The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-25 00:00:00

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HIGHWAY ROBBERY ON THE WEYMOUTH
ROAD.

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A highway robbery under circumstances peculiarly
audacious, wen committed OD Monday night, the' 11th.
The victim is an old mu, named William Galpin, who
obtains • livelihood by letting for hire donkeys to
be used for agricultural purpoeee. He he. an in.
come of shout 1:25 • year by the rent of •
small freehold of hie at Greet Toiler, and, being very
sparing in his etpudlture, he has been enabled to place
a sum of money in the bank. For his position in
life he it • well.to-do inan. He is rather peculiar in
his dress and manners. One of his singularities is invs-
rum, carrying about with him n large sum of money,
plaord in ham troweer. s pocket, tied round with • string
to keep it from chinking and in safety.
For some time put, he has been lodging with
a man named William Sainways, shepherd for Mr.
Phelps, of Monate., but lu was about to return to
Toiler last Tueeday. On Monday evening, at the urgent
entreaty of Susways, the old man went with him ton
public-house at Ridgeway, where they remained drink.
ing till nearly 10 &dock. Galpin, with his habitual
ah•telsiousagos, drank but little, but Samways, it is
said,„ was well nigh drunk. When they bad reached
nearly to the top of Ridgeway•hill—the point where
there are two gates—Fumways said to the old man, "I
want to go to Sandhilli o see my sheep, you go on, I
shall be home as soon as you." He thereupon went
Into the held, and Galpin continued along the road.
When became up near to the next gate, a man sprang from
the bank, who had • coat placed over his head to hide
his face, seised Galpin round his body and threw him
down after • etruggle. lie muttered something.
The robber beat his head on the ground, injuring him
severely, sad rendeting him for • brief while insensible.
B. then took out •knife and out off the old tean's pocket
whieh contained but • few shillings short of 00. In
doing this he also cut away • portion of Galpin's shirt,
and made a slight wound in his thigh. One of the old
man's fingers was cut in the struggle. The highway-
man then decamped, going over Use gate towards the
railway. The old man staggered home. Subways got
in ehortly after him. Galpin related what bad micare
end S•mways bathed his head, pot him to bed, and
sleet with him that sight; but he gave no
information se to what had occurred. Prosecutor told
M. Phelps of the robbery, and that gentleman ac-
quainted the polite with it. Supt. Underwood forthwith
made inquiries, the ronaequenee of which wu that he
apprehended Safeway., on • charge of committing
the offence. Samways was brought up on Wedne.
day and remmided till Satords_y, when the
magistrate, present were H. William a, Eaq.
(chairman), Major Klndereley, and Major Astell. Mr.
Weston, of Dorchester, prosecuted. and Mr. Manley, of
Bridport, defended. The court we. crowded durisig the
hearing. Mr. Weston having given an outline of the
case, called

