The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-04-17 00:00:00

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, Thursday.—Before Mr. J. J.
Fanpth non.
Thp,on, o.lthag, a tramp was charged with begging at
Pimperne.—P.C. Poynter proved the charge. Sentenced
to II days hard labour.

APPREHENSION OF A SWELL MOBSMAN.
On Friday, at Bryanstone, before the Viscount
Portman, a swell gent, about 3.), who gave the namt
of Richard Pritchard, of no address, was brought up
in custody by Mr. Supt. Underwood, charged with
stealing £2 10s. in gold from the house of Aron
Haine, of Durweston, on the previous day. —Eliza
Heine said, I am the wife of Aron Heine, of Dur-
weston. Yesterday morning the prisoner came to my
house and asked if I could lodge him. He said be
was recommended to ine by Mr. Parsons, of Somerset,
Lord Portman's steward, and said he was a land ,oir-
veyor, and was sent to Durweston to measure the
land, and to take maps of it, as the farmers complained
that they were over rated. Ile mentioned other
persons names who were in Isird Portman's employ,
and by this l thought he was a gentleman, and took
him in and arranged with him. He said he had a Int
of writing to do, and I let him have my writing desk
to keep his papers in, on which he took a onantity of
papers, books, &c., from his pockets and commenced
writing. He afterwards said he wanted lunch, and he
would go upstairs and wash while I was getting it.
The prisoner had lunch and left my house about two
o'clock. She soon found he had taken away the key
of the writing desk. I went upstairs and found that
EA 10s. in rot(' was gone from my box, which was there
the day before! gave information to Supt. Underwood,
To-day the prisoner asked me to withdraw the charge,
and have the money back again. He gave me the
name or Mr. Harris when be caine to my home. The
key produced is my property.—P.C. Poynter said
yesterday about five o clock he received information
that a robbery had been committed at Durweston,
and received a description ..f the man that was sus-
pected, from Supt. !Underwood. About six o'clock
I found the prisoner standing at the bar of the Rail-
way Hotel, in Blandford. He was just starting for
the six o'clock train. I asked him to come into a
private room as I wished to speak to him. I was in
private clothes. I told him who I was, and that he
answered to the description of a man who was sus-
pected of stealing £4 10, from a house at Durweston
that day. I asked him to account for himself. He
said "I am a gentleman, and I defy you to insult me
in this manner. As I am going by this train I will
give you my card. He gave me an envidope addressed
R. and H. Stevens, tobacco manufactory, Salisbury,
Wilts, and told Inc to refer to that gentleman, and he
would let ine know who he was." I told him that
would not do for me. Ile then Raid I am known at
the Crown llotel. I then asked him to accompany
, me to the Crown, he said you go first and! will follow
you. I told him I should ~us with him. We went to
, the Crown, but he was not known. I then took him
, into custsly, and took him to „the Isdics station and
searched him and found £4 in gold, Sc. fid, in silver,
. and twopence in coppers, 22 keys, all of different
, descriptions, a watch, two guards, a locket, knife,
• books, papers, four pawn tickets, and other articles.
, Prisoner was committed for trial at the next Quarter
Sessions. We have heard since that he is a returned
convict, and is gazetted for not reporting himself, he
, being on ticket-of-leave, and also wanted for robbery
, elsewhere. We hear P.C. Basosmbe, statisned at
Stourpaine, apprehended Mr. Vaughan, the well-
, known temperance missionary, supposing him to be
the party wanted, and did not release him till he had
; taken him before Mrs. Haine.