The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-03-15 00:00:00

PETTY SESSIONS.

Tnrannai.
Iteforo the Mayor (G. Cords, Esq.), and U. Farmer,
Esq.
Anrvimaiiixo SPIRIT&

William Henry Balding, of the Globe Tavern. was
liummonisl by the Inspisior of Nuisances for selling
spirits to the detriment of the purchaser.
Mr. Diekinson, Town Clerk, prosecuted, and Kidd it
was a bad ms... as the brandy in question was found. to
be 174 degrees behiw the 2.s.legreeti belowymof, at winch
publicans Were allowed to sell spirits, lie asked that a
heavy penalty might lie inflicted.
Mr. If. I futehins said In was the officer nppointed to
carry out the provisions of the Food and Drug Art. On
11.. 22nd •if February he went to the defendant's house
and purchased A noggin if brandy, which was serveql
him by the landlady. if. told her he wanted it to for-
ward to the l'ublie Analyst, and she eoubl retain half
of it as allowed by the Act. She declined to take it,
slating she did not know what he meant. Ile then
sent the whole to Mr. Leach, of Sturminster. who had
returned a ecrtilleate, stating he found in the sample
47.23 degrees of proof, and, LisTefore, it WAS 112 degrees
under proof.
el-ems-examined by Mr. Travers, who appeared for the
defenee : He had no recollection that the landlady said
they had two sorts, rid. sail Is.; but. he would not swear
she did not.
Mr. Travers, in his remarks for the defence, said he
should call evidence to show this.
Mr. Dickenson said it didn't matter a button.
Mr. Travers asked to lie allowed to go on without
interruption, and urged the Bench not to convict of a
criminal offence on the evidence of a single man, who
was not certain what took Oaf,.
Mrs. Battling was called. and being sworn, said she
told Mr. Hutchins that she had sixpenny and shilling
brandy. and he said sixpenny would do. 13he was
certain le di.l not offer to divide it into three parts, but
I'. e said he would seal up a part for her.
Cr....examined The shilling was a higher brandy
than the ~tlu.r. She ....old not tell how much under
proof it was. She supposed they sold their customers
bra ndy.andwater.
The Mayor. Is it labelled as such ? (Laughter.)
This is my difficulty—l think the more they water it the
better it is. (Much laughter.)
Mr. Diekenson Unfortunately the law does not
think so.
TIM Bench inflicted n fine of 21 and costs, is. la
TIM SALVATION AIOIT DISTURBANCKS AGAIN.

Robert Short, a young labourer, of Poole, was
summoned for disturbing the meetings of the Army
in the hall on three occasions, and also with assaulting
Captain Campion.
Mr. Trevanion appeared for the "Army," and, in
stating the case, said, by a decision of the Queen's
Bench it did not now matter whether the place was
limensed so long as it was actually used as a chapel.
He also added that the defendant had been fined
once, and to show the animus he might state that
only the previous evening he marched into the hall
with the summonses stuck in his hat, and there was
again a great disturbance.
John Campion said on Tuesday, he had been conduct-
ing a service in the Temperance Hall. Some of those
present kept singing the vhoruses of the hymns over
' and over again, so that he was obliged to close the
meeting. He asked them to leave, but the defendant
and others refused, and he could do nothing with
thsin. At last he put his hand upon the defendant's
shoulders and he then knocked him down twice. On
three following occasions the defendant azain created
a disturbance. On the Bth there was a tea, and a
meeting afterwards, when defendant was again
present, and a fight ensued between him and another
man whom he was annoying.
In reply to the defendant, Campion said he did
collar him, but he did not threaten to throw him
downstairs.
Defendant said he did, and of course he pushed him
away. Only the other night come of the Army said
"Shut the doors and let's fight it out." (Laughter.)
John James Norton corroborated the "Captain,"
and said all he did to the defendant was very gently
to place his hand upon his shoulders. His conduct on
every occasion was disgraceful.
On the Bth there was a fight between the defendant
and another, which lasted some minutes.
Caleb Snook said he remonstrated with the defendant
at one of the meetings, when be told him to shut his
month.
James Dunford, jun., was called, and said on the
evening of the Bth he saw Knight strike defendant, and
Short returned the blow. He parted them, and they
sat down as quiet as lambs.
Knight, with whom the defendant fought, said
defendant commenced it by pulling his hair.
In his defence, Short said the captain and other
members of the Army pulled him about and wouldn't
let him alone. There was a general scuffle, and be had
handfulls of hair pulled out! Ever since this captain
had been here there had been more rows than ever
there was before.
The Bench told him the magistrates were most
anxious to reclaim him, but at the same time they were
determined to protect the Army or any other
denomination in their places of worship. He would be
sentenced to one month's hard labour for the assault
on the captain, and one month without hard labour
for creating the disturbance.