The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-16 00:00:00

WIDNZSDAY.

The trial of prisoners was proceeded with this morn-
ing, the Right Hon. Lord Portman presiding in the
Ant court, and the Rev. G. P. Cambridge presiding in
the second. The Court having been opened with the
usual formalities, Lord Portman charged the grand jury.
He stated that the justices had desired him to preside
in consequence of the lamented illness of their respected
chairman, at whose absence he was sure they would
deep regret. Ile congratulated them on having a fore-
man of so great experience in the duties of the grand
jury es they had that day, but it would perhaps
'tree; then his bands if be were to tell them that unless
they ascertained there was sufficient evidence to place
a prisoner on his trial, they had better throw out the
bill, or they wluld in a measure defeat the ends of
justice, as, if the bill were thrown out, and additional
evidence was hereafter obtained, the party might be
again charged for the offence. He then referred to
several taxes in the calender, and subsequently dis-
missed them to their duties.

Edward Randall was charged with unlawfully
stabbing William Squibb, his brother-in-law, at Sutton
Pointe. Mr. Saunders prosecuted, and Mr. Hooks
defended the prisoner. The prosecutor mid he went to
prisoner's house about 12 o'clock, on the 14th of March,
and asked him about ill-treating his sister—prisoner's
wife. Prisoner replied that he had nothing to nay to
him, and knocked him down with his fist, and in fall-
ing lie knocked his father dowq. On getting up he
knocked prisoner down. Prisoner then went for a pick
behind the door, and said " You b-- b—, I'll murder
you," and struck him on the head with it,
and tried a second time to strike him.—Cross-
examined :--Had heard prisoner had called him
• rogue. Had sot drunk more than two gleamed of beer
that day. Saw P. C. Bond at the publichousc. flood
diurnt say "I'd be d—ul if I would be made a fool like
ibis any more." Ile said "If I were you, Squibb, I'd
let it drop, and would say nothing to tither party. At
this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Fooks suggested that
as this was • family matter, the prosecution should be
withdrawn by defendant making an apology. Lord Port-
man said that the seine thing suggested itself to him on
looking over the depositions. Mr. Saunders on the
part of the prosecution refused to accede to the request.
P.S. Hitch produced prosecutor's clothes, which were
covered with blood, and Dr. Brown proved that he
attended the imisecutor who haul a serious wound on
the head an inch and it quarter long into the bone.
Haul attended him several times to dreu the wound.—
Richard Squibb, father of prosecutor, corroborated the
evidence of his son, and Lord Portman said the further
they proceeded with the cue the inure painful it
became, and asked if this family affair could not be
nettled without proceeding. Mr. Saunders said that if
the case rested with him he perhaps might yield to
his lordship's suggestion' but the prosecutor knew
tours about the affair than himself.—P. C. Bond pro-
duced the pick, on which there was blood and human
hair when he received it.—Joseph Milbortie saw
soner with the pick in his hand—saw also the hatchet
in prosecutor's hand. There was blood on the faces of
both the prosecutor and prisoner. Mr. Ffooks made
an able defence to the jury, and tailed five witnesses,
from whom it appeared that Squibb ran to Bandall's
house in a very excited state, and that he commenced
the fray. The Court sututued up in favour of the pri-
soner.—Verdiet, platy of • common assault. Pri-
soner was ordered to enter into his own recognizancxs
of 00 to keep the peace for 12 months.
George Peaty, was charged with stealing a sack and
pick, the property of Odes Symonds, at Come Abbas,
and was sentenced to 6 months' hard labour.
Joke Chapman was charged with stealing a quart of
brandy, the property of William Sherwood, at Sher-
borne.—Sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. _ .

James Jest', • lad, pleaded guilty of stealing a florin,
the property of his master. Sentenced to 4 years in the
Reformatory.
Charles Thonser for obtaining, by false pretences, a
pair of trousers, • woollen shirt, and • collar, the
property of Lewis Phillips, at Weymouth, was sentenced
to one month's hard labour.
Edward Galpin charged with stealing 12Ibe. of brass,
belonging to William Lane, of Toiler Fratum, and also
with stealing Filbs. of brass, belonging to Edward Pope,
of Toiler Porcorum, was sentenced to one month's
imprisonment with hard labour for the IM offence, and
2 months' imprisonment for the second,