The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-08-17 00:00:00

THE COLMER CASE.

The recommendation to mercy by the jlry,
was handed in written after their 'edit, era,.
follows :—" We strongly recommend them b.el
mercy on the ground of their age, and 11101
ground that death was accelerated by the jemmy Is
train, and by the deceased having to amend tide
flights of stairs on her return home.- The ..dir isee
/Gums/ says:—" Atre do not desire to my ..ne sent,
palliate the guilt of the convicts, or to I-St the pn.i.
to look on their crime as other than most olions sat
dangerous; but we would help to give effect to tle;
recommendation of the jury which the judge slid •
ceived it crusip7e4 in his howl, and made no &Ibis
to! The jury, rightly, hell the case pried,
considered that the character of the offmce dii at
call for capital punishment. It may be said by ;al
judge,—' That is my concern. You are /Wall* cy
functions in endeavouring to mete out the punis:.
ment.' But it may be retorted that a-ben yilzis
dictate to juries the verdicts they must return. all
refuse to receive a verdict of manslaughter inetea:
murder, they are usurping the province of in jury. ml
are provoking a conflict between judge and jury
may b' expected to issue in perverse terlict.. Tr;'
sentment of a jury is entitled to respect, an i n
can be justified in crumpling up a reconanendatia
mercy in • capital conviction. If that re ,nlinemitti
rested with Mr. Justice Hawkins there would le :itte
hope for the condemned ; but the Home Secreta7
should be made acquainted with the fact .:n which se
have commented, if any petition for mercy pes
It will be seen that the Warwickshire herbalist, ci
wall left for execution under precisely simile
circumstances, has already been repneved, and it may,
therefore, be hoped that like clemency will be exteoiel
to the wretched culprits in Taunton Gaol."
The prisoners were removed to Taunton last wet
arriving early on Monday afternoon. They Irea
accompanied by a male and female warder, all
happened to arrive just as the platform of the Otatt a
WM crowded with excursionists. Robert S. Nilo
was handcuffed, and the warder walked by his Si.
Mrs. Colmer was prostrated and miserable, and weed
scarcely able to walk, while she was supported by the
female warder. The prisoners were obliged ti be takes
through an inquisitive crowd.

THE COLMEBS' SENTENCE COMMUTED.
On Saturday • communication from ths Hem
office was received at Taunton. C.ll7lllnUtinz the seams
of ,iesth on Ribert Slade Colmer and Jane C.Mer.
who were convicted for the wilful murder f
Budge, at Yeovil, by an illeg•1 operation, to 004 ai
penal servitude for life.

In addition to what has been stated in the so*
papers on this all.abeorbing case, the 10116M114
tongue have not before appeared. The nofortutur
collect of the previous enquiry at Yeovil, and ea
sequently at Panoton, Elizabeth Fox, was a hoe pug
woman from Broadmayne, who had been in reepol•
able service at Rimpton, in the vicioity of the Is*
loner's residence. The eollcitor for the waitrons
was Mr. Weston, of Dorchester, the late Mr. Fri'.
of Sherborne, being retained for the defence, sod
will be reineinbereef that it was whilst prooredief
eprofeasional visit from that town, to Colmar's
Yeovil, the fatal accident occurred which resulted h
that gentleman's somewhat premotore and *dim
death. The Miss Davis referred to in the Pskt/roh
mentioned in the evidence ..f the Bristol 'nap/late si
Folios, was well-known in %Weymouth, whore *
lilted with Dr. o.,lmer, Jordan House" being tat
name of their establishment, and it was on the east iii
of the well-known Chspelry stairs. Miss Davi
achieved considerable notoriety, her name appearist
in the magisterial and registration courts. She war
of
granddaughter oef.tih
aetioanteeStlmmenell Wortbo
iossessed soryi;eEttd.
pert), under his will.