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

FRIDAY.
(Before Mr. Baron MARTIN.)
_ .

The Court Opened el 9 o'clock.

HIGHWAY RO 88888 ON THE WEYMOUTH ROAD.
John William and Robert Clifford, were charged with
violently assaulting William Orchard on the public
highway. and stealing from him a purse and 1:20 5d.,
on the 25th October laid, and Mary Ann William was
charged with being an aecessory.—Mr. Stock prosecuted,
and Mr. Cole defended the prisoners.
William Orchard, on being sworn, deposed. I am •
farmer residing in the Isle of Wight. I formerly lived
at Broadway, and attended the Dorchester fair on the
25th October last. I proposed to sleep at Broadwey that
night, and started on foot towards Weymouth, expect-
ing Mr. Winter to follow and take me up in his wagon.
I had bought some farm implementa of him that day.
I dined at the Oak Inn, and afterwards had • glass
' of gin and water at the Phoenix, and on leaving the
town had a glass of ale at the Junction Hotel. My
purse, a blue knitted one, with ivory slides, contained
£l9 IN. in gold and about 15s, in silver. While pass-
ing along the foot-path on the Weymouth road, when
near the first mile stone, I was pulled backwards,
kicked, knelt on, and my purse stolen from toy pocket.
As the parties were leaving me I saw three men, with
low crowned hats or cape. I recognise Williams and
Clifford to be two of the men. They went across the
field, by the aide of the road in the direction of Maiden
Castle. I lay in the road about ten minutes, unable to
get up, and Mr. Winter came along and assisted me
back to Dorchester. This was, I think, oil Thursday.
On the following Howley, I went to the Dorchester
gaol. Among ten or twelve men whom I saw there, I
recognised Clifford -through the window immediately I
saw him:. Afterl went into the yard and looked round,

