The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-01-26 00:00:00

04 iltsbire.

TROWBRIDGE. —At the petty sessions held on
Wednecday week, before Wm. Stancomb and J. P.
Stancomb, Esqrs., the following case occupied con-
siderable time,—Mr. James Hooper, of Hilperton,
summoned John Bricker, residing at the same place,
for taking away at different times a quantity
of road scrapings, which he had purchased
at the annual sale of "road dirt." The plaintiff
stated that he had seen the defendant's servants re-
moving the scrapings by loading it into carts and
taking it away. His evidence was corroborated by
other witnesses. The defendant denied the charge,
and said that all that had been removed by his men
was the accumulation of turf and earth, taken out of
the ditches under the sanction of the road surveyor.
He was ordered to pay 7s. 6d. for the dirt, but the
plaintiff had to bear half the expenses, which has
excited some surprise.
DEvtxxs.—A sum of five pounds is offered for the
discovery of the person or persons who placed
the dead body of an infant on the road near
the railway station, some time during Tuesday
night.
MEsx.—Literary Institution.—The annual meet-
ing of this institution was held on Tuesday, and a
large number of members were present. It appears
from the report that the institution has become self-
supporting, and that there has been a large accession
of members. A number of gentlemen residing in
the town and neighbourhood have agreed to give a
course of gratuitous lectures during the present
season. The Rev. W. D. Morrice, of Longbridge
Deverill, commenced the series by delivering a lec-
ture on "Wiltshire." This was followed by lec-
tures by the Rev. H. /d. Guns, of Warminster, on
"Ancient Christian Poetry :" the Rev. Tapper
Carey, of Longbridge Deverill, on "Egypt ;" and
the Rev. W. Barnes, of Dorchester, on "The Beau-
tiful and Art." The audiences at these lecturesjiave
been large and encouraging.

GREAT BEDWYN. —lt is intended to open a soup
kitchen here again this winter. The vicar is busily
engaged collecting subscriptions. We hope the poor
will appreciate the kindness thus shown in provid-
ing them with good and wholesome food at a mere
nominal charge. The first distribution was to take
place on Saturday.

RINGERS' TREAT. —The church ringers had their
annual supper on Monday. In the absence of the
vicar, the chair was taken by the Rev. W. L.
Penderd.

DARING BURGLARY AT SALLSBURT.—EarIy on
Sunday morning week, a daring burglary was com-
mitted on the premises of Mr. William Carter,
watch-maker and jeweller, Minster-street. On the
servant going down about eight in the morning she
found the back door open, and immediately alarmed
Mr. Carter, when it was discovered that the shop
had been broken into, and numerous articles of
jewellery, amounting in value to at least £l5O,
carried away. Ingress to the premises was obtained
through a window only 13 inches by 9, which lights
the staircase. The back of the premises abuts on St.
Thomas' churchyard, and the window appeared to
have been reached by mounting a pair of trucks be-
longing to Mr. Coombe, who resides next door, and
which happened to be standing by. An iron bar
screwed across the window was wrenched off', and
the glass broken; and access to the stairs having
thus being gained, to enter the shop was a work of
little difficulty. On reaching the shop the thieves
turned on the gas, the meter being discovered by
the aid of phosphoric matches, several of which,
partially consumed, were found on the floor. The
gas was left burning, and the burglars gave a marked
preference to articles of small bulk, such as pins and
rings, a number of cream ewers and salt cellars re-
maining untouched. A quantity of silver and silver
coin was also left behind., whilst the thieves com-
mitted the "unprofessional" mistake of carrying off
sundry articles of German silver and electro-plate.
From this it is inferred that they were either un-
practised hands, or that they were disturbed in their
operations. Fortunately, only one watch had been
left in the shop, and that belonged to Mr. Carter.
Mr. Carter, an assistant, and a servant sleep in the
house, and but little noise could have been made, or

they would have been alarmed. We understand,
however, that a lady residing at Mr. Saph's, only a
few doors distant, heard a noise in the church-yard
between three and four o'clock, but took no notice
of the circumstance. Information of the robbery
was promptly given to the police, and Mr. Carter
sent a telegraph message to Inspector Bent, at the
Waterloo station, who waited in the different trains,
but observed nothing suspicious about any of the
passengers. If the robbery was not the work of
local hands, the parties may have gone oft by the
Great Western in the direction of Bristol, and there
being only an early train and no public telegraph it
was impossible they could be overtaken. The fol.
lowing is a list of the articles stolen; 45 gentlemen's
gold signet and other rings, 30 gold keepers, chased,
engraved, some hall-marked, 20 gold mounted hair
rings, 4 dozen gold keys and seals, 1 set of charms,
consisting of blue jug, hour glass, and small gold
seal, a number of gold and plated lockets, 3 dozen
gold pencil cases, 6 gold toothpicks, 6 dozen gold
pins of various patterns sporting, horse-shoe, whip
and leg, whip and horse shoe, 1 gold coloured fox
head, 1 white cornelian bead pin, 1 enamelled garter
pin, 1 blue enamelled horse-shoe pin, 1 wheat sheaf
pattern, sundry coral ditto, 4 gold kirb guard chains,
2 gold Alberts, with drop chain, seal, and key, 1
dozen gold Alberta of various patterns, secret link
and cylinder, 4 plated Alberta, 1 silver pebble brace-
let, about 7 dozen various sizes gold box and other
brooches, sundry plated brooches, 3 ounces of wed-
ding rings, 10 silver Alberts, 2of secret links. One
dozen second-hand tea spoons, marked in italics CH.,
half dozen fiddle-pattern, second hand, 20 pairs of
silver salt spoons, new and second-hand, 2 pairs of
dessert spoons, 1 threaded dessert spoon, 2 pairs of
mustard spoons, 1 snuffer pattern sugar tongs, 1
pair of table spoons, 1 meat skewer, 18 pairs silver
sugar tongs, new and second-hand, some marked, 4
pairs of plated sugar tongs, 30 pairs of gold ear-rings,
3 sets of coloured gold sleeve links, 4 collar studs, 1
silver open-face watch, and 14 dozen of German
silver guards. It is said that the majority of the
articles can be identified, and a reward of £2O has
been offered for the discovery of the burglars.