William Oalpin, the prosecutor, who said: I have
known the prisoner for many years,nd lodged in his house
• month before this occurrence. I have lodged at prisoner'.
house at Came and other plum. On Monday, the 17M.
prisoner asked me to go with him to Upwey, and 1000.
noted. We started about six o'clock. Before going
there, I assisted Sionwars, at his request, to grsod a knife
awl a par of eiriaOra. We went to some robliehouses
at Upwey. and Samwayspreesed me to rlsonk. I drank
some ale at John Waters,.; prisoner emoted me to drink
beer. We left Upwey at ten o'clock to go borne, and
went along the turnpike road cowards Monckton.
When we got to the top of the 1.41, where there is a
gate on either side of the roe!. the
.prisoner said be
must go to me some him* sod went 10 at the gate on
the left hand side of the mad. I went on down through
the cutting. and after I am" gone 000 yards, and was by
the nest gates, I saw some person coming towards me.
Hs had a blue ov-rooat over his head, and I mold
just we his face, He shouted " who-on," took hold of
nil around with both his arms, and after a struggle
threw me down. He then straek me on the left side
of my forehead. I think with s dint, which stunned me. '
I had • mar there before, and the new wound bled •
fees, and eat on my beak.
ho:dindes.lL
inkitssalygaptumat hiasa y
hmand towards my pocket. I
tried to keep him away. and be cut one of my fingers
on the right hand. The man put his hand directly to
my right head Pocket where I usually keep my purse,
end where it was that evening. It was • leathern
perm with two compartments, and I had no in it—l 9
govereiges, half•aeovereign, and 10s. in silver. The
purse was put in the pocket, which was then fastened
round with • leathern strap. The man cut the pane clean
off, with a bit of my shirt, and the knife cut my side.
I than now the man go away with the coat on, instead of
over his head. He had no hat on when he came tome;
but erten he went away he had a hat on very mucl
like mine. He went through the gate on the Herring-
stone side. The prieoner, when he went to Upwey, had
a akevemaistmat on, a slop on his Irak, and a Sat-
crowned hat. I then went home to prisoner's house. and
10 minutes afterwards prisoner mime in. I could riot
see what be brought with him as I wee standing with
my bulk to the door talking to his mi.sus. When he
came in be said " Lord have mercy upon me," and sat
down in • chair. He assisted in washing my face and
afterward, bound my head up. I then went to bed,
and was "terrible ill" from the effect of the blows all
night; I did not know what I was about part of the
time. When I was attacked I hallined "shepherd" and
"murder" as load as I could. When the shepherd
deemed my head, I asked where he was when I
hallooed. and he said be did not hear me. The follow.
jog day I told Mr. Phelpe of what 000urred, and Mr.
Phelps cornutnnicated with the pdice. The hat pro-
duced is the prisoner's, and the one he had on when we
went out. The ooat is similar to that which the man
had over his head. The waistooat is similar to the one
prisoner bad on that night • the slop I don't know.
Crows-examined by Mr. Manley: I did not drink above
a pint and • half of de at Upwey. Prisoner had bad
"enough," but mild go on eery well; he was n2l much
the worse for liquor. At the time I wuassanited I had
no idea it was the prisoner. It was a moonlight night.
During :he minute I was stunned the man might have
searched my other pockets. I 'isn't tell how long I wax
'l..was Ws were struggling perhaps ten minutes. Have
known the shepherd all his life. I could sot recognise
the shepherd's voice in the noise he made. I know his
voios very well. I was hurt terrible. Prisoner might
have been home without my seeing him. I turned
round as soon as pri.oaer mme in, and he oat down
directly. He had the sleeve-waistcoat on than. I
never saw any slop or hat. My head and finger were
bleeding when prisoner assisted In washing me, and
blood would be likely to get about his clothes Prisoner
was a quiet man, and one I intaglio. would be frightened
at coming in and seeing me in the state I was. He did
not suggest sending for • doctor that I remember. I
asked him to stay with me all night, and be did sleep
with me. I said nothing about telling anybody of the
occurrence. I fell down at Monekton when coming
from Weymouth noes, and got a wound on my fore.
bead. Prisoner's Wheel' said I bad better haves doctor,
but I declined, as I knew what to do myself. I liked
keeping it quiet. The £2O had been in my purse all the
summer. All the gates spoken about open into &Us
which are part. of Mr. Phelps' farm.
Supt. Underwood deposed: On Tuesday last I went
to *nekton at 11 o'clock, where I saw the prosecutor
in bed with his head bruised and a cut in his aide and