I recognised Williams.
Cross-examined : The superintendent of police came
for um to the Isle of Wight, and said he believed, from
the description I had given of the men, he had got them.
No one spoke to ine in the prison yard to enable me to
dentify them. When they left me, after robbing me,
they went away very quickly. When I gave • descrip-
tion of the men at the station house, I did not Ray I
could not recognise them. I said they
were well-dressed men, of a navvy-like appear-
ance, not very tall. I hod only two glasses
of grog and a glass of ale during the whole of the day.
I was about the town a good deal that day. I will swear
I was not in oompany with • woman. I never went up
lane with a woman. I had iny purse in my pocket in
, South-street, but I never put my hand in my pocket
till after I had been robbed.
Ito-examined : I did not see the Superintendent of
Police at the station. He canoe to me at Mr. Bennett s,
where I slept. Jost as I was leaving Dorchester to go
to Broadwey, I went to • newspaper office for • paper.
I took my puree out to pay, and toeing told there was
nothing to pay for it, I put my purse in my pocket, and
went on. I had no occasion to take it out again. I
know there were three men together when I was robbed.
There might have been four.
Mr. Saunders : said I was at Dorchester fair on the
25th October. I and my father went there in a cart from
Friar Wadden. We had to pus Maiden Castle, and
cross the Fordington Field, and come into the Wey-
mouth road near the Cemetery. On leaving Dorchester
I went to the Great Western Railway Station respect-
ing an appointment width I expected. After leaving
the station I walked on the road home, and about 40
yards from the road, in the Fordington Field, I met
four men. One of them was in advance of the rest. I
asked them if they had met a cart. I saw the two
prisoner' in the prison on the 3rd November. I pointed
out Clifford, whom I believed, was one of the
men I met. He was about the arm of one of them. I
did not know them.
Marian Potts Mid :1 remember hearing of Mr. Orchard
being robbed on the Dorchester fair night in October
last. I saw the prisoner Williams that night. He
came to the bar window and had • glass of ale. It was
after six °Naimoli. He was out of breath u though he
had been running. I saw no one with him. He had a
donkey or low hat on. Croasexainined : Could not
say how many donkey hate Abe mw that day.
Edward Harvey said: I was in the service of Mr.
Grigg, of the Great Western Hotel, on the 25th Oct.
The two gentlemen there—pointing to the prisoners—
cline there with a trap with two wheels. The horse
was in • "sweetish" state. They took it to be shod. While
they were gone, • respectably dressed man with sandy
whiskers came and asked for them. They brought the
horse back, and left it, and I did net see either of them
'gain till after 8 o'clock. I had than heard of the
robbery. I saw Clifford again the next morning
between 7 and 8. Williams cline about half an hour
after and asked me to put too. He asked me the
distance to Weymouth, and said lie was going there. I
got on the bank to see which way they went, and saw
they creased the Weymouth TOI4I, and continued on the
road in the direction of Wareham. The man whom I
saw the first day came again and asked if they had left
a parcel for him.
Thomas Grigg said: On Thursday, the 25th October,
the prisoners caine into his yard with a horse and trap.
About half-past seven or • quarter to eight they came
into the house and asked if the horse eould remain
there all night. Clifford asked for • bed. He had •
glass of ale, smoked his pipe, and went to bed in a
double-bedded room. Williams went away— he never
asked for a bed. After Clifford had gone to hal a man
with sandy whiskers CAMS and asked for the prisoners.
He came the next morning for a bundle which they left
, for him.
Mary Ann Grigg, wife of the laid witness, said : The
first time she saw the prisoners was in the evening,
about half-past wean or eight o'clock. Clifford aske 1
for a bed. He sat in the outer bar drinking • glass of
ale and smoking • pipe. She asked him if two beds or
one was wanted. He replied that his companion was
gone into the town to sleep. She asked him to go and
sit in the inner parlonr, but he refused. Williams, the
next morning, paid the reckoning.
Mary Garrett said she was standing at her door on
the fair night, when Williams and the female prisoner
came along and asked her if she could recommend them
for • bed. She recommended them to go to Mrs.
Grigg's. Williams said they were quite full, and he
did not like a public house. She reconiu.ended them to
go to her ion's house, which was next door. The
woman went in. Williams went away, but shortly
came back. The woman, after being in the house, went
into the garden twice. After they had gone to bed the
woman came and gave her something wrapped up in a
handkerchief. She afterwards unwrapped the hand-
kerchief. It contained eleven sovereigns and three
half-sovereigns. When she came down next morning
MVO gave her the handkerchief and desired her to lea
it up. She did not, but put it in her bosom, and said
" all right."
Maria Garrett, daughter-in-law of the last witness,
said the morning after the fair, she saw the two gentle-
men and lady in the dock. Two of them slept in her
house, and one came to the house. The prisoner Williams
and the female rode away is • trap. She did not we
what became of the other man.
Sergeant Vickery said: La consequence of information
lie received, he went to Wareham with Supt. Brown on
the 26th October last. They went to the Lord Nelson,
and on going up stairs, they found Williams and the
female prisoner in one bed, and Clifford in another bed,
in the same room. Clifford jumped up end asked ' what
was up. He told them they were wanted for • highway
robbery near Dorchester. Clifford replied, "all right,
come on Williams." He took the clothes of Clifford, and
Superintendent Brown kook those of Williams, into
another MOM, and searched them. The prisoners then
dressed, and Williams said to Superintendent Brown,
"You prefer • charge against me, it's our duty to prove
our innocence." Superintendent Brown faked him his
name, and where he came from. He refused to give
either. Witness then turned to Clifford, and said,"l
suppose you 11.VC 110 nanie eitlit r 7" and lie replied " No
I have not, I have Ind it for some thee." Williams
afterwards said they were brothers. The female was left
in the bed room in charge of Mrs. Ellis Use superinten-
dent's wife. • They that want back and searched

