The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-01-04 00:00:00

fliltsbire.

WILTS WINTER ASSIZES.

The Commission for holding theme Assizes was
opened on Tuesday last, at Devizes, by Mr. Justice
Hyles. His Lordship rode on horseback from Chip-
penham, and uo intimation, we believe, was given
of the time of his arrival. The mayor and Corpora-
tion of the town, who had assembled at the Courts
to meet his Lordship, were kept waiting about for
several hours, and when the learned Judge at last
arrived, hello hurried by that they had not an oppor-
tunity of paying their respects. His Lordship rode
direct to his lodgings, and being met by the High
Sheriff (F. A. S. Locke, Esq.), at once proceeded to
the Courts, where Her Majesty's Goumission was
formally opened. The learned Judge afterwards
attended Divine service at St. John's Church.
The Court opened on Wednesday morning at 11
o'clock, with the usual formalities. The learned
judge then delivered the following

CHARGE.

Gentlemen of the Grand Jury : It has pleased
Iler Majesty to direct her csminission into this
County for the holding of a Winter Assize —e pro•
ceeding not very usual, but I believe not unprece•
deeded in this county. Nevertheless, it seems to me
that the calendar, with one exception, presents no
offence of an unusual description, and it he not more
numerous than might reasonably be expected at this
season of the year. The holding of a Special Assize
is an ancient prerogative of the Sovereign, and it
must he an advantage to all parties concerned that
the accused should DA soon as possible be brought to
trial, and be either acquitted or condemned. Gen-
tlemen, I have the satisfaction to see among your
number some friends of mine—gentlemen of the
highest rank in our profession,—who have had great
experience in the practice of law; I therefore feel
that I should only be performing a superfluous task
were I to attempt to instruct you in your duties.
That being so, you will excuse me if I dismiss you
with an observation or two on the very distressing
ease which stands first on the calendar. A crime of
an abominable nature is charged against a gentlemen
whose profession and situation in life render it more
than usually revolting. Upon the depositions, as
they have been laid before me, there seems to me to
be no case whatever —indeed the only evidence
against the accused is the statement of an accomplice;
and possibly an application may be made to use for
that person to be admitted Queen's evidence. Of
course you are aware that the evidence of an accom-
plice requires to be corroborated in some material
particular. If that should 114.1 so in this case, it will
be your duty to finite bill : if nit, it would probably
be best that the public should not be shocked by so
disgraceful an exposure. I leave the case, with
these observations, entirely in your hands, resting
assured that you will, on the one hand, fulfil the
oaths you have taken by finding a bill, if you believe
the offence brought home to the prisoner, and that
you will not, on the other, needlessly and carelessly
require the Court to enter upon an investigation of
such revolting facts, if the charges tail in the indict-
ment are not likely to bo sustained.—The Grand
jury then retired.

SA um KY. —At the Wilts assizes the grand jury
threw out the bill against the Rev. Frederick Vane,
who was charged with indecent conduct with boys,
at Mere. Application was made to the
Court to allow the co-defendent .Ira me 4 Gray, a
labourer, to be examined as a witness before the
Grand Jury. In acceeding to the application his
Lordship said it was impossible to convict both upon
the evidence as it stood in the depositions. Gray
was the least desirable of the two to he convicted.
In the course of the afternoon, the Grand Jury came
into the Court and announced that they had not been
&We to find a bill. The Judge: I thought it right in
my address to you this morning, to state that against
the principal felon there was no evidence whatever.
Nor was there, because there MN only the testimony
of the accomplice, which Gyula not be given in evi•
dunce against a co-defendant I did all I could to
make it evidence, by sending the accomplice before
you as Queen's evidence. Of course I can know nothing
officially, but I fear from you finding that that per-
son has not performed his contract with the Crown.
' I have reason to believe that he must have stated
one thing before the magistrates, and another before
you. There is the clearest evidence against Gray,
and although there is no precedent for such a pro-
ceeding, it may yet be the subject of deliberation
whether a Bill shall not be preferred against him at
the next Assizes. I have no doubt the Grand Jury have
acted with judgement and discretion. Mr. George
Chitty, of Shaftesbury, 11.4 been engaged to conduct
the defence.

Drvizits.—Through the benevolence of the Wor
shipful the Mayor •4 Devises, and of Mr. Watson
faylor, one or the borough members. a very exten•
tIVC supply of blankets has beeu distributed to the
;poor during the L.at month.

