The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-01-25 00:00:00

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY A BOY AT CHILD
OKEFORD.

Charles E imunis, aged lt, labourer, &earthed u of
Imperfect education, was charzol with unlawfull7.
maliciously, and feloniously wounding Sarah Tizsard,
with intent to kill and murder Ler, at Child Okeforct, on
Dem:ober 10th last.

Mr. Csatle prosecuted, and Mr. B. F. Lock defended,
instructed by Me. Artkur Lock.
Mr. Cutle, baying opened the cast, called

,spume _
intelligent as some boys.
The Judge : There are • gond tnetly boys not so bright
sa some; is there anything that would lead you to !suppose
there is any digitate of the mind?
Witness: I can't goes tar as that.
P.C. Varcher said he went to Haywood hedge He was
let in by David Moore. He saw Sarah Tiszard sitting in
• chair bleeding very much. There was alao • lot of blood
about th.• house. He aporebendi.d the prisoner In the
Wills, and nn charging him with intent to murder he
said ' I know I did it, but if you'll let me go I won't un
it any 'nor,- At Haywood Li ige he found the bar and
a knife fiiroduc
Supt. (Ir.int stated he rememb-red the prisoner being
brought t the station. He was covered with blood. Ile
complains being ill, and of his arm tiling broken.
Mr. Targett, a surgeon, examined him and found a tut on
his head. end on his asking him how he ruins by It the
prisoner said "I owed her some money and I oould not
pay it."
Mr. L ,ck could not deny that the charge WY • thr,Pt
serious one. There were two charges in the indictment
first that the assault was with intent to murder, and the
second, to do grievous bodily harm. It was open to them
under a wirticulsr ststete to find him guilty of the minor
offence of unlawfully woun ling. Alanntine for the
moment everything that the prosecitrix had said.
it was as clear as possible had hi. intent/on
been to murder be could have committed the
offence and could have killed her when she was lying
insensible on the ground. He coot .nded the conduct of
the prosecutrix was • little doubtful. He could not deny
the assault, end the prisiner would admit that in the
aggravation of the moment he took the bar with the
intention of frightening her. He inked them to take as
lenient a view of the case ae they possibly could, and give
as merciful consideration to the evidence as they
reasonably could do. He made • forcible appeal ti
the jury to temper justice with mercy, which was one iif
the cardinal and centre points In the administration of
the English law. From that point of view, and taking
into consideration the good chorea w which the prisoner
had previously held, end the aggravation which the I'OY
had received by the incessant accusations on the part of
the prosecutriz of stealing her money, he asked them to
take as lenient view of the came as they possibly could.
Mr. Lock salted permission to cal Mr. Brymer to give
evidence as to his character.

The Judge gave consent, and
The Rev. Mr. Brymer, the rector of the parish in which
the ;prisoner had lived, said he bat known him for nearly
seven years, and hat never known any complaint against
him in any way. He had been exceesively quiet, and of •
good disposition. When he first beard of the 'smolt he
refused to believe it.
The Judge: Rave you noticed anything strapss about
him mentally 1
Mr. Brymer: I have found it very difficult to teach him
some subject., such as atitlemetic—in fact at the last
examination be tailed in that subject.
The Judge: That would not show any disease of the
mind—if so, there would be • good many people of
diseased mind. (Laughter.)
In summing up, the Judge called attention to the attire
of the instrument and the character of the wounds, in
crier for the jury to arrive at the intention of the
mieoner. He wax bound to say Kr. Lock lied def .n.led
the prisoner in • very able and sensible speech, and had
called their attention to the facttlutif the boy had wished to
murder her he could have done so. He did not do it,
and they must take this es • great point in his favour.
If they did not think the charge of intent te murder was
made out, then they would have to consider whether the
charge of wounding, with intent to do grievant bodily
harm, had been proved. It was • very sad case, and one
deeply regretted to see a boy of that age in such a
position. At the same time it was their duty to find such
• verdict which would meet the exigencies of the rase.