under the beds, end between the bed end
ntattress where Williams land the woman were sleeniell
they found t purse containing moneY, and a ditty White
handkerchief, in which was wrapped more money. The
primners were brought back to Dorchester, and were
remanded three time.. Previous to the last examination
he was standing near the trent of the Town.hall when
the female paisoner called him sside, and soaked him if
the prisoners were brought up? She said they were
wrongly charged. She could prove that Orchard was
net rubbed by a man at all, but by a woman ; and to
chew that she knew something about it, she would
describe the pulse. It waft a blue silk purse, with two
i very rings, and It had evidently been knitted by a lady
—she supposed his wire. She added that if he went
with her, she would show him the purse, coil she then
took him to the Wellington. She did not show him the
purse. They had twopenny worth of gin together.
When prisoners were taken into custody they had Jam
Crow hats.
William Brown, superintendent of police, went in
company with last witness, and assisted in taking the
-prisoners. They charged them with highway robbery.
They searched under the beds, and between one of tbo
beds and mattresses they found a purse containing 10
sovereigns and a half in gold, and Its. 10d. in silver,
and wrapped in a dirty white handkerchief seven
sovereigns and two half aovereings. They wore donkey,
or Jean Crow hats.
Mr. Cole addressed the jury for the defence, and
maintained that it was a most eatraordinary. cir-
cumstance, if any robbery had taken place, Mr. Winter
who icas mid to have picked the pricircutor up, and the
doctor who attended him, had not been called. Ile did
not th:lda tbrre were cry sipipiriao• eiretimstctites
C,mnuivrt 1 su ib the money being found under the bed
Where the prisoners slept. It was undoubtedly placed
there for safety, sleeping as they did at • public house
where there were all sorts of characters. Their bleeping
in Dorchester on the night of the robbery was a strong
proof of innocence, and that the woman, in telling the
police-sergeant that she had seen the purse, was simply
stale got up by her to clear the prisoners.
The learned Judge, in summing up, said there was no
charge against the women, who acted as the wife of
Williams. He reviewed the evidence and pointed out
-that it was by no means necessary to call Mr. Winter
and the doctor u witnesses. They knee nothing of
the Matter. The question was, first, did they believe
the prosecutor had purjured himself? Had be been
robbed or not? If he bad were tbe prisoners the men?
The counsel for the defence had spoken of mistaken
identity, but if permits had in some instances been
mistaken that was no reason why they always should
, be. the asked them to take • common sense view of
the ease, and to return a verdict accordingly.
The jury, without the least hesitation, found
the male prisoners guilty, and acquitted the female.
The prisoners protested that they were innocent, and I
said the prosecutor knew as well as they did they were '
not the mcli who robbed him.
The learned Judge, in pacing sentence, said the pr!.
loners had been convicted after a trial which had occu-
pied a great length of time, and, after the learned
counsel for the defence had used their best endeavours
in their favour, be thought the evidence was such as
must have satisfied any 19 reasonable men that the
prisoners were two of the persons who committed this
highway robbery, and be perfectly concurred with the
decision they had arrived at. He had no doubt the
prisoners had come to Dorchester for the purpose of
robbery, that they were well acquainted with the busi-
ness, and that they knew how to act to ward off suspi-
cion. After addressing them at considerable length, his
Lordship sentenced the prisoners to 15 years' penal
servitude.

