The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-03-12 00:00:00

HIGIIITAT RORDIRT AT PORTLAND.

James Sykes, Thomas Alayee, and Francis Zeal were
charged with violently assaulting Chatlce Bishop' on
the public highway at Portland, and stealing front him
tt:. in money, a puree, and a pocket handkerchief. Mr
Cosens prosecuted, and Mr. Rook* defeteled the pri-
soners.
It appeared that prosecutor went to Weymouth on
Sunday, 28th October, and on hie return to Portland at
it o'clock that evening lie went to a beer shop in V. eke'
where he had two pot* of beer, and drank with
the prisoners, who belonged to the 11th Regiment,
stationed at Portland. Ile left about 10 o'clock, and
although lie could not tell whether he had to turn to
the right or left when lie got out to go home, he was
perfectly sober. He had not proceeded far before
three soldiers came along, knocked him down, and
rifled Ins pockets. Ile afterwards went to the barracks
with Superintendent Brown, when he identified Sykes
and Magee OM being two of the men. Superintendent
I Brown searched the kits of the men, and a pocket
handkerchief, which prosecutor identified, fall from the
bell belonging to the prisoner Zeal.
Colour Sergeant Popham said four soldiers were
' from the barracks that night, the three prisoners and
another. The prisoner Sykes had two medals on his
breast, and he 11..1 known hint 26 years, and 116
character was exceedingly gocl. Had known the
• others since 181$, and their character. were also good.
The prosecutor had himself been convicted for felony,
and also fur leaving his wife and family chargeable to
the parish.,
Verdict, "Not Guilty."
AASAVLT WITH TIOLSXCE AT BINCOMBIL

Homy Galt, Elizabeth Darts, James Lucas, John
Atria, and Richer,/ Millirem, were charged with assault.
log 1,11i411 Haines, and putting her in Wily fear, with
intent to steal her money, on the 13th November last.
Mr. Omens prowented.—The prosecutrie is a laundress
residite,' at Bincond.e. On the 13th November she
started for Dorchester. As she was proceeding up
Ridgeway hill, eke saw the prisoners, and kept behind
them. When they arrived on the top of the bill, two
of the men sat down and the others stood up. One of
the men aakeil her for hi, She told him she hail no
money. The woman said she was not going to the city
without mon. y. Prisoner Gale then struck her down,
and Elizabeth Gale also truck her and threw her dregs
up. She was stunned, and when elm came to herself
41e timid her pockets hail been turned inside out, and
' the handkerchiefs and book Mee lying by her aide.
Iler moiley, which she had taken the precaution to put
lin the bowun of her clothes, was safe. The prisoners
I then were gone. The primiiers crosii.examined wit-
MM. and she denie.l that she stated before the magis-
trates on the 13th November that Davis, Sullivan, and
Lucas were walking alone some distance before. Pro-
aecutriz denied having stated that, and the Judge sail
it was not in the deposition., and Mr. Sony, one of the
ttttt slitting magistrates was sent for. Proseentrix
denied having toll the police the prisoners were not
the people. She had never had any doubt of the identity
of the pristmera. They were also identified by Jainea
Thomas, who met the men about half past 12 o'clock on
Ridgeway hill.
Mr. W. Maufield, jun., said that on the day in clues.
tion lie was driving on the Weymouth road. He met
the 5 prisoners about 1 o'clock on the Dorchester side
of Mtkockton gate, about • mile and three quarters from
the town. One of them begged of him.
Sergeant Vickery, in consequence of information he
received, apprehended the prisoners at Fordington en
the morning of the 13th. Proaecutrix identified the
female primmer at once. She had some little difficelty
in identifying the men at first, but she afterwards
reeognized Gale as the man who knocked her down.
The prisoner.' in their defence before the magistrates
denied having met anyone between Bruadwey and Dor-
chester.
Mr. W. H. Sony said he could not recollect anything
more of what tool place on the 13th than Ike took
down on the information aimply to justify a remand.
The Judge, in summing up, said the question for the
jury to say was whether they believed the prosecutriz
had been knocked down by Gale, and struck by Elizabeth
Davis, with intent to rob her. The mere removal of
anything from its place was an act of robbery, lIR in this
(tole the book and handkerchief were removed from her

pocket, though left cle.e by. Then the jury had to con-
sider whether the whole of the prisoners were acting in
concert.
The jury found all the prisoners " Guilty," and they
were nentenced—Henry Gale to seven yearn' penal ser-
vitude, and the other prisoners to 18 months' hard
labour each.