After • very brief deliberation, the Jury found mieoner
guilty on the minor charge of wounding with intent to do
grievoun bodily harm, but recommended him to mercy.
The Judge: Oa what ground/
A Juror: On the ground of his age, my lord
The Judge : That Is the only ground.
Addressing the prisoner, the judge said: It le fortunate
for you the Jury has taken such a merciful view of the
case. If Sarah Timard had died you would have been tried
for your lit sand I should have left you under the sentence
of death in the town. I scarcely know what to do
with you. It would not be desirable for you to be sent
to penal servitude for a long time, or to be imprisoned
for a long time. The best thing I can do with you is to
order you ii be imprisoned for one month, and then that
you be sent to a reformatory ler five years—that reforms.
tory to be hereafter named,
The prisoner was then removed,

Sarah Timer& *wet I-4 reseed resp,ctahle-looking woman,
who said she was a servant living at Haywood Lodge.
Ames, the gardener, hermit and the prisoner were left in
charge of the house. In Octob,,, last year, she mimed
some money, and she aft,rwards missed 36. On the
Wednesday evening in question she told the prisoner she
had mired the money, but he Reid he bad not touched it.
He came in the kitchen, and she said "I have mined
corns money (ruin my purse, someone must have taken it.
Priemer said he did not take it. She said "If you do not
nftnn it t,r, PIC you will know the consmcnonosa Prisoner
said "You won't tell Ames, will your and she replied
" No, not if you will being it back." She tried to encourage
him and spoke kindly to him, and on Friday be brought
back 3.. Oct Friday. December 10th. she said "Charley,
bring in. back the rest of my money, won't your and he
replied "All right." In the evening she woo having:
with Arne, and the ;trimmer. They both went out
Ore o'clock and left her in the house. Some Urns
, afterwards she heard a noise at the window is of gravel
being thrown; she also heard footsteps She beard the
prisoner call " S aela," and she got up to let him in.
Before she got to the door he wm inside, as the door was
not locked. He had an Iron bar (produced) in him hand.
She maw another bar standing up outside the house. Hs
bad the smaller one in his bend. She went into the
kitchen and sat down to her work. Some conversa-
tion took place shout mending his slippers. She saked
Min what be hid the bar for, and he said his father said
it would do to stand the dipper on. She said "That is
not much good for that.' As he did not sit down, she
began to feel rather iinea.v. He put the bar up to his
shoulder, and the said" Whin* are you doing that fort"
Ile replied "Tbs. won't hue.' She told him to put It
down, which be did, but put it up again. He than
went and locked the door. On her asking what he di i that
for, he said he did not know, and went and unlocked it
again. Directly afterward* he st ruck her with the bar on the
left side of her head. She felt stunned, but tried to get as
far as the door. She fell down by the shoe's-cupboard:
could not remember if he struck her again, ee she was
stunned. She looked up and saw him searching for a
knife. He found one, and came towards her with It Shoo
could not tell if he dig sari bins with the knife She got
up and they had a struggle at the door, and he said,
"Come in be kitchen; do you think I can't manage you.
lie came behind her, pat his hands around her, took seine-
thing from his pocket, and put it in his month. She
sould not tell what it WIN. There was more struggling at
the door, and he mill continued beating her on the back
of the bend, hut nn• rn bud a. before. She fell down In
the servant.' h aid he still h 'at her with the bar. She
tried to wrenrh the hir from him, and screamed, but he
pot hie hand ov..r her mouth. In the struggle he said,
'Oh toy head r and ehe asked. "What is the matter,
Charlie, did I hut 'quit" liu .*id, "Yes." She saw a
blow on hie forehead. She mad, "I did not mean to."
He replied, "I know you didn't, I always loved you. I
should not have done it, but I did not nice your
you not tell roe this before, and not beat
and I was afraid you would tall my father. ' She then
•. I did nothing to deserve this treat-
maisseeidn i.h°.". uWtHhinystdoshidi.id7"'No, Sarah. I know you have not; I
am so vexed. If you will let go, I will put it down, and
won't strike you again," She asked, you teak
out it down!" and he replied, "Yes, will,Sarah.
