The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-07-05 00:00:00

IDorsesbitt.

MIDSUMMER QUARTER SESSION&

Ou Tuesday last the Midsummer Quarter Smokes for
this cotusty were opened at the Shirehall, High West
Street. When the business transacted in amemittee
had been gone through, an adjournment took place to
the Grand Jury Chamber, and at one °Week the Chair-
man took his seg. The following Justices were pre-
sent, :

The Bev. H. F. YILLINAN, LLB., Chairman.
Marko porsber, Esq. W. L. Henning, E.
J. J. Farquhanon, Esq. H. P. Cambridge, has,
John Eloper, Esq. C. J. Parke, Esq.
John Goaddes, Esq. H. Frampton, F.sq.
H. C. Gooddeo' Esq. 0. W. Farrar. Esq.
J. H. Caleraft, Esq. T. D. Bally, Esq.
Captain C. A. Manning. George Cartwright, Esq.
H. N. Widdleton, Esq. C. W. DigiaL,Esq.
Colonel RI. Lo /Wet. W. Eliot, ,
R. P. Okedon, req. Herbert Winnow, Esq.
W. C. Lambert, Each Rey. 3. A. Tempter.
COI. Edward Heathoote Rev. J. H. Austen.
Rev. C. W. Bingham.
_ TEI 000 m PRISON.

-- - -
Mr. POW's& read and presented the quarterly
-report of the Visiting Justices to tho Helm of
-Correctiou. The Justices had visited the prison and
found everything satisfactory. 89 males and 16 females
were in custody, and 3 males were in the infirmary.
There were 15 for trial at these sessions, vie., in custody
7 males and 2 females; on bad, 6 males. And for trial at
the next Assime—in custody, 3 males and 3 tweaks;
on boil 2 males and 3 females, total 11. There had been
committed this quarter 124—a decrease of 26 on the
corresponding quarter of last year; daily average of
prisoners 94—a decrease of two on the corresponding
quarter last year; punishments 11—• decrease of 3 ; re-
conunitinenM 33—a decrease of 5. The prim of bread
was the mune as during the corresponding quarter last
year, lid. pm lb. • the average pnee of meat vas also
the same. The da:bursemente for the quarter *bowed a
decrease compared with the corresponding quarter last
year of £44 llia. ld. The maintenance cost per head
van S.. 6d. Ll had been awarded to two prisoners on
certificates of good conduct., and the good conduct of
one prisoner throughout • long confinement had induced
the Visitors to give her L 5. A contract with the Dor-
chester Gas Company had been entered into for three
years at sa. 311. per 1,000 feet. The number of pri-
mates had been augmented by sailors being sent hem
the filet at Portland tor iniseonduct-11 bevies been
ern* during this Ammeter. The Visitors then adverted
keg* to a recommesidstion in the Government
Impostor's (Mr. Parry) report relating to the dietary,
some el the gaol imitates having lost in weight. 17
soners had lost in confinement 6 lbe. a man, but 10 had
Rained RM. rm. Perry aceordingly recommended more
food, but tlre Visitors were of opinion that loss in
weight did ..4131 prove less of health. Mr. Portlier con-
cluded 11 moving the adoption of the Report.
Mr- Uagatarr inquired from what fund the £5
grants 4 le • prisoner for good conduct had been taken?
N.r. Postage replied—the charity fund. The woman
InA behaved excellently during eighteen months, nod,
timing no sustenance for her eight children, the Visitors
meted the gift. She had done • good deel of work.
The CHAIIIIIAN said the complaint of the Inspectors
,of Prisons as to the diet of the prisoners was not new.
'Twelvemonths ago in Loudon he went through Cold-
listb-fields House of Correction and Wandsworth
Prison, accompanied by the Chairman of the Middlesex
'Court of Quarter Sessions (Mr. Pownall) and the Chair-
man of the Surrey Sessions. At that time he (Mr.
Yeatman) carefully inspected the diet tables of those
establishments and compared them with the work of the
prisoners. At Wandsworth the inmates were working
at "the creak." But from his own observation and
the experience of his companions he (the Chairman) was
satiated that the lose in weight of the prisoners was not
a proof et loss of health and strength. Why, were
remen who visited the Scotch moors on the 11th of
August on returning home in October weaker and less
healthy, though lighter? In pursuit of information on
this subject he (the Chairman) went to Aldershott and
thence obtained • solemn declaration in writing to the
effect that all the diminution in weight occasioned by
laborious work did not prejudice health. He therefore
thought that the Court ought to be thankful to the
Visitors for resisting alterations in diet, for it was well-
known that mental anguish caused • sensitive man to
loss in weight while a hardened fellow might gain dur-
ing confinement. The Chairman then put the motion,
which was affirmed.
Mr. Poscusa moved that John Mussel, Esq.
be added to the list of Visitors. This was unreel
to, and the Visitors were reappointed.
The CHAIRM•N read a letter from the Secretary of
State for War, calling the attention of the Magistrates
to that portion of the 46th section of the Mutiny Act,
as to deserter, being conveyed in civil custody to the
head quarters or depot of the regiment or corps to
which be belongs, and that the same be complied with
when practicable. The Chairman also placed on the
table • letter from the Treasury, stating that directions
bad been given to the Pay-master-General, to pay to the
County Treasury £l9B is. 3d. for the maintenance of
prisoners for the half-year ended Sept. 30, 1858.