The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

Donsetsbire.

WEYMOUTH.— Total A bet ix, wee. —Two lectures in
advocacy of toe-total principles were given at the
Townhall on Thursday and Friday, by the Rev.
D. F. Sunderland. The 'subject of the first was
" The Temperance movement worth more than it
costa." The chair was taken by the Her. H. Pat"
hewn, and the attendance, chiefly of the working
clam, very numerous. The lecturer in demonstration
of his proposition, stated that total.abstinenco would
cost, in the first place, only a little inconvenience.
that merely imaginary; but in a pecuniary sense
there could be no question of its being worth e
than it cost both individually aml generally, since
through teetotalism four millions per annum had
been saved to the British public, comparing the last
three years with twenty years ago, and during the
latter period no less than forty million. hadleen
'eyed, which lint for the total abstinence movement
would have been wasted in drink. By saving lie
nitwit, that hundreds of thousands hail been able to
provide furniture, clothing and education fi'r their
children with the money, which would otherwise
have been squandered in drink, but for teetotalism.
Again, the trading and operating classes derived
ewe benefit from money expended in this inanuer
than from money spent in drink ; for inshuice, of
speut in drink, only Ills. ed. went in labour, lint
if the same aniount were laid out in useful articles,
the proportion accruing to labour would be
lid. 61 He also I iuoted the opinion of 31Ir.
Neilson, the eminent actuary, that a young man com-
mencing the practice of drinking at twenty years of
age would on an average shorten his life twenty
The lecture of the following evening was on
The Social and Domestic Blessings of Total Abati-
nen," The chair was taken by the Bev. T.
hichards, IVoilleyan minister, of Dorchester, who
commenced the pro?.ectlings by alluding very earnestly
to the evils Melia. eel by intemperance, which lie
designated as "the giant curse of our times—a many
hailed curse, every head having many mouths,
every mouth 'many tongues, and every tongue many
stings." By intemperance our nation is demoralised,
our jails filled with felons, our commerce is iiijured,
our ships are wrecked, our merchants beggared, anti
last, though not least, many A home is converted into
a scene of misery and 'bacon', and many wives and
children rendered the very incarnation of wretched•
nets and poverty. The lecturer then expatiated ou
the advantages of teetotalism, and adduced uuwerous
instances of the blessings which hail resulted from
the adoption of temperance principles, which he
rejoiced to state were daily on the increase. At the
close of the meeting it was proposed by Mr. Skemp,
of Portland. and seconded by the Rev. Mr. Denning,
That in the opinion of this meeting, the traffic in
strong drink on the Lord's Day is °Newel to all
sound morality and Scripture truth—that it would
tend to elevate our country, and prove • grist
blessing to all classes, if all public-houses were
entirely closed on the Sacred day." Votes of thanks
were also passed to the Lecturer, the Worshipful the
Mayor for the use of the Hall, and also to the
chairman. Twenty "pledges" were signed during
the two evenings, and £2 was the result of both col-
lections.

