The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-08-23 00:00:00

BLANDFORD.

BLANnroun MARKET, Saturday, Aug. 20.—There
was a very fair attendance of farmers here to-day;
prices were 'tinily, at London quotations, and some
considerable business was transacted. Buyers were
much more ready, and business seems to have
resumed its full swing after the harvest. Some very
good prices were obtained fur pigs, *old by auction
in the market-place.

CRICKET CLI7R.—A cricket club is in course of
formation in this town. The Hon. Secretary is
Mr. E. Fisher, and the members meet for practice
Tuesday and Friday evenings in a meadow kindly
lent by Mr. G. Lock.
FM:ND DROWNED.—SINOULAR CAME.—A lady
living at Spetisbury, by the name of Baskett, about
70 Years of 114 e, WM found drowned on Wednesday
morning last in a stream of water running at the
bottom of the garden attached to the house in which
she resided. She was only partially immersed in
the water when found ; and whether she threw her-
self in or fell in by accident is not known, as the
jury summoned was not impanneled, therefore no
sworn evidence proved whether a fit caused the
deceased to fall into the water, or whether it was a
premeditated act. F. T. Johns, Esq., the coroner for
the district, is said to have recommende,l the holding
an inquest, and the public express surprise that no ju-
dicial inquiry took place. It would appear from state-
ments volunteered by her medical attendant and by
the family that the demised fell in a tit into the
' water, but from the fact of no formal inquiry having
taken place various and strange rumours are afloat.
The deceaeod was the wife of Mr. Robert Baskett,
formerly a druggist in this town.
(From another Comrspondent.)
A lady named Begat, the wife of R. Baskett, Esq.
of Spetisbury, met her death on Wednesday morning
last in a singular and hitherto unexplained manner.
She was found by her female servant lying partly
immersed in the river which ran at the bottom of the
garden attached to her residence. Her walking
stick had been left some distance up the garden
walk. She was drawn out by a carpenter living
next door, and medical aid was immediately rendered
but with no result. It is supposed she had been
lying about a quarter of an hour immerred before
she was discovered. The deceased was nearly 110
yaws of age, and suffered from disease of the heart ;
and the assumption is that she fell and died in-
stantly, as no signs of a struggle were seen on the bank.
A jury was summoned on Thursday, but not impair
noted as such representations were made by them to
the coroner, F. T. Johns, Esq., as to the non-necessity
of an inquest as induced him to request a certificate
exonerating him from acceding to their request,
after which the jury were dismissed.
TEMPERANCE.—A temperance society was formed
in Blandford, on Tuesday evening last. The meet-
ing consisted of ten respectable tradesmen and assis-
tants, who resolved themselves into a committee, and
determined to hold fortnightly meetings, engage
lecturers, and agitate the movement during the ensu-
ing swoon. Mr. Alfred Paine was elected secretary,
and Mears. Henry Hodges and Horlock joint trea-
surers. The meeting adjourned to Monday next,
the 2sth inst., when a public meeting will be held at
the Assembly Rooms.

VENTItY liscrixii.—A vestry meeting was held at
the Townhall, on Thursday mornink, last, for the
purpose of taking some steps for the furthering of
the sale of the old Union Workhouse, also for the
purpose of receiving the estimates ordered by the
vestry held on the 17th June last, of the expenses of
putting doors at the two ends of the cross aisles in
the church, and for putting cushions and hassocks in
the aisle, and in some of the free sittings The Rev.
W. Harte occupied the chair. There were only
twelve or thirteen pariahoners present. The Board

of Goorrlions were recommended to endeavour to aim-
pnee of it at a considerable redaction from the prim
before determined on. The estimates ordered at the
last meeting were then produced, and it was decided
hi have doom placed at the end of the aisles, as soon
as voluntary contributions to the amount could be
collected.