W,tneen let go the bar, and he than put it down.
Prisoner said. "What shall we do; shall we go up to
Arne. and say a meat follow has boon and almost killed
you and heat me r She said she did not fool well enough
to go, and ultimately he went alone. She then went out
and met the Postman, D 'yid Moore, sad he remained with
her till Ames retwued,
Dteid Moore gild eiens a letter-carrier, and in the
course of his duty pawed lie, wood Lodge. On the day in
question be Passed about ten minutes pest seven. Ile met
the last witness. She was trembling and in great fear.
The polio* MON up, and she was taken back to the house.
There was blood in the passage and on the well, and some
In the kitchen. Sarah Timard we. Gouged With blood
Ige• tarpon, was oaf for.

Walter Aqui. said he was', gardener te Mr.. Hoy weed,
end on the cley in question he wee with fiereh 'fused and
the pet. el, en &ergo of th . h ma,.. 0' the 10th ed
Doc •rn'•er he eras at tea wth ii, ••.u. ad i-i and the
prison •rift the house tog Veer. When tia• eit aqu -rur
of a toil, from the house they wopersted. Ai.oeit an boar
afterwards he came to hi. h mei COV“fO.I wit', blO-A, M. d
his um hell up nu if it was injured. He odd " Oli,
Ames. do yin down, there', • area, fellow has been with A+ an atrhori y it, all in taus relating to the weather,
an Iron hu and nearly killed Sarah and me." Me directs I allusion is gener•ly male t. the memory ~1 the oldest
the pris mar to go and giv • information to the police inhabitsnt, and once more we think it will puzzle the
Witnes. went ti the battle) and fount • great dest of blood
tummy of tie I.lnresVtleind t,f our " el.leat inlubitenta."
on the ft ,o 4 end In the pessa:e. The b .r. (Pr edece.o
were let in the tool-house, which was locked. Tee key for there are goner .:iy .c goodly number, to conjure up
wan hone up ever the door, and the prisoner could has,, anything in :km •ay of extraordinary freaks of ester*, am
g.t et. Ile saw the prisoner pat the key there the NM) "tale,'..,i, ,t t, te 0 f
.....I..ki i.t i compare with the p sent t 1 .
a.VPIIIMR. r
In -.PI to Mr. Leek, the 'vitae., said he had
coolie el anything airing.. in hi. manner, week, ear, like a pantomimic 110800 than a thoroughfare
Mr. Decimits Centre said he was a a erzeon at Child
Okeford. lie rememher.ni being called in at Harwood in a quiet and well-ordered borough. Well. tf snow
Ledge. He fount the pr.,sec ,triX with her heart and , elf cmally guarding, or rather debarring, all entrances to
, face covered with blood, evident,v very munh frightened, , housed' of business, slippery and treacherous pavements,
land trembling On ex•mination lie found 12 or 13 wounds
on the heed and fee., se,.e of the,. ....; .n inc. and. ' for Jack Frost had dons his best to add to the general
half in length, none of them 1. e' hut two or three of horrors, bitterly cold winds—such have been the grounds
then, very sever. - They mu•t it ..• , been inflicted with of general complaint during the last eventful west; for
violence, and would have been pr eines,' by such an yentful it has been, what with the Poultry Show and the
Instrument as the bar produ !ed. The her must hays e, _ ,___ The first
been used with great violence to produce rich wounds. ''''''.. 4'e uret was all but • failure. although • splendid
In reply to Mr. Leek, M. Curtin s el,' am far as he knew show, end the latter., to, wise failure, looking at It in the
primner had been a civil and well mnducted boy. I sense of • public exhibition. The lams were evidently
The Juelg • : His he been str..nge in his manner I
Witne a : A little odd, and not quite as bright and i again.t toe summits of either, OrandJurymen and witnesses
101 want of

were treated alike—the court had to adjourti
of .
tbe former, and cases could not be dealt with tor want
of the latter. Bitter wells the complaints of jurymen of
the hardness of their lot in being compelled to leave their
houses to such weathor, thirdly knowing' when they lei thaw
they were to return. Dogmas in parucular we heard CA
A Juryman trout somewhere in Use neighbourhood of
Crewkerhe Wee tepocuals loud in his complainst. 'lobed
been compelled t have • man with him to assist him
on his way, and et one place be was °Wised to
hare a paamage cut through the snow to allow his vehicle
to proceed. Ho arrind oafs (moue% but bow was he
going to get home, be asked in • piruntive tone.
