The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1875-03-30 00:00:00

SERIOUS RipT BY COLLIERS.

A serious disturbmice has taken phice at Little Elm.
near From.', by a large hody of colliers, who assisted to
obtain for one of their fraternity forcible possession of a
cottage and land, the title to which is in dispute. It
appears that some time since a named Thomas Bryant
through a law-suit the property in question,
which on his uleath-bed be left to his son Thomas Bryant .
and his heirs for ever. Counsel's opinion was, however, ,
takeu by the remaining members of the family, and it,
was &retorts' that the property legally belonged to the
de-easel's seven children, awl not to one in particular.
Upon this, one of the number sold the property to the
Bev. J. C. Fussell. of (2hantry, awl partner in the tirm
of Menus. Fussell, Chantry and Mells Edge-tool Works.
Thomas Bryant, however, was unaware of the sale, and
took possession of the house, which he retained until
about • fortnight since, letting the land to the Rev. Mr.
FusselL About six months di 800 he gave that gentleman
notice to leave, which notice expired on Thursday. About
• fortnight since, Bryant, on visiting his house (in which
he resided only occasionally, but in which he had • small
quantity of furniture), found Mr. Fussell's hailiff and
i coachman in possession, and every window (of which
' there were about a dozen) in the house, except one,
stopped up, and the bailiff's furniture on the premises.
Bryant at once, with the assistance of a few friends, took
sledge-hammers, knocked off the locks from the doom,
I and obtained forcible pouessiun of the premises—only,
however, to be expelled again by a body of grinders in
' Messrs. Fusaell's employ, who were specially summoned
for the purpose. Bryant openly declared his intention of
regaining possession at any risk, and on Thunelay his
plans were put into execution. The notice expiring at
twelve o'clock, about that hour a large body of colliers,
numbering about four hund-eul, from the neighbouring
coal-pits, who haul responded to the call of their fellow'
workman, Francis Bryant (Thomas's son), who is himself
a collier, congregated near the premises in question.
Precisely at mithday a rush was niade towards the build-
ing. in which were several uuf Mr. Fussell's cluldoTs's•
After some struggling, an ingress Wilt effected through
the only window, arid the ussmpants and the furniture
turned out into the road. The new tenants then set to
work, and sledge hammers, crowbars, owl other imple-
ments, proceeded to batter out the blocked up windows,
and Meek upen gates and doors. So vigorous an the work
of demolition were they, that the building is now a com-
plete wreck. About a dozen policemen Telonging to the
Frome division were lenient, hut as there was no lighting
going on of consequence, they wisely abetained from
charging so large and excited mob. ()wing to the alnenee
of Mr. Supt. Deegan at the amazes, Mr. Supt. Morgan and
a staff of twenty constables were telegraphed for from
headquarters, but did not arrive at the time the riot com-
menced. On entering the premises. Bryant and his
friend. discovered a large number of truncheons, for the
protection of the grinders, to be used when the contem-
plated " storming • of the cottage (which was not expected
until Friday) should take place. These were pitched
through the window to the crowd below, but those who
secured thew were quickly disarmed by the police, and
before any mischief could be done. As soon as possession
of the premises had been obtained, the excited colliers
cooled down, and towards evening dispersed. Supt.
Morgan and his men arrived late in the evening and
remaiued on duty all night, but quietness having
apperently been restored, they were on Goal Friday
withdrawn the Front° police alone being left on duty
at the spot: So deter :::::: ed were the Bryant party to
obtain possession. that they established a line of stations
from cottage to itadstock and the neigh)ourhood, in order,
if necessary, to bring a still larger number of colliers to
the spot at the ?herbed poasitile notice.
. . . . . .

On Good k rislay the impression had gainml ground that
an attempt would be made to retake possession of the
prernis., and at five o'clock • considerable number of
colliers had again assembled at the cottage; but there
were no indications of the disturbance being renewed.
The premises were on Friday visited by a Itr.:e number
of persons ftom the neighbourhood, and Itryant's friends
held a carousal in the dismantled premises in lionoui of
their victory.