The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-03-10 00:00:00

Cross-examined:: Did not Iti,o &CY inforznatio—n.

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A sergeant of the 75th spoke to Smith coming Into
barracks with a emir:ionise after beinu lament without
leave the night before. Smith said ha bought it in •
publichouee.
The Judge : Aro the 39th reit. very much addicted
to made I—Could not gay, my lord.
P.C. Bailout produced the oolooertina. Be had gone
up to the barracks, when they denied to the adjutant
having taken the ociociertios. Whoa they were in the
oells, O'Brien said to Smith "Did you steal the con-
aortic& r Smith returned "Ye.," lad O'Brien then
sad "Then we'll both plead guilty."
In defence O'Brien said he bought the concertina of
some one he did not know. Smith said it wits bought
for 41.

---T-u; judge geld the story of the prisoner, wee a eery
itotwoon tale, whieh no one believed.
The Jury found them both guilty.

The Judge was very sorry to *es two soldiers stand.
log In thet dock, sad also sorry that they bed told such
it... It they had told the truth he might hare been
disposed to past a lenleal senteoer. They ought
to be very much ashamed of disagreeing Her Majesty's
uniformt this way.
Sentenced to four mont`ta' hard labour.

PRIUS COURT, FRIDAY.
(Before Mr. Jusike MILTING.)

Rugg v. Mite Asa —Thin was • special jury anuses.
Thep aintiff le the editor and proprietor of the 81terborne
burriral, and the defendant so agent of the Natiooal
Agricultural Labourer: Union, whole known am "On.
from the Plough." It WM an action for slander. Mr.
Collins end Kr. G. Lewis for plaintiff, and Kr. Cole,
Q.C., and Hr. Sullen for th,, defendant.
Mr. Lewis opened the pleadings, which were In two
create, and charged defeedant with falsely and maltel.
ously publishing slanderous words of and cronoerning
plaintiff as • newspaper proprietor and editor. The
defendant pleaded not guilty.
In opening the ease, Mr. o.3llins said the action was
brought by the editor and proprietor of the Stsrborne
Journal, and he oomplainui of what be thought the
jury would say was a moot mischievous slander uttered
by the defendant Mr. Ruirtg was • gentleman highly
respected in Sherborne, and he believed for the last 30
years had been the editor and proprietor of the news-
paper published in that town. He was also • Church-
warden and Guardian of the Poor, and was • man of
position and respectability InSherborne. Mr. Mitchell
was ore of thou gentlemen who thought it right to
go about this and the acjoining counties with his friend
Joserh Arch, making speeches to the labourers con-
taining charges against one and another, and endea-
vouring, as they would see before the cue was over, to
set Mau against ease. Defendant milled himself, and
signed the lettere be wrote to the newspapers, " One
from the Plough." He also carried on the business of
• marble mason in London. It did appear to him (the
learned ctooneel) that if George Kitchell attended to his
business, and did not interfere with the labourers of
this and the adjaining counties, it would be much better
for him as a marble mason and • great dui better for
the people who live in thireet, Somerset, and Will.,
whose labourers were favoured with his speeches. In
JUDO of last year • large meeting was held on ll.m
Hill on the borders of Somerset, not fu from Yeovil.
Arab, end Mitchell, and others were there, who in-
formed the labourers—what they did not appear to
know before—that they were white slaves, were bang
starved—
Mr. Cole : I object to this.
. _ .

'Tb. Judge: The learned °owns' must moans him-
self to the meeting at which the alleged words were
spoken. You me soUtled to refer to them as they
may give • winning to the words oomplained of.
Mr. Cole: But not to what Ares mid?
The Judge: I think the speeches at the meeting may
give a °tweeter to the words; but the learned oounsel
must °online himself strictly to what took pima at
that time, and also to what took place in defendant's
presenos.
Mr. Collins: I will, my lord. In accordance with
my previous Intention I was telling the jury what took
pl.» at the mooting when the slanderous words were
said to have been uttered. Mitchell, the defendant,
and Arch in his (lefendmit'e) preemies, made most
Inflammatory speeches to the labourers. They were
told that they were white Mares, that they were stare-
log, that they bad not enough to sat; and in every
way the speaker, endeavoured to excite the feelings of
the great orowd Resembled on Ham Bill. They endea-
voured to set labourers against farmers, and °lees game
Mass. The jury woald well understand that language of
that kind sodreadred to labourers, telling them of fenced
wrongs and grievances, would naturally ignite in them
very strong feeling.; and when they beard the words
spoken to the labourers by Mitchell it would be for
them to judge for what rapine they were used and
what was the meaning of them. Mitchell addressed
the crowd, end In the amuse of his observations referred
he Mr. ilea's. If. (the leaned weasel) believed the