Oo
the iirm nay ot toe Poultry Show snow fell heavily and
us.t ers looked enoogh, for by the evening it was
several feet deep. it awed however on the following,
Out es .0 such...od by • nerd Irmt, which gave a guou
bard cap to to, .0 .w already fallen. People crime more
begsn La move ab .tt and clear away their doorway& but
all in vain, for dodos the night there was • heavier fell
than ever. an toll toot bad been done in the way of • clear-
ales was :sato ,fferitually covered. Matters were now
maims enough for ebseo) Oomniuloaetuuu both by rail
way, end Wit 4 the hum.diste neighbourhood had been
int:rrupted, and it was now 'anima completely stopped
Pao* Wedneedsy nigh: ' whet, an at‘empt eras rued.. to
cut a pamage with two engines. and ait.r a great deal of
trouble, the difficult task woo accomplished. and the train
arrived some Isour, late. We hear Kr. Beam lml a
valuable bullet:a Lamed at COgs. On Friday morning
trafilo was almost out of the question. The L..ndcm mail
train which is usually due about three o'clock in the
morning did not arrive till nearly tsetse, and the engine
men reported a fearful journey. Two engines had been
suit Wien, Oita train to locos the way. 'Me traffic on the
up line was quite slipped. Between Dorchestor and Wey.
mouth nothing could travel 411 the alien:looD, and it being
one of MO amiss days, the inconvenience was very great.
Tidings Iron/ the neighbourhood are of the most serious
character, although no actual loss of life is reported.
Every effort has been made by the borough autoorities
to ChM' the *WOW, but ID consequence of the seventy of
the froet, the men employed have no easy task. Several
sleighs have been driven about the street% and altogether
• Canadian would feel quite at home in Dorsbaster at the
present time.
in the neighbourhood of Charminater the drifts are
.L .

enormous, csitrie °lst Cbarnanetet.roed • pathway having
been cut thsougb five or six feet of snow.
Snow fell on Smiley night, but helopily to no great
extent, although the frost was again most severe.
The following are reports horn venom parts of the
mmatry:
Strong 'sisterly gales were reperted over the whole of
Zealand and Ireland. Mese were
.eenicularly severe in
the south and south.east of Ragland. and were
accompanied with con solos and heavy snow, which in
many parts rendered rad way traffic impossible.
Temperature had laden in ties mouth-west, but had risen
in the east and south-east. The frost, however, though
much less intense thee of Isle, still held gene:say, and
readings ranged from 91 deg. to the south-weet to 12 deg.
at Aberdeen. On Tuesday evening temperature was
considerably higher in the north-east and lower In the
south' west than it wee at the seam hour on Monday.
In Yield/ the tall of snow was unusually deep, and in
spate where drifts accumulated was from six to fifteen
feet. Near Poo Mill Station the snow gathered against
one end so al to reach toe roils, and some of the narrow
roads were completely impassable. Business in the town
was almost entirely 'impended. The 2.17 train from
Exeter become snowed up at Sidmouth Junction, and
was still detained there in the evening with litele prospect
of getting through. T. Ilfracombe wench of the South-
Western Railway was reported also blocked. Traffic on
the &merest and Dared Railway was likewise interrupted
through the drifting mo.. and altogether out of regular
order.
Heavy snow fell all Tuesday is Bristol and the neigh-
hourho id, but in the evening showed signs of •b•WOMITIL.
A strong gale from the north accompanied the downfall,
and the consequence was the snow drif tad to • consider-
able depth, bung in some instances as much as 41t. deep.
