The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-04-12 00:00:00

FIRST COMIT.-WEDNESIDAT.

Bef re J. Floyer. Esti , M.P. Deputy-chairman.
au other mseiitratee. . .

The following were morn on the Grand Jury
Peek., Winterhorne Whitchurch ; Itarwell Bean. tt,
Slappowder ; IL °made, Breadmayne ; G. Dominev,
Weymouth; A. W. Groves, Dercheeter ; J. N.
Heyde°, Wienhorne; C. Hawkin-, Glanviles ; V.
King, Whnlerne Minster ; John Lanyon. Goethe..
ter; Thomien Lonnen, r 'ster; U. Mntford. Dor-
chester; J Old, Puildber ; F. Pope, I` Her
Parcorum ; J. Parsons I terchester ; IL Hamel% Port-
land; J. Rebbeck, Fentmell Meg ; F. Spicer,
Wintrith ; G. elymonile. %Vest Monekt Stene,
Shipton George; 11. Byrne... Weymouth; J. B.ker,
Short. Kingston; G. Too, Puddletrenthide; W.
Vatcher, It rtheeter.
The DIWTI-CHAIIIMAN charged the Grand Jury an
foil /we :—The c tlendar c tastes the netnes of nine
peeving for your re nnideration u ti whether they
*dieted be sent into this ,ourt for trial or not. Thin
Flambee in rather lean than that which we had to deal
witi on late oetwiona at this time id the year. Last
year there were 14 prisoners to be disposed id, and in
the year previous 13 prieeners were brought up for
trial at the coneepondine gee:does. That is id ceurse
,srtsatteheirneannt imaietihtveemetTieutt,
abu,ittolite
ehreaore to the
hl, he
, thaem(,otart
yesterd iy represeute that there were 15 more prisoners
apprehended in the past quarter than in the
cerresponiliag quarter id het year, while on fee
other hand, in the retuarne made for the O.v t
year the number of porcine enprehended 'ewe op an
againet 707 in the year 1879, so that on the whole
it appears as if there was net mech change in the stets
of the county with eezarit to its criminal condition,
althouth perhape on the whole there is nome alight
improvement. The Chief (*.mutable inclieled in his
report to the Court a statement which I always look
at, and which you will °enabler as one inviting, and
properly inviting, serious c unnideration, and that ix
with regard to the number of effences that are detected
In relation to those who cc undiscovered. It will be
at once obvious to you that along the different mean,
which we have if tepee vi g crime, perhape the mart
efficient of all its the degreo in which, when &nee.
are committed, criminals are discovered and brought
up for the infliction of that punishment, which im
attached ti that particular crime which they commit.
No doubt there are influences at work, such as
improved education, and I hop, and trust the greater
amount of interest taken by those in a higher position
In the world in the well.being, the employment, and the
good conduct of there in • lower position, will
tend to the due reduction of crime. But ;ethane
the most important of all is those who are
' criminally disposed sheuld have the influence on
their mind that if they do commit crime there is a
very great number, amounting we may hope, almost
to a certainty, that upon the commireion of any
offence, who will be iliecevered .nd brought op fr the
punishment that ought to be le flicie I upon them. It
Is therefore, I think, • matter of great importance that
I that statement should be made. such as the one I
have referred to, with regard to the number of ffencoe
which are discovered, and in which the offendere are
detected and brought up bet, re those who adminiet r
the law; and with reference ale, to the number who
are undetected, when we find that the number is small.
then we may be satiefied that the laws arc working
well, and especially that or police force Li effectil g
the important object 4 which it has in view, and for
which It is intended, and we may hope that al the
number of undetected crimes diminishes. so we may
hope that the administratien of the laws in effectual,
and that the prevention ~f crime, which in the great
object of all criminal laws, is carried out and accom-
plished. The Denuty-Chairmius then briefly alluded to
one or two of the canon, prineipally these id uttering
counterfeit ceinn, which he sail ne had rarely had the
opportunity of tryirg durine the 20 years in which he
I had the honour of presiding in thews Court&