The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-17 00:00:00

Ltgal.

WESTERN ClRCUlT.—Wiscursna, July 12.

•• - - -
The learned judges on this circuit, Mr. Baron Chan-
nell and Mr. Justice Keating, arrived at Winchester on
Wednesday, and opened their commission at the County
Hall. There are five causes entered, two of which are
marked for special juries. The criminal business is ex.
ceeilingly heavy. Business commenced this morning in
both the courts.
Mr. Justice Keating, in his charge to the grand jury,
said lie very much regretted that he could not congra-
tulate them upon the (avowable state of the county of
Hamiolaire. Both in point of numbers and in point of
, magnitude of crime the calendar presented almost an
appalling appearance. There were as many as twelve
persons charged with murder. Of 43 persona charged
with the inure serious offences out of the 64 in the
calendar, no fewer than 35 were soldiers. Of course it
was not to be expected in this free country, where our
army was recruited by means of volunteers, that bad
characters should not find their way into the ranks; at
the same time it was for the serious consideration of
those persons who were more immediately charged with
the control of soldier* in this country to look at and
think of the calendar at these assizes, and to see whether
some means might not be adopted by which there might
be restrained the large proportion of burglaries and
highway robberies which took place in the county, he
trusted exceptionally.
The murder cases include • murder at Aldershott,
another at Portsmouth, and the dreadful murder of •
wife and six children at Sandown, in the Isle of Wight.
Thrre was no CARO during the day in either Quarts re-
quiring • report.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT, .113 LY 12.
(Before the LORD Cisme BARON.)
John Spencer, 60, tutor, who was tried on Wednes-
day upon two charges of • most disgusting character,
was again placed at the bar yesterday to take his trial
upon another el arge of the same description.
Mr. Cooper and Mr. Harry conducted the prosecu-
tion; the prisoner was again defended by Mr. Pearce.
rhe principal witness in this cue was • young lad
named Reuben Bracher, and the evidence be gave WY
of • similar character to that which had been deposed to
by the witnesses in the other cases. The father of this
lad also stated that the prisoner applied to hien for per-
mission for his son to sleep with him, and that lie told
hini at the swine time that he did not carry on his school
for profit, and that he WAS very fond of children, and
that his liOn WILC such an intelligent lad that he wished
to have him with him.
Mr. Pearce, in his address to the jury, oontended, as
in the former cases, that there was not sufficient con-
firmation of the evidence of the boy to justify them in
convicting the prisoner of an offence for which his life
might be forfeited, and on that ground he asked for an
acquittal
The Lord Chief Baron hissing summed up, the jury
retired to consider their verdict.
In about 24 minutes they returned into court and found
the prisoner Guilty.
The Lord Chief Baron ordered sentence of death to be
recorded against him.
Charles Knorlea, 43, letter carrier, was charged with
stealing a post letter, the property of the Postmuter-
General.
Mr. Metcalfe conducted the prosecution.
This case was one of the ordinary description. The
prisoner was • letter carrier in the Stamford-street dis-
trict, and iii consequence of complaints that were made,
a test letter was made up, in which two half-sovereigns
were placed, in • card. The letter never reached its
destination, and upon the prisoner being taken into cus-
tody, the card in which the money had been placed was
found in his possession.
The Lord Chief Baron, in summing up, observed that
the placing of money in letters offered very great temp-
tation to the letter carriers, who, in many eases were
unable to resist it, and he hoped the public would dia.
continue the practice as much as possible.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.
Sentence was defened.
A Yocau FEMALI BIGAXIST.—EIIen Wallis, • res-
pectable-looking female, described as a dreasinaker, only
nineteen years of age, was indicted for feloniously marry•
ing Josephs Wallis, her former husband, Robert Knowles,
being then alive.
In September. 1856. the prisoner WAS married at the
parish church of Wrothani, Kent. After a year and a
half her husband deserted her, leaving her destitute.
She afterwards came to Woolwich, and married her
second husband, who is a soldier, in 1859. She was
taken custody a few days ago upon the present charge,
which had been preferred by the first husband.
In answer to the Reconler, the second husband said
her conduct bad been good, but she did not tell him she
hail been married before, and that they had been very
hem.) together till the policeman took her in charge.
Mr. Dickie, for the prisoner, urged that at the time of
the first marriage she was only just turned fourteen, and
believing that (she being so young at the time) it was
not legal, she had contracted the second marriage. He
then called the mother and brother, who proved that
Sims was only that age when first married, and that her
husband's conduct had been brutal, lie beating her on
many occasions.
The jury returned • verdict of "Guilty," but recom-
mended her to mercy.
The prisoner then burst into tears, and said to the
Recorder, •• Do have mercy on nie, my Lord! I did not
know I was doing wrong; he was such • brute tome."
Recorder to the policensanj—Who instituted this pro-
secution against this young woman
Policeman—The first husband. He has done it all, my
Lord.
The Recorder said—The sentence of the Court is that
you be imprisoned for two days in Newgate. and then
discharged. I shall not allow the expenses of the pro-
secution in such a case, only of those bound over
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