Trams to the city were delayed over an boor, and business
generally was mettle' interf erred with. Such a wild and
bittsrly cold day had not been experienced for many
years. Trains to and from Bre.tol were greatly delayed,
and some stopped en niche Toe saki-noon expresso from
the West to London reacted Bristol two hours late. The
L indon do an trains up te the afternoon were three hours
late. Several trains were snowed up at Brent Knoll,
between Bridgwater and Highbridge.
In the heart of Exester there were snowdrifts four feet
deep. mei vehicular treleic *as almost impossible. All the
railways were more or lees blocked, traffic being entirely
suspended on the Exeter and Devooport section of the
South Western line. Cuttings between Lidf rd and
Tavistock, when the line skirts Dartmoor, were filled with
drift. from Ave to ten feet deep. The Barasteple line was
also blocked, and drifts in pins of the South Devon lone
were so beery as to make all trains very late. The gale
caused an unusually high Bea at Daelish, and fears were
entertained for the "day of the railway as.. wall, over
which the waves ewe dashed at high tide *ith great
violence.
At Portsmouth the snow was piled up to the height of
sev,:ral par Is, and at the extreme stamen parts of the
teeroligh the residents were snowed up in their tomes.
The railway. wire so obstructed that it was found possible
to run only • couple of trains, so that the greater part of
the dey railway omomuoicatioa between Portsmouth and
London wasi *aunty out elf. The tram and vehicular
street traffic .as stopped, and steamers ceased to ply
between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. Nearly the
whole trade of the town was stopped.
At Gloucester • portion of this roof of the Great Western
Railway platform was swept away, and Use chimney of a
house in one of the main streets was blown down and the
home very much damaged.
The gal* at Great Yarmouth resulted in several
terrible casualties, among them being the upsetting of the
lifeboat Abraham Thomas and the drowning of several of
the crew. They had been to • vessel called the Guiding
Star. which had come ashore, and they were returning
with the only man on board, when the lifeboat suddenly
capsized. Two of the mai got ashore alive, two were
washed ashore past recovery, and the other Ave are
misaltur. Between seven and eight o'clock the barque
Edith Mary. of Landon, from the North for Si, Thome;
rams ashore between the jetty and Welling-Pier. Five of
the men were saved by the rocket apparatus, but the
other five were drowned. At Gorleaton a brig believed to
he the Rtpid, of Whitby, went ashore in the South Haven.
Every attempt was made to reach the crew of seven
hands, both by the lifeboat and the rocket apparatus, but
without avail. They had lashed themselves to the rigging,
and their cries were piteous, but no help could be afforded
them. It is believed that after dark it, vessel broke up
and the men were drowned. About 9.31 wither vessel
came ashore on the beach, and her mast was heard to fall
over, hut no help could be glean.
Similar reports of the tempestuous weather and of drift-
ing snowstertes mom from various districts. The reports
from several towns stets that business Le entirely
suspended land in some districts railway oammaitication
has been seriously interfered with. The Lencashire and
Yorkshire Rahway was blocked with drifted snow at
Adlington.
In the north several rivers have been f ream over, which
has not happened fir 90 years, and the frost, by stopping
open-air work, has caused much suffering.
Heavy fells of snow are reported from the French
provinces, and in many parts the railway and
tilegraohic communicaUon stopped. It is stated that at
the villages round Nimes the wolves have made their
appearance in considerable numbers, and that hunting
parties have been organised to exterminate them.
S I villages and hamlets in France are snowed up.
The storm continued in London on Wednesday, but
unaccompanied by a gala until the evening, when it
ceased. The efforts made to clear some of the streets had
• very small result consequently the traffic was reduced
to the lowest, and for accommodation in the public
conveyances high fares were charge. Business was
largoly suspended and lathy shops were closed. The
Post Office had been unable to deliver any letters from
the country or the Conenont. The telegraph service
remained open. Toe river was blocked with manes of ice,
esbich caused serious injury to many vessels, barge.,and
Lost., One man was found who had been frown to death
upon a barge. Railway traffec WM carried on with extreme
difficulty, mazy trains were very late, and others were not
run, the blocks of snow ou soots of the lines being insur-
mountable,
The snowstorms continued in many parts of the country
on Wednesday. and added to the destruction and blockage
caused on previous day. Many trains were embedded.