on one finger. He told me be h •,1 been robbed and
beaten on the Monekton-rosd. I went up the road and
Mw the spot where a muffle bad taken place, and •
pool of blood In the rood near the four pies. I went
farther en the road up to a gate leading into a green
field on the Monekton side. r some footmarks and
ei.vered them up. I was in company with P.('i. Army.
1 then went to the lambing place in the green field, and
just inside the turnip field I new similar marks. 1
trued the footaisrks all the way down the ficlil a few
yards from the hedge. I covered 'event up. By the
aide of the footmarks there were two gaps in the hedge.
There were several footmark+ up to both gape and from
them. The rams I traced from the last gap down to
the gate opposite the road where the straggle took
place. I also found similar footmarks on the
Herringstons side, which also led up to where the
struggle occurred. Thrre was also • foot-print on the
bank on the same side. I afterwards went to prison. r's
house and saw him there. I examined the boon and
told prisoner 1 should take him into euetody for stealing
LW from Glalpin and assaulting him the previous nigh,.
H• made no enswer. I examined the shirt he had •sn
and found blood on both the deem., and be hal also •
knife with blood on It; both of which I produce A
pair of tromers which prisoner was wearing were also
bloody; likewise • waistcoat, which I found hanging in
the pas.age, with blind on both sleeves at well as on the
back and front. A blue coat I also produces which I
foend in the passage. A hat I received from witness
Lake. I fonel 17s. 71. in his pocket, and upstairs IV
in gold, and El DK in silver. I Ifs the wife 10a of the
money and took the rest, which I now produce. I went
op the Monoliton road with the boots' in company with
P.C. Arm, and compared the boots by making a print
by the side of the marks I had previously covered
op, and they corresponded exactly. The clothing
belmoung to prommtor was also produced. Who Was
called, and mid the esireral articles wen his. Illeaboloat
• watch and chain, the ease of which, ant the chain were
produced. Prosecutor found these while looking for his
bat. The web., dial, and inner cresol the watch were
gone.) Sept. Vnelereood was then cromexamlned
The wife handed the money to me, 40,1 I gave her 104.
P.C. Army said I accompanied Sept, Underwood to
Monekton on the Illth, and saw the place on the rise of
Monekton Hill, when the atruirgle took place, and alse
saw the tracks &pined to by stmt. Underwood. About
30 yards from the gate on the side of the turnpike
I picked up a piece of • shirt, corresponding with
prosecutors shirt, and • part of • pocket, which
also corresponded with the pocket of prosecutor's
trousers. I then went to the hem of prisoner,
with the auperintendent He went up stairs whil.t
1 stopped down in the kitchen, The prisoner told
me he 1.4 t the prnercotor on the top of the hill, •nd
mem deem by the railway, which is situated on the
Herrings one side of the road. I accompanied Supt.
Underwent when he went with the boots to the tracks,
and they corresponded in every particular.
Mr. John noel. surgeon, stated I visited the
c.,!? :nu
,1".. am;
roantmoutlpTdryowitilia da
ditcrub
whether it
tiact al, a.dfound h
to im
in
a very
difficultfund. f o
thatr form,
natural
I dhmil :dP make
verythim
n
severe medallion on the back of hi. head
which there were several 1 .ted wound,la addition
t°
ieclined to think all of them meld not haves:e and
I am
by one fall; the contusion might. Its had alasoaroducad cut on the third firmer of the right hand. Th a
severeen
two or three lesser seta on the back of the sonicae hanwad'a
He had two Inched wounds just over the right 6'p This morning ha is an altered man, and the probehith;
is that the injuries he received were Saalaisult to make him in the state in which I found him.
J.mm Lake deposed I am labourer for Mr. Phelps. I
found the almpherd's bat last Tueeday mooing in the
corn field on the Herringstone side or the road. I 1611./
some blood no the road the same morning. 'The field
whi•re I found the b.t was adj doing. I heard prisoner
12 months ago say Host prosecutor carried some money
in a bag,and I have since board him speak of it. I took
the hat home to the shepherd', wife because
certain it was hi,.—Cmasexamined I have known the
prosecutor and prisoner well for sometime, and prisoner
had told me that Oalpin lived bard considering his
minas.

Mr. Miehael Miller, • resident of Fordington, Bald : I
wee returning home from Monckton on thee...tined the
occurrent*. when I he•rd • man calllng out "Shepherd"
In • very loud voice. It tem about • mils from where
I was.

P.C. 014 &posed : I brought up lb* prisoner from
gaol to-day, and on his way ho amd, "After this you
wool ouch I drinking any men ; bat I duet ma how
they ceu hart ma u lb.,