The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-07-30 00:00:00

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

SHIREH•LL, DORCHESTER, Saturday, July 28 —Before
H. Williams. and G. J. Bullock, Esqrs., and Major.
General Michel.
Matilda Thomas, of Maiden Newton, was summoned
by Superintendent Underwood with having beams
beams and scales, used for weighing goods, and which
were incorrect and unjust --Complainant said he visited
defendant's premises on the 18th of July.
In the grocer's shop he found a pair of scales, on
the counter, half an ounce against the purchaser.—De.
fondant said she knew her wales were light, and put •
half-ounce weight in the wales to balance them. She
was not aware before that any weight addled to scales to
balance them, must be fixed to the scales. There had
formerly been • ring put on the scales by the inspector,
but she had lost it about two months ago.—The inspec-
tor said he faund the half-ounce weight and another in
the scales—Fined 205., and 9s. costs.
Robert Chedd, of Rampiaham, grocer, was charged by
Superintendent Underwood with using false beams and
scales in Isis trade.—Complainant said he was at the
defendant's shop on tho 18th July and on the counter
was • beam with shifting stales. The scoop used for
flour was six drachms against the purchaser—the
grocery scale was notquite BO much against the purchaser.
Before the lour scoop was cleaned, it was about eight or
nine drachm* against the purchaser.—Defendant said
the complainant did not examine all the flour scoops in
Harimisharia.—Mr. Williams: What has that to do with
you? If your inference means anything, it is that all
the tradesmen in Bampisham have false scales. In your
case the weight against the purchaser is a great deal,
especially for small quantities, and you'll be fined 20a.,
and costs.
William Gilbert, of liampisham, grocer, was charged
by Superintendent Underwood with using in his trade
unjust beams and scales. Superintendent Underwood
said that on the 18th July, he went to defendant's shop,
and one:emitting the sr.l.s he foud there was • piece
of paper and some fiat iron in the weightscales, to make
them right, but with thou appendages, as usually used,
the scales wi.re half an ounce against the purchaser,
but without these things the scales were 61ounces against
the purchaser.—The defendant's wife, who appeared
to the summons, said that she had broken her scales about
u week before, and she sent for anew ;Nils which sbe ex-
pected the day after the inspector arrived. She put a
piece of iron in her old scales to balance them till the
new ones arrived.—Fined 10s., and costs.
Edwin Payne was charged by Fanny Payne, his
sitter-in-law, with assault. The parties live at Piddle-
town. Complainant said on the 10th July defendant',
mother came to her house and remained from four in
the afternoon till nine in the evening. She then said
she supposed her son—the defendant—wu in bed, and
she would go home. Witness, at her husband's request,
home wish her, and stayed outside for a short
time to hear if defendant swore at her. She called
witness in. Defendant was in bed, and he swore he
would come down and throw his mother out of doors.
He came down stairs and seised his mother and pushed
her, and witness caught her from falling. He then
SWOCO at witness, and street her a violent blow on the
head. Witness afterwaids went away. IDefendant
lives with his mother, who hires the house—Defen-
dant said on the 10th July he went home and went to
. . . . .

—.-
bed. After he was in bed a lodger said the door was
not locked, and asked him to go down and lock the
door. He went to his mother's bedroom door to see if
she was at home. He called, and as there was no
answer, he went down and locked the door. He re-
turned to bed, and jest as he got into his first sleep be
heard the door rattle. The lodger's wife let her in.
Complainant then came in and said "I am witness that
he has locked you out of doors." Defendant told her if
she was not off he would come down and put her out.
She told him be had better come down, and he went
down and put her out, and gave her • fist-handed
dep.—Defendant was also summoned for assaulting
Jane Payne, his mother. Complainant said the defen-
dant behaved very badly towards her. He was very
well all the time he kept sober, but when he got
drunk, which was very often, he pushed her and struck
her: On the day woken of by her daughter-in-law he
came horn* drunk in the afternoon and pushed her out
of her own house and locked her out. She went down
than to the house of her other son, and on retuming
home at 9 o'clock he pushed her again. She did not
want to punish defendant, but wished the magistrates
would prevent hie coming home again.—Complainant,
in reply to the Bench, said her son was • thatcher.
He paid her lodging and washing, but nothing else.
He spent nearly all his money, end she was conse-
quently obliged to half keep him, which caused her
often to go short of victuals herself.—The Bench said
this was • very bad case. He would be committed for
14 days' herd labour, and afterwards find two sureties
in £lO each, to keep the peace towards Lis mother and
aister-in•law, for 6 calendar months.
George Spurs, of Cerne, was summoned by Maria
Smart to show came why he should not contribute
towards the maintenance of her illegitimate child.—The
defendant did not appear. The child was born on the
14th August last, after they had kept company to-
gether about two years and • half. He Led paid her
, money several times since the child Lad been born.—
Order granted.