Several deaths from exocaure are reeorded. The damage
done to the Admirely Pier, at Dower, amounted to £ll.OOO.
and a similar sum is mentioned as mosseaary to repair the
damaged railway at Hyde Pier.
Railway communicaUm was venially restored on Thurs-
day on the principal lines. The Greet Western Railway
was completely blocked by • deep snowdrift at Pang.
bourne, and passengers were detained at Readhig for over
thirty-six hours A oollision of the Scotch express with a
snow plough on the Great Northern line might, from its
nature, have had a disastrous result; but no fatal
injures were sustained. The Great Eastern Railway was
on Thursday suftently cleared of snow to resume traffic.
The railways in the north of Scotland were blocked en
Thursday by a snowstorm which Is described as the most
severe ever remembered in the Wick district. On Thurs-
day night snow again felt heavily in some parts.
Bournemouth was visited with • depth of snow greater
than has ever been known there Some of the shop fronts
were completely snowed up, and in the drifts the anow
itself lay 60030 two aad three feet deep iq the street',
whilst in the suburbs it wee fear anti Ave feet and in
emend places as much as six feet deep. The streets
&ensued quite deserted, that, being in fact no people
stirring out of doors excepting those who were obliged to
be oat on businesa The thermometer allowed between
two and five diesreee of frost all day, The sea was excep-
tionally rough,
iaupt waves frequently breaking right over
* npa the . The sea was, in generally rougher
In the Engl Channel on Tuesday than it has been
ktio•n to be for many years, the gale—whir.k at times
blew a perfect hurrieme—exceedins all day the violence
of tb• abort but memorable snowstorm of March, efflg.
when the Eurydthe went down off the Isle of
The tide, too, was uumnally high, but no damage to pro-
perty in the immediate locality has been reported.
Bournemouth has not been visited with such Ante,
weather within the memory of its laded inhabiUthee
Fortunately snow is little known there as • rule. %Gogh
in places when it has been shovelled from the shop door,
it sees idle week some four or flys feet high,
Ar Cerlatchurch the intense cold of Baader and Monday
we, foil •wed by a violent gale and snewstorm with
sand tr results, Vehicular traffic *as almostvisasnuarspossibloa
as and a bicyclist who w epolhardy enough to
on his sombine got embedded in the snow breast-high,
end was unab'e to pros> est
At Bi indford the roads in ninny pieces were omits
Passable, and gout inconvenience was felt from the efoi
th it all railway communication with the to
Is Peels traffic was greats town one cot off.
narygateeled owing It the
pass 'w'lnieiteeo
tholotehneowitrehadis. tith.-ehmohbeqirtereniolyteteroomroall
Iron the hots« fr ins.
In Wimborne traffic I etw
it some e" Wb illy sum_ ndol some of the
drilfttawbeasifnoenagadinimuophwasiettitt„t ler
diatrices iehe 4.%* town
and th° outlying
todrrit.- os with safety on
' either the 8 irnerat and D wee. or on
. Dorset lima. and all Weft: we
titelltiThe,"u7 a"
&tether heavy fall of 800 a on waa
i Traffic on the Salsbury and Dors ad. tim Lomersag
and Dorset branches of the soite..ekit hi% lTene
• partially resumed on Setu
daneerous ',wine to the t ftrati.veilling is still
iA snow ployik.odzr ejet sae..!lL --• "items, Net.
I a be
Iscipictrelltabgtoti t h uthe sLiverefavreleeZel,ten srartt
rallwace some suet contrlyareog heneephosek
to °lac the way.

All &wpm and Peered he seders ars reroTrisot:
Mrs. Kw's Masa.n. is ILO Weit'stre".
e..ated aed Published by &mew NSWIIii, at She
°lam. gormlitis iitivai vinplecl 16.
parka et Trinity, os the mummy,.
Toseday, Jawarr bt. JAL