The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-23 00:00:00

&mai Ncbos.

Tex finum—We are very glad to be able to state
that this unreasonable movement is almost at an end.
Messrs. Lucas have now nearly their full number of
hands of all trades: Messrs. Kelk have also nearly all
their hands, and at Sir M. Peto's they are coming in
very fast. The most important step towards putting an
end to the dispute was made by the men at Messrs.
Lucas's a few days since, when, after a meeting, they
decided by a large majority, in defianee of the trades
union, that they would bind themselves to accept
the Saturday half-holiday and the hour system of pay-
ment. _ . .

FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.— A very serious boiler
explosion occurred at Jarrow Paper Mills, on Tuesday.
The engineman was killed on the spot ; a little girl who
was standing by received injuries which it is feared will
prove fatal ; and a glazier and Ins assistant, who were
at work outside the boiler shed, were hurt by the
falling stones. The boiler, which exploded, was
entirely destroyed, a second was upheaved from its
bed, and a third deeply indented by the force of the
explosion. An inquest was held on the body of the
engineman on Wednesday, in course of which the
origin of the calamity was investigated. The witnesses
examined differed in opinion as to the strength of the
exploded boiler. Mr. Ainaley, fireman of Mr. J. B.
Palmer, who had examined eh, place, expressed his
belief that the disaster occurred through the collapsing
of the tube from overheat—the pressure clew minutes
before the fatal °mercers:so being 3lbs. above the
ordinary working figure. The jury rt.turned a vesslkt
ascribing death to the explosion, but Mating that they
had not satisfactory proof of the cause of the berating
of the boiler.
AN INTIDTI, LaCTDRER IN THE enUNTT CoURT.—
HtAphenson M. Struthers, reporter, of Wigan, sued
Charles Brieltiugh, an infidel lecturer, who haK
summed the title of " Iconoclast," for Cll 15. , heiog
the balance of an arcs-min which he alleged WAS due to
him fort seport and debate which bmk place in WigAn
in February let between Mr. Hub longs iii thelc
fendant, on " Whether is Cliri-tianity or S•enlariem
beat calenlated to promote lium ii lisprineui T' Tilt
defendant disputed the Chai.ll. sod eross.ez oiiiiied the
plaintiff, but without shalt log his evidence. Ou the
defendant taking the hook to be sworn, Mr. 11.iyiliew,
solicitor, sake I him if he belivve.l in the reli,..iots
old;g.tion of an oath. Mr. Kr oil it,....giv
ohjectA I to the question, loowiting. ho vever, ih it he
was willing to he sworn ; hat the Julie rule.i hit it
must be put an I refn-ed to allow the defend oit to
make an •fflrmation. The Jod.ge slain ssko.l whether
the defeud•ut believed in the exiatence of a aniirriiie
God, and he arnteered that he objected to give •
reply, as, if he replied in the negative, it would subject
him to • criminal prosecuti ~,, . The Judge ; "'Then 1
*ball not permit you to give ally es i hence At all, an I
I think you cacaie very well in nut being aelit to gsiol."
The defendant then addressed the Court, connoen ed at
length upou the plaintiff's evidence, and trusted that,
although preveuted from giving evidence. lie should
suffer no iiijustice. The Judge sail that Mr. Bvaillaugh
woul.l. meet with the mime measure of justice as any
. .

- . .
other but he was bound to meaaure out
iti,tice according to the legAl Amu:hint —..ccurding
'idea luila recognised and become fundamentally part of

the law of the land. The plaintiff hailiworu ihit;m we.
a certain contract, and nothing lied been extracted from
him on the part of the defendant to shake his teetimuily
in that pirtieulsr. Under these cileuiiiiitemxii, lie we.
obliged to treat this as an un•iefended cave, and the
verdict would be for the plaintiff for the full amount.
M or A delle'e CKEW. —There has be.m
another awfnl umainicre at the Solomon greup.
Tressury Islsail has this time been the Arena of native
treachery And bloodthirstinesa, the inhabitants having
destroyed the American whaler Supericr, ai butchete
26 of In r crew in cold blood. The lives of six who bed
secrefrd themselves were Apared en the intercession of
one of the chiefs in order that they might till the Lind.
The two principle chic(' divided these uien between
them, each taking three. Captain Mair, of the schooner
Arel, succeeded after a great deal of trouble, in rescuing
three of these men ; but the other three still remain ill
captieity, and at the mercy of the chief Copan, who
had been the principal in the inavivacre of their
comrades. It was only by ober. • g possession of a
relative of one of the chiefs, ani by keeping him in
irons till the three luau wiiom his kinsmen held in
durance were restored, that Captain /lair suceee led so
far as he did. This news was brought by the Rebecca.
and one of the men belonging to the latter vessel we.
murdered at New Ueortia, during a treacherous ettack
upon • beat which was mi a watering expedition. It
is to cie hoped that prompt me ...lures will be inken for
the rescue of the three captive. at Traasiiry Islsnil.
if
atill alive, and for the punishment of the murderer'.
A. it u Amencans who have suffered, t erao is inure
chance of such pi-v.11,44nde than if the nlere4 crew
had been British sohjeota, for the American Goverl,.
meet audit, naval officers are more prompt in avenging
injuries to the citisens of their country than are the
Government and naval authorities of Britain.—Srdsiey
Moraine Herald.

GRAND RIFLE FETE AT llTTHlL—We4nesday next is
fixed for the grand rifle fete and contest for prizes open
to volunteers, artillery, and "all comers." The fete is,
by permission of klajor.General Hay, Inspector-General
of Musketry, to take place at the ranges of the School
of Musketry, Hythe, and the prizes are of considerable
value. A great concourse, both fashionable, military,
and
it
uv.si
volunteer, is
:sr expected.siNiilzLACK B Sea.—By the Treaty
of l'aris it was decided that Russia should nut build for
the future any war-ships in the Black Sea. We under-
staud, however, that accounts have been forwarded to
this country from our agents that the Russian Govern-
ment are at this moment engaged in constructing • err.
fain number of steam-vessels at Nicolaieff. Explana-
tions have been demanded on our part, and the reply
given is, that these ships are intended to he employed
as transports. The French a short time since made •
similar reply on • like occasion, bet subsequently the
transports then in question were very quietly added to
the efficient strength of the French navy. The Russians
stay very possibly follow the example thus set thsin.
EXTRAORDINARY BURGLARY.—A burglary of an ex.
traordinary character was committed at Sheffield at an
early hour on Thursday morning by James Jowett, •
pen and pocket blade grinder, aged Di