The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

DORCBSTRII, Saturday, February 2210.
Ilefure H. Williams, W. H. Solly, &qrs., and Haim-
General-M ichel.

Teuisir STFALING.—Wittiam Liffte was charged by
Ntr. T. A. Homer, of Tolpuddle, with stealing turnips..
Complainant said that on the Ilth February he new the
defendant in one of his fields pulling up turnips and
throwing them into the road to his wife, who was put•
ting them into her uron, lie was on hominid( and
Mlle on them audilenly. He was sorry to bring the
case before the Bench, but he bad previously forgiven
half the pariah for a aimilar offence, and they
would not take warning Iv any thrusts he uaed,
and desist them practices. The other day he had his
turnips stolen from his carts by wholesale u they
pasuil through the street, and lie was obliged to employ
a constable to take the turnips from the parties by
force.—Fined in the value of the turnips stolen 6a1., suit
Ss. cuts.

STE.MING TURNIP GREENS. —George row was sum-
moned for stealing two eennyworth of turnip greens.
Iron the field of Henry Duke. Complainant's
hailiff said that he received orders to watch the
field, and on Sunday leel caught the defendant in the
set of cutting the tops off the turnips.—Complainant
said he eliould not have brought the case before the
Bench, but thee, acts were of continual occurrence on
Mon.lay mornings--Fined 10s. 641. including costs, or
10 day's impri.ninent.
STEALING TURNIPS.—Rmth Cook and Aso Lake, two
married women, were charged with stealing a bushel
and a half of turnips, value Is. 6d., the property of
William Sprake, of Litton Cheney.—Y.C. Hill said that
on the 2nd inst. he received information from Mr.
Bprake that lie had lost some turnips, and he went to
the field to watch the some day. He saw the defendants
come into the 111•141 and pull up • quantity of turnips and
put them into their bags. He went to them, took
the turnips away, and carried them to Mr. Sprake's
house. The husbands of both the defendsnts worked
for Mr. Sprake.—Mrs. Cook rah, she had five children
at home, none of which were able to work, and she had I
no food to give them. She knew perfectly well the tur- '
nips did not belong to her, but she thought there was
no harm in tsking them as her husband worked for
Mr. Sprake.— Mr. Williams—lf you don't know that
there is any harm in it we must teach you.—Mrs. Cook
—lt is very hard to starve.—Mt. Williams: And it is
very hard for one to have his turnips stolen. Your
husband has wages, I suppose—Mrs. Lake said she had
four children, ant her husband had Bs. a week.—Mr.
Williams—And rent and firing I suppose? Defendante
said they had rent, and their husbands bad wood for
cutting h, hut they were obliged to buy coal. They had
wheat from their master, hut it was so dump the miller
ivuld not grind it, and they were drying it by the fire
when they went to the turnip field to get turnips for
the children to eat. They had to conic ten milt* to
answer to the summons, and were obliged to leave the
children at home by tloduselves, except those the) had
in their anus.—Mr. Williams inquired if they were
goingto leave. Mrs. Cook said her husband had received
notice, but lie had imbeequently agreed to go on Again,
and Mr. 81,rake had told them he did not wish to press
the chap heavily against her.— Mrs. Loire said her hea-
-1 hand had received no notice, and he had worked fur Mr.
Sorake two years.—Mrs. Cook : My husband has worked
1 for him the same length of time —This Bench ordered
I the defendants to pay 9.1. each, the value of the
turnips.