
waggon. ()liver opened the hasket, and took out a duck
and a fowl. naked witness to pun:hese ir, trod placed the
duck in his hands. and wit oto felt its neck was pulled
out. It had • white ring round the neek, awl ha he heves'
the one pnaluced was the one offered him. The fowl WAN
also offered to Menden ; but witness advised him no* to
buy It. Before Oliver opened the basket nome people
were teasing. and he said " Wait till these people are
pins' by." lie also said to Mundeu "I know its wrong;
but what's a feller to do r
Mr. George Andrews. poulterer and butcher, resitlinz at
Weymouth, said the primmer ()liver, on Wetincielay
called at his stall In the Market•houre, het he being h
to thinner, he came to his hone with a fowl awl a dock,
and offers,' them for sale. Prisoner wanted rat for them
but witness said they were only worth 4.. Prisoner then
asked him to let him have 5r not he would pay him the
It when he came in again. They were not picked. After
witness had pietted them he placed them on his stall, and
the duck remained till Mr. Guppy came and thought it.
l'be fuel was sent away with others the day before.

I' C Brines stationed at (Millington. said on liaturdoy
night last he a: prehen.lal Oliver, and charged him with
stealing the duck from Mr. Guppy. Ile mid " Ain't I
allowed to sell my father's ducks or poultry r Ile did not
dispute selling it to Mr. Andrews, hut mid he did not 'teal
ii, and witness took him to Dorchester, •nit on thr follow-
ing morning apprehended Hanly, and charged hint with
stealing thii duck ; when he denied that he had ever had a
duck or a basket in his poimemion. On the way to (ho
County Hall, Dorchester, yesterday. ((liver mid' I Iviucht
the duck of someone on the allotment road, and gave In
for it.."—Oliver in defence mill he bought the duck of •
man on the road, and gave la &L for it.
Hardy Moo pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Sept. Batty said there were several previous
convictions against both the prisoners.
They were both sentenced to one mouth's imprisonment
with hard labour.