The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-10-16 00:00:00

HAbIPKESTON.

Tus Cass or Elacauras.—The three men in
custody on a charge of sacrilege at Hainpreeton
church, were brought up on remand before the Poole
Bench on Thursday. They are—William Smith,
described as a labourer, of Birmingharo, Charles
Harrison, labourer, Clapham, and John Peters,
labourer, Newcastle. On Saturday afternoon, the
6th, the parish church was entered by taking out
some small panes of glass in a window near the
vestry, so as to make • hole large enough for • man to
get through. The velvet pulpit cushion was stolen,
with the brass candle holder*, and the curtain and
rods in front of the organ, valued altogether at a.
On Sunday morning, about half-past sir, the pro.
party was found in the yard of the London Tavern,
and taken to the police-station. In the course of
the morning, they were identified by a constable of
the county police force as having been stolen from
Hampreston church. About the middle of the same
day the prisoners were apprehended by Supt. Gifford
in Poole, in the clever manner detailed in our last
week's Untie. The evidence produced on Thursday,
was to the effect that the prisoners were 0040
lurking about the church on Saturday afternoon,
and later in the day, George Cberrett, who
was at hie father's blacksmith's shop in the
road between Poole and Langham, and saw two mcn
pass, with something under each of their costa One
had a parcel under his arm beneath his coat, the
I lame se that produced, and the other tarried some
red stuff under his coat, and two tassels, similar to
these produced, hung down. He watched the man,
but could not tell whether two of the prisoner@ were
the mama After • good deal of pressing, he swore
to Peters as one of them. It will be remembered
that when Supt. Gifford apprehended the men and
charged them, Smith maid "We did it," and the
other two said, "W• broke into • church." On
Sunday afternoon P.C. Reeks spoke to Peters in the
all in the hearing of the other., when Peters asked
the constable how long they would get, and said he
supposed they should get more for breaking into a
chorea than if it had been a house. Smit'i also said
to P.S. Hunt, It was only we three that did it."
They were committed for trial at the next alarm for
the county, and it is believed that all three have
undergone seothooes for previous oonvictioue—
Peters at Birkenhead, in 16.6.5, for robbery ; Harrison
for laroeny committed in the Metropolis; and Smith
at Birminghatn, in 1861, for Illeoll, when he MIS bell-
Wooed to penal servitude.

Wno SHALL !UN'S CH•1101 Or THE PRIDONIII3I
—A pretty quarrel bee arisen out of the Rampreston
sacrilege case. Ilampresten LI situated in the Wit.-
borne petty sessional division of the amity, and the
offence was committed at the church, but the pro-
perty wee found at Poole, and in that town the
pawners were apprehended. On Monday, the Bth,
when the three prisoners were brought before the
Poole magistrates, it was expected that six witneeses
would have beep in attendance to give evidence, but
not one appeared. A letter had been written to
Supt. Gifford by T. Rawlins, Esq., clerk to the
magistrates of the Wimbonee division, desiring him
to be good enough to obtain the sanction of Use
Mayor of Poole to hand over the accused to Sept.
Baynton. as the off, nos was oommitted in the county
and the majority of the witnesses lived near Wim-
borne,so that it would be to have the case beard at
Wimborne ; be also added that it was the wish of the
prosecutor that it should be heard at the latter place.
And it memo the witnesses had beea told on the
authority of Supt. Baynton (nothing doubting but
that Mr. Rewlins' request would be complied with)
that the case was to be heard at Wimborne, so their
going to Poole was unnecessary. The magistrates at
Poole declined to accede to Idr. Bowline' request,
remanded the prisoners, and issued summonses for
the attendance of the witneseas on Thursday. All '
were present save the Re*. T. M. Patey, of Ham-
presto., who, however, was represented by Mr.
Gillard, and be explained the absence of the rector.
The Mayor said that notwithstanding the saplana.
don, Mr. Patsy bad placed himself in an awkward
position, ass warrant might be issued. Mr. Wood
proceeded to my that there was every appeoranes
that the witnesses had been tampered with, which
was calculated to frustrate the ends of justice,
and said that the case would be laid before
the Secretary of State. Sept. &Tatou, who
was present, said, he totally denied the
truth of the insinuation.' that he had
tampered with the witnesses. The matter
was spoken of on Friday at the Wimborne
divisional petty sessions. and the law of the case was
reread to-11 and 19 Fiat., c. 42. a 22, which is
to this effect. Any person apprehended for an
offset* supposed to be oommitted In smother county,
and where it was nromeary to make arrangements
fo: the examination of wastages, 494., whenever such
pinion was brought before any justioss in England
or Wales, although they did not sit in the comity
or pleas where the offence was alleged to have been
committed, it should be lawful for such justices, and
they were thereby required, to examine
and reoeive evidence in support of the charge,
and if in their opinion such testimony was sufficient
proof against the person or persous accused, each
justice. should commit him or them to the gaol or
hones of correction, or admit to bail, and hind over
the Kossmtor or witnesses to give eyidenos at the
trial. B 4 if such testimony, should nor is the
opinion of the justices be imfacient to pin file amused
upon fried, dies the justices should bind over the
witnesses they had examined to give evidence, and
should order the accused parties to be taken before
some justice or justices in the division where the
offence is alleged to hare taken place, and, at the
same time, deliver the information and complaint,
the depthltiate sod rooonnisances, to the constable
who takes the accused before such jnetioss, and the
evidence taken by the first-nemtiosied jutiess Mt° be
deemed to have been taken in the ems and should be
transmitted to the clerk of the Court where the
accused are to be tried. Bonn conversation ensiled,
and the opinion of the Beech and the magistrates'
clerk appeared to be that though the Poole Bench
had • discretionary power to take the course they
had adopted, it was entirely contrary to practice,
and in this instance against the wish of the prawn.
tor, more inconvenient for the wit/muss, aad involv.
ing • greater call on the county rate than would have
occurred if the accused had been taken to Wimborim,
because Supt. Replica could have forwarded them to
Dorchester gaol without expense, whereas that is not
the case from Poole.