The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1886-04-20 00:00:00

BOROUGH POLICE COURT.

TrzaDar.—Before Mr. R. N. Howard (May_or). Dr.
Nathan, and Mama. Vinoont., Rowe, MoPliios,
Rolla, had Buck.

ZOCCAI

ITION

A number of suia7m-onses---h;lng.- —been taken out by
the School Attendance Committee, the Mayor,
alluding to several cases which had bees before the
Court on former oocavions, said that if fine* had not
the desired effect, proceings ought to be taken for
sending the children to industrial schools. and to coin-
pel parent. to pay for their maintenance when
there.

William King was ilii;ziesTl.Siii-th smuggling Ifi}lle.
of tobacco and a luarter•of.a.pound of cigars, with
intent to defraud H. M.'s Custoura—lt weared that
on the arrival of 3.8. Brighton, on Monday evening,
Mr. Irons, Customs' Alger, went on board, and found
the tobacco concealed there.—Dellendant was fined
61s• single duty and value, t 6 2s. 94., and costs.
Thomas Stone was charged with smuggling
611:e. 6ora. of tobacco. It was found by Mr. Vans in
the seaman's forecastle on the Brighton.- Ordered
to pay the single duty and value, LI 64. 54., and the
owes.

CHARGES AGAINST THI OWIOII Or A TPA tLLING

THEATRE.
WUiam Hamar, the OWDEf of • travelling theatre
at present situated on the North Plain, Weymouth,
was summoned for keeping a boom or public resort
for the public performance of stage plays, and
performing certain stage piers without the authority
required by the statute. Information had been given
by Mr. U., Wheeler, of the Weymouth Theatre
Royal.—Mr. Welsford prosecuted, and M.r. J. H.
Bowen
_defended.
. . . . .

Mr. Welalord, opening the case, explained the pro.
readings had been taken under the 6th and 7th
Victoria. 'They had not been undertaken by the
plaintiff in a vindictive spirit, but in the spirit of self.
preservation. Mr. Wheeler was at the present time
the sole proprietor of the Theatre Royal, and had, at
a great expenditure, completely transformed the build •
ing from an uncomfortable to a comfortable and neat
theatre, and had, in a most spirited way, provided •
theatre which was a credit to the town. The coin-
plainant ought not to be considered acting harshly in
Instituting those proceedings.
Mr. Wheeler was the first witneas examined. He
gave evidence as to hi. being the proprietor of the
Weymouth Theatre Royal He incurred great
expense in engaging high clams companies to come to
thatheatre. .

—Willies; 'Scott, engaged by Mr. Wheeler at the
theatre, spoke to smiting the defendant's theatre, the
construction of which he describe I; and Mr. Welsford
contended that it was to all intents a permanent
building. Scott also said ahem was a stage, footlights,
and other accessories of a theatre. .

The Mayor did not think the charge of keeping a
place of public resort could be sustained, the con.
struction of the theatre not being of a sufficiently
permanent character to bring the building within the
statute.

Superintendent Vickery'a evidence Wall that the
defendant came to the town leit year, but that be
iodwevinently left to avoid certain proceedings which
were going to be taken. He believed the defendant
t be a reapietable man, and that he condurted the
theatre watinfactorily. Defendant had previounly
vi.ited Dorcheeer, Bridport, and Yeovil.
A Mr. Bowen, ,dreiiiiing the Bench in defence, Wa4
•iirprised to hear it atated at the opening id the
case that Mr. Wheeler did not come forward for the
benefit of the public or bir ordinary juatice, but that
it was evidently for self-preerwvation for " Number
I 1tt.,," and tie ask the Court to confirm hi. inioneioly.
lle contended the entertainments given by the defen-
dant were such that they could not interfere with
Mr. Wheeler's at all. A hence, would only mist a
few ahiliinga, and the defendant would not have
committed the offence wilfully, and thug have run the
rink of having to pay a heavy fine.
Mr. l'elly limpet. Town Clerk, gave evidence to
the effect that the defendant applied by letter to have
the gneind for one month. He said in the letter "If
it i. necesaary to have a license for the time I aliall
In. glad to know." 'I he ground use let to the defen-
. dant at Cl a week. He did not give the defendant to
I understand that no license was needed, Neither
I • self nor the Corpora had anything to do with
the granting if the license.
Mr. Bowen explained to the magietrates, ere they
considered their delusion, that the defendant had
mouths to keep going" through the theatre.
The Bench considered the defendant had infringed
the Act of l'arliament in respect to the second offence
—that of
.performing stage plays, but that he had
dime so unintentionally. Under the circutietances he
would have to pay the very nominal tine of :la and
costs, and they endorsed that which had Men stated
as to the respectability of the theatre.
011•17111XTIoN,
James Brown was charged with obstructing King.
street, and challenging people to fight on April lith•
—The case was settled on payment of the ousts.