WILT 1101.:TH COUNTY COURT. —.VOOrt V. Jeffries.
Mr. W. J. Hill for plaintiff, and Mr. Cornelius fur de-
fendant. An action to recover Iwo came, containing
articles alleged to be worth M. Plaintiff was clerk to
Mr. Smithery, proprietor of the Gloucester Hotel, and
defendant landlord of the Albert Hotel. Plaintiff in his
evidence stated that he was taken to the Albert Hotel in
August, 1858, by his employer, Mr. Sinithers, and staid
there some time. In December following, he deposited
at defendant.' house two cases, containing articles to
the value of L'2o, as security fur £lO which he had bor-
rowed of &person in VVeyinuuth. Gave a bill of exchange
for the amount, and paid it when due, with El interest,
to defendant's attorney, Mr. Howard, who wrote to Mr.
Jeffries stating that the money Laving been paid, the
caws must be given up. The application was refused
—also a second request of the mine kind. Had never
agreed with Mr. Howard or defendant that the cases
should be retained as a security for Mr. Smither's bill.
Had received All account fur a portion of hie bill, and
wrote to Mr. Smithery respecting it, but received no
reply. A bill of exchange WM drawn on Mr. Smithery
for the al/101111S of his bill to defendant. Could swear
the signature was that of Mr. Smithery. Defendant's
bill was EU 4e., for sixteen weeks' board and lodging at
two guineas per woek. In cnea-examination plaintiff
said the bill was inude out in his own name. Dill nut
recollect Mr. Howard ever asking fur this amount, only
for the £lO. Had never said " I really ought to pay
Mrs. Jeffries, but I sin waiting for money from Lonilon.h
Being questioned as to his last situation the witness with
reluctance said he had been steward of the East India
I lull, and after some evasive replies admitted that pro-
ceding* had been taken againat him on account of • I
deficit of I:8 having been found in his accounts. De-
dined to state if he was on 'tted to prisow—Charles
I liittenden proved having taken the cases to defendant's
house by the instructions of plaintiff, and went
again for them at plaintiff's rc mest. Defend-
ant's wife refused to let them go until she
had received money from plaintiff. In defence iii
was urged that the cases were deposited as a security
for the general hill. Mr. It. N. Howard was then
called, and deposed that lie had applied to plaintiff fur
payment of kW, and also received instructions from
Mrs. Jeffries to apply to him for • debt of above CM.
Plaintiff expressed his regret at being unable to settle,
but was expecting remittances from Mr. Szeithers, and
would no doubt he able to pay in a short time. Witness
declined to wait, whereupon plaintiff said lie would
leave some goods of his own with defendant if he would
wait. He also wished witness to apply to Mr. Stnitlien
for both debts, and said Mrs. Jeffries need not lie
alarmed as he would see her paid above any one. He
stated that a large sum was due to him, and if he
received • remittance lie would he able to pay. With
his client's eminent witness wrote to Mr. Smithers for
the £lO, and also for the other amount. Received no
reply to this application. Plaintiff said it was very
strange, and suggeded that • bill of acceptances! Id be
taken from Mr. Sinithers, and that lie would leave the
cams (value 1:211) as security, if Mrs. Jeffries would
wait for her hill. Mrs. Jeffries consented, awl he
wrote to Mr. 8111101. ms. Plaintiff subsequently mill Mr.
Smithers would give hie acceptance for three months,
and witness drew it up in his presence, pencilling the
address " Gloucester Lodge," and making it payable at
Eliot's Bank. Mr. Sinither's acceptance not havieg
arrived he wrote to Mrs. Jeffries to open the cases.
Received all aceeptatice on the 4th of January. When
the bill for the Ell was due lie paid it, and witness
gave ur. the acceptance. Plaintiff then requested a note
from Mrs. Jeffries to give up the cases. Witness wrote
accordingly, stating that as the Ell was paid she would
have to deliver up the cases. Plaintiff inforniesi him
that MIA. Jeffries had refused, a ul witness, subscomently
finding that Mrs. Jeffries had a right to detain the pro-
perty, apprise-it plaintiff of the fact, and told him that
the only result of his taking out • summons would be to
show how lie had obtained the £lO. 4'n...examined
Was not then acting as solicitor both to plaintiff and
defendant. Had previously told plaintiff lie was so
disgusted with hie and Mr. Siiiither.s conduct that he
should decline acting for them. Did not know at the
Wee that plaintiff was clerk to Mr. Stnithers. Mary
Jeffries, defendant's wife, stated that plaintiff came to
her house with Mr. Sinithers, and she maiiiiiiieslated
hon. After wine days he said, "I am likely to he
here some time, and you must not charge me the regular
hotel prices, but be all moderate as possible. She
lamed two guineas per week, to which plaintiff
assented." At his request she presented liii, his bill
in November. He mid he was waiting for • remittance
from Mr. Sinithere, and could mint pay until he received
a remittance. She afterwards read • letter received
from Mr. Howard, telling her to open the cases. He
wm much &strewed. She told him she had no a i.h to
40 what Mr. Howard advitied, and the MACS had never
been opened. Mr. Cornelius here applied to have the
cases opened. The Judge said it was rather • novel
request. The WIC/ had been sworn to as worth an
'ouch. The question was whether the statement
of that witness was to be credited. Ile (the Judge)
had no power to onler the openiug of the &warn.
Plaintiff objected to the c.lieds being opened in the
public court, but lie did not object to their being
examined in the presence of a few persons. Directions
were then given to that effect. —Mrs. Jeffries was then
eroaivexamined, and stated that when Mr. Smithers
brought plaintiff to her house, he did not represent huiii
as hie clerk. He only requested her to accommodate
"this gentleman." Plaintiff told her the cases were
deposited as a security fur the debts, and it was ar-
ranged that in the event of payment not being made,
one-third the value should go to the party lending the
110, and the rest to cover the debt to defendant. Um.
fendant was then called, and stated that just before

plaintiff left the house he CAIIIC into the b..r, and told
the cases were to remain until his Lill wee paid.—
. . . . . . . . .