F:ATBUR Y. - blew Death. —On Tuesby week
an inquest was held at Westbury Leigh, before G.
iylvester, Esq., coroner, on the body of ltelmcca
Dyer, aged tis, who was found dead in her bedroom
on the morning of Sunday. the 19th ult. Verdict,
" Ihetl from suffocation produced Ly apoplexy."

TROWARIDG R —s'utidepa Deal/L-0n the 22nd ult.
an inquest was held before G. Sylvester, Esq., at the
Swan Inn, on the body of Jane Carey, aged 64 years.
Deceased took her breakfast well, and was cheerful.
Soon afterwards she went and laid herself on the
bed, 4u t her friends, supposing her to be asleep, did
not turb her. After some hours they tried to
aw her, but found her in a state of umainscious-
ness. They immediately procured medical aid, but
. . .

when the surgeon arrivixt he pronounced, her to' be
in a dying state, which in a few hours provod to be
the case. Verdict, "Died by the visitation of
God."

MAKLBOROUtiII. —lt is it pleasure to know
that whilst all are enjoying the good things provided
at this festive and happy season of the year, the
inmates of the Union-house were not forgotten on
Christinas•day, T. B. Merriuian, Kai., with his awns.
Loma liberality, having given them a good dinner of
roast beef and plum-pudding, with &supply of strong
beer.

MUTrAI. IMPROVIXT Soeirrr. —in connection
with this society Mr. Edney, of London, audited by
the Misses S. and E. Edney, gave a musical enter-
taininent, illustrative of popular Irma music, at the
Townhall on Nlosolay evening week. The attendance
was large and highly respectable; but the entertain-
ment did not give that general satisfaction which
was expected, the voices of the young ladies being
considered harsh and unsuited to the room. The
next lecture is by Dr. Wilkinson, Vicar of Wait
Lavington, on " eotneta," to he followed by Mrs.
Balfour, Mr. Grossmith, the Rev. F. ii. Bond, and
the Rev. E. P. Hood.

CALN/L—The Marquis of Lansdowne is entertain-
ing a large party of his family at Howood. The Earl
and Countess of Shelburne and family, Count and
Countess Flahault and Hon. Miss Elphinstone
Flaliault, and the Hon. Mr. and Lady Louisa Howard
are of the party. . _ . .

BOWER Unt-LEK—The churchyard of this parish
having become full, and further burials in it having
been prohibited by her Majesty's order in Council,
the Lord Bishop on Sunday afternoon week attended
to consecrate an additional burial ground, which had
been procured immediately adjoining the churchyard.
His Lordship arrived in time for the afternoon ser-
vice, and preached a most impressive sermon to a
very large conttregation from Acts 8-2, "And
devout men carried Stephen to his burial, anal made
great lamentation over him." The consecration of
the burial ground took place immediately after the
sermon. His Lordship was attended by his ('hap.
lain, the Bev. Francis Lear, rector of Bishop.
stone. _ . .

AMID4BURY. —The inmates of the Union Work
house were regaled with • dinner of beef and plum
pudding on Christmas day, which was provided for
them by &subscription of the Guardians. The num-
bers in the house are less by nearly one half than
they were last year at this time.

SITRILWTON. - Discovery erf Amman remake On
Snliebetry Ploirs.—Gat week a discovery of human
remains was made in a barrow, near the far-famed
Bustard Inn, on Salisbury Plain. Some workmen in
the employ of Mr. Ruddle, whilst engaged in level.
hug a piece of land which bad recently fallen into
his possemon, came to a rough circular wall of Hint,
in the centre of which WWI a rude dish, surrounded
by a quantity of ashes or charcoal. It appears to
have been a very tarly specimen of pottery, and fell
into several pieces on being handled. At a short
distance from this vernal the arm and finger bone* of
a human being were discovered in a very perfect

state. Two holes, about Is inches by 12, were also
found containing bones, but they did not appear to
be these of a human being. They included a very
large tooth, and scanted to have been partially hurnt.
The barrow in which they were found was about 20
yards over, and five feet deep. The discovery may
prove of come interest to our areinuological friends,
to whom Mr. Ituddle will be happy to ilimv the
remains, on their paying a visit to-tbe Bustard.

NI It 1.8011011; —Nlonilay was oh4erved here as a
holiday, the shops Imiug closed aud the aospeusion
of business general.