NTIALINO THE TITLI DUDE TO AN ISTATIL
Robert W. Pollard, • brewer, was charged with
stealing a tin box and a certain written parchment, of
the title to • certain real estate, the property of William
Monckton, at Fontinell Magna, on the 2lsl July last.
—Mr. Floelca prosecuted and Mr. Edwards defended.
The prisoner had been previously convicted for the
offence under another indictment, and the Judge, altar
hearing the case, directed the jury to mama him, there
being no evidence to substantiate the present charge
against him,

HIOHWAT ROBBERT AT PORTLAND.
James Sykes, Thomas AhtMC, and Francis Seal were
charged with violently assaulting Charles Bishop, on
the public highway at Portland, and stealing from him
in money, a purse, and • pocket handkerchief. Mr
Counts prosecuted, and Mr. rooks defended the pri•
!toners.
It appeared that prosecutor went to Weymouth on
Sunday, 28th October, and on his return to Portland at
8 o'clock that evening lie went to • beet shop in Wake
ham, where he had two pots of beer, and drank with
the prisoner., who belonged to the 11th Regiment,
stationer' at Portland. He left about 10 o'clock, and
although he could not tell whether he had to turn to
the right or left when he got out to go home, he was
perfectly sober. He had not proceeded far before
three soldiers came along, knocked him down, and
rifled his pockets. He afterwants went to the barracks
with Superintendent Brown, when he identified Sykes
and Magee as being two of the men. Superintendent
Brown searched the kits of the men, and a pocket
handkerchief, which prosecutor identified, fell from the
bed 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 had known him 26 years, and his
character was exceedingly good. Had known the
others since 1848, and their characters were also good.
The prosecutor had himself been convicted for felony.
and also for leaving his wife and family chargeable to
the parish.
Verdict, "Not Guilty."
ASSAULT WITH MUNCH AT BINOOHDR.

Henry Gale, Elizabeth Danis, Jana Lucas, John
Doris, and Rickard Saimaa, were charged with assault-
ing Louisa Haines, and putting her in bodily fear, with
intent to steal her money, on the 13th November last.
Mr. Coaens prosecutod.—The prosecutrix is a laundress
residing at Bincouibe. On the 13th November she
started for Dorchester. As she was proceeding up
Ridgeway hill, she saw the prisoners, and kept behind
them. When they arrived on the top of the hill, two
of the men sat down and the others stood up. One of
the men asked her for 3d. She told him she had no
money. The woman said she was not going to the city
without money. Prisoner Gale then struck her down,
and Elizabeth Gale also struck her and threw her dress
up. She was stunned, and when she came to herself
she found her pockets had been turned inside out, and
the handkerchiefs and book was lying by her side.
Her money, which she had taken the precaution to put
in the bosom of her clothes, was safe. The prisoners
then were gone. The prisoners cross-examined wit-
nese and she denied that she stated before the inagia-
trate.' on the 13th November that Davis, Sullivan, and
Lucas were walking alone some distance before. Pro-
secutriz denied having stated that, and the Judge said
it was not in the depositions, and Mr. Solly, one of the
committing magistrates was sent for. Prosecutris
denied having told the police the prisoners were not
the people. She had never had any doubt of the identity
of the prisoners. They were also identified by James
Thomas, who met the moo about half-past 12 o'clock on
Ridgeway hill.
Mr. W. Manfield, jun., said that on the day in ques-
tion he was driving on the Weymouth road. He met
the 5 prisoners about 1 o'clock on the Dorchester aide
of Munckton 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. Promoutrix identified the
female prisoner at once. She had some little diflicelty
in identifying the men at Ind, but she afterwards
recognized Gale as the man who knocked her down.
The prisoners in their defence before the magistrates
denied having met anyone between Broadway and Dor-
chester.
Mr. W. H. Sony said he could not recollect anything
more of what took place on the 13th than he took
down on the information simply to justify • remand.
The Judge, in summing up, said the question for the
jury to say was whether they believed the prim/marls
had been knocked down by Gale, and struck by Elizabeth
Davis, with intent to rob her. The mere removal of
anything from ita place was an act of robbery, as in this
case the book and handkerchief were removed from her
pocket, though left close by. Then the jury had to con-
eider whether the whole of the prisoner* were acting in
! concert.
• The jury found all the prisoners" Guilty," and they
were sentenced—Henry Gale to seven years' penal
icr-
vitude, and the other prisoner* to 18 months' hard
labour each.