The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-07-19 00:00:00

THY CHAROt.

His LoatPerilr then delivered the following vhsrze :
—Giotlemen, I am happy to inform you that the
cale,dar will not give you much tr uhl-. I don't
think there are any rases which rill call for any
special observation on my part. They are all of an
ordinary character, although there are ice or two on
which I wish LO pay a Mot' I Th, first case on
the calendar is one of perju-y, whi.in will require
some investigaton on your p.rt. It seems that
information wail laid by a person of the name
of Atney ag.inst John Wootton for an assault,
and the latter was c madded. The alleged perjury
Is that Wiusir, who is now indicted, gave evidence
upon that occasion to the effect that Wootton did
not strike, pr as the expression is, did not " bit " him,
and be is now charged with wilful and corrupt pointy
for having sworn to that effe,t. You will have
before you Hirers' witnesses. some of wh int say that
they saw the blow given. The detente that will now
be setup la that although Wootton did strike at Amoy
he missed him acid did not hit him, and it all appears
ti turn upon that, beam •e the justices* convicts I of the
assault. Now, that is perfectly c insistent with no
blow having been etruck, that Ist say th at be did not
hit him; therefore kits very critical question. The
present defendant cannot give evi lence, and then you
have this fact—you have his evidence on oath, which
was said ti have been false, against the oath of those
who are nos come against him. And then, besides
this, them an Amey, who was the pereoti then convicted,
says that although he did strike at him sever al times he
did not hit him. Perjury, no doubt, is • terrible
crime—• crime which lam e wry to say, upon the
increase iii many counties, and when established, no
' doubt it is a very oerioas c!ome, because i strikes at
the very foundation of justice, anl pollutes the whole
of the att. aam. My notion is that whenever perjury
is clearly made out, it is he duty of the justices that
prosecutien should follow; and it is equally serious and
dangerous to put men upon their trial, and they are
than acquitted, for it dose more harm than good. Tbe
neat ease is one of shooting with a loaded pistol, with
Intent to do grievous bodily harm. It may be—l don't
say it is, you must judge for yourselves—that that
offence cannot he established, and I think it will be
better you should have before you also an indictment
for en assault. The one is involved in the other, and if
you find a bill of shooting wi.h intent, you can *till
find a bill for an assault also, in order that I may deal
with the OW. The last Cage 011 the calendar is that
of a man named Prodecick Barter, which was only
added last night. It ie a case of rape. The prisoner
was committed, and then bailed so long age as July in
last year. The Case has never been tried, and the
prisoner has been out on bail. It I. rather an extra-
ordinary CMS. Of course the charge of rip, is a very
serious one, but the very fait of the juaticesi, having
given bail, shows that it was not of • very clear
ch .ractsr. I am told that at the Winter Assizes
storm prevented s 'inc of the witnesses attending, sod
that is why it was no; triad ia January; and here we
are now in the in ,cith of July, 12 m moths afterwsris,
and going t i try a cane 01 this sort. As the man is
out on bail, it is a terrisle thing to have a charge of
this sort hanging over a mel'a heat It la • case that
will require your careful consideratien Having
briefly stared the fact, of the allege I rape, his Lord-
ship dismissed the Grand Jury to their duties.