The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-05-14 00:00:00

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.

TOWNUALL, Monday, May 13.—Before the Mayor and
B. Davis, Esq.

. _
Joerph You, a lad about 14 years of age. VW
charged by P.C. Cousins with throwing stones into the
hospital grounds. It appeared that some time since a
patient, while walking in the grounds, bad been struck
by a stone thrown into the ground by some boys, and
Mr. Philips complained of the circumstance. On the
7th inst. P.C. Cousins, while on duty, saw the defen•
dant committing a like offence, and as be refused to
give his name, he took him to the police station. He
resisted very much, and a woman, whom he afterwards
found out was the boy's mother, followed him down
the street and continued to cry out " There's* beauty!"
The boy's Nether now attended and complained of the
ill treatment his boy received in being taken to the
look-up.—The Clerk said the constable was perfecja,
justified in taking him to to the lock-up in conaequAlW
of his not giving his name. The boy, no doubt, strug-
gled to get away, end any injury he received
must be attributed to that circumstance. The
Mayor said if the boy had given his name he would not
have been taken into custody, and the constable would
have been able to proceed against him by commons.
Defendant was then cautioned u to his future conduct,
and discharged upon payment of costs.
Gilbert was charged with misconduct in
knocking at the door of Mr. 'William Tripp. It appeared
from the evidence of P.S. Barrett, that tbedefendant
was with • younger brother and two other boys. When
they came opposite Mr. Tripp's house defendant went
up to the door, seised the knocker, rapped at the door
and ran away. He followed and caught him and asked
his name, which he gave. Defendant said he was going
to the old shop, and that he did not run away. It was
Sprackley who knocked at the door. Sergeant Barrett
was quite certain it was defendant, and the Mayor told
him if he did not leave off the trick of knocking at
people's doors he would ultimately be sent to gaol.—
Fined 10e., including costs.
Jobs Hocoa was charged by John Hardy, • private
In the Dorset Militia Regiment, with having
assaulted him on Saturday last. It appeared
that Hardy is not quite so well "stocked in the wren"
as most people, and that he is accordingly taken advan-
tage of by some who pride themselves in possessing
superior sense. Among his greatest tormentors
was the defendant, who often thrust himself into his
company, notwithstanding the caution of the sergeant
of the company, who gave complainant an excellent
character for steadiness and sobriety. On Friday the
sergeant promised to forgive some misconduct on the
part of the defendant on condition that be did not
interfere with complainant again, but on the following
day he went to the room at the George
Inn, where complainant was billeted, and
interfered with him just as he was sitting
down to dinner, and afterwards took his dinner away.
Complainant went after it, and in a struggle which
ensued, he received • black eye. Defendant was
ordered to pay • fine of 10s. Gal., including costa.
Isaac Howard, another private in the Dorset Militia
Regiment, who appeared to give evidence in the
previous case, was identified by Superintendent Pouncy
as being a defaulter of two years' standing in respect to
• fine for drunkenness. Howard said he should not
now pay the fine, and he was informed that if he
persisted in this determination, he would be placed for
six hours in the stocks, on his being dismissed on &tar-
next, from regimental duty. He replied that he then
would go into the stocks, and appealed to the Bench for
ita interference against the commanding officer of the
regiment for having ordered his hair to be cut short.
The Clerk said his hair was certainly very ornamentally
cut, but the Bench could not interfere unless they knew
that it was a case coining within their jurisdiction.
Defendant said he was at his billet, but not being in
bed by ten o'clock at night, his sergeant asked him why
be was still up, and he replied by asking him
" What the business it was of his."—The sergeant
said defendant was a great disgrace to the regiment, he
was always drunk, and they could do nothing with him.
The commanding officer ordered him to be ooufined 24
houn, and to have his hair cut close as a punishment
for his misconduct. Howard said the punishment was
greater than his desserts, but the Bench told him they
could not interfere.