Two si;lieel-cliairusaii, John Wis.lsford and 'James
Knight, now presented themselves, and deposed to
having opened the cases, and examined their contents.
Tisey read a list of the "valuable articles," which con-
of heterogeneous rubbish, as dust-pans, tin can-
rioters, boot-jacks, k.c., with some china and comuion
ware, which Mr. C. Smith, being called in to value, set
clown as worth about £4 iisc—Mr. Hill declined to reply
nu behalf of the plaintiff.—The Judge : Nu doubt my
i,l.lginent. must be for the defendant.—Mr. lull: I was
quite taken by surprise at the evidence with regard to
the cases—The Judge : Well enough you may may to.
61 • verdict be entered for defendant with all expenses
allowed. I congratulate the people of Weynsouth on
this trial having been heard in an open court. They
sill know what to do. (Applause.)—Mr. lull: I
'rrY much grieved at the result of this action. 1g hen
my client mune to me he represented such and sushi to
he the case. It WU after the plaint was entered lie
applied to me. I hail no idea such evidence was coining
out, if I had I should, in all probability, not have taken
the atm.—The Judge: You could only go on what your
client told you. Who takes this valuable bill of ex-
change? Mr. Sinithers' acceptance; the gentleman who
huts taken the hotel? (Laughter.)
c.." C. Fort.— .% claim of t:4 45., arrears of rent for
hslgings at Pulteney Buildings. Mr. Steggall appeared
for the plaintiff, and Mr. Cornelius for defendant. Mns.
(Cu atisted that defendant and his wife came to We).-
month in April, ISM, and took her lodginga at I:2 2s.
per.week, hut defendant agreed to pay four guineas
ebinng the season from June to the end of September,
with ilk. 6d. extra for an attic used by the servant.
After that period plaintiff informed defendant that if
they stopped until April she would charge two guineas
Per week. On this they agreed to take the rooms for
six months, but hail since left, after giving a fortnight's
notice. In defence it was alleged that the agreement
vsn only for • weekly hiring. Mrs. Fort, defendiust's
Ints, was called and stated that Mrs. Cox sail she would
take two guineas a week if they staid till the end of
March. Witness replied that she could not say she would
take the lodgings for six months, but they would
Peo,hahly stay that time if comfortable. They were not
satisfied with the lodgings and gave notice to leave.—
Mr. Lawrence Fort, the defendant, was also sworn.
The Judge thought defendant was not agare of the
extent to which he had gone in law, and that when he
"tagmed he was avoiding an agreement for • long period
was in fact using words which legally amounted to
'itch In agreement. It was quite clear plaintiff would
not have let the lodgings for £2 2a. to a weekly tenant,
and moreover all the previous agrvini nta had been for
Wig periods, lie must Linn:lore decide the cage on the

prohahllit,ies, and give a verdict in favour of the
i,6;autf—iiet, !weever, on the ground that had beew
suggestod. of defendant and his wile having sworn to an
untruth, but that they had put a emiatruction on their
words nut ountemplated by Um Lie. Judgmeut for
plaintiff.
HAWltelibltelL-111 the early part of December
last John Baker, who was then living with hie
mother, a widow, at Ridge Farm, mar this place,
stole a horse aud eart (non his mother. He was em-
ployed on the railway, hauling stone ; he returned
home one day without the horse mid cart. and on
being questioned about them will that he had left
them at 'fythei !mei, oil that a man mimed Bate-
stone had agreed to keep the horse a few weeks fur
its work ; but when his brother went after it Bate-
stone refused to give it up, saying that he hail bought
it of Baker. The brother retunied home and told his
mother of the circumstance', and Baker at once
got a policeman and went with him and her sun to
Tytherleigh, but could not remover the lost property.
A week or two afterwards the horse and cart disap-
peared from Tytherleigh, and were afterwards seen
at Horne, and in a short time one Thomas White,
at ehapney .Nlarsh, had got them. and John Baker
way then lodging at White's house. White said that he
had bought them of Baker, and produced a receipt
to prove that he had paid for them. Mrs. Baker sent
two of her sons, one day last week, to White's; one
of thou went into the stable and took the horse, and
the other went and told White that they had got it.
The horse was soon at Hawkehurch, and in a very
short time White was here to get the policeman, but
he could not get the horse; so Mrs. Baker has now
got her property again.

_
Town Ilull.—John Crumb, boat*
man, in the employ of Messrs. Bagehot, was brought
before J. Parsons, Esq., portreeve, charged wtih
stealing coal from his employer's yard. acting-sei-
geoid Collins said that at 5 o clock in the morning he
was near Messrs. Bagehot's yard, when he saw the
prisoner go to a heap of coal, and put a Large knob
on his shoulder ; he was carrying it over the bridge
towards his house. when the policeman stopped him.
The prisoner then threw the coal on the parapet of
the bridge, and it fell into the river. The Aker
then toelt him into custody, and after locking him
up he again went to the bridge, and found the re-
mains of the coal on the parapet of the bridge. The
prisoner was defended by Mr. Blake, who stated
that he hail said it was a clump of wood and not
coal. Mr. Blake cross-examined the witness at some
length, and elicited from him that he (lid not show
his light, that it was quite (lark, and that if the pri•
miner had brought anything from the boat he could
not have teen it. In addressing the court, Mr. Blake
said he thought a jury could not convict the pri-
soner upon the evidence before them, as it was as
likely to be a piece of wood as coal; he would there-
fore Ask his Worship to inflict a tine on the defend-
ant for wilfully damaging and destroying his masters'
property, and he hoped that this would fairly meet
the case, and have the desired effect.— Mr. Bagehot,
one of the firm, was sent for, and said that he had
no desire to press the charge, and that up to this
time he had heard nothing against the prisoner. The
portreeve theieupon tined the prisoner Is., and
costa, for wilfully destroying his employers' pro-
perty.

I..rxic. —A vestry, which was numerously at-
tended. was hell here on Thursday week, to consider
the advisability of appointing a paid overseer, and
of making a common sewer in tit. Michael-street and
a pathway to the Cobb. The paid-overseer question
was adjourned till March, and the waywardens were
directed to make inquiries as to the expense of the
other two matters. Col. Pinney, the borough mem-
ber, has liberally offered to give land for a footway
which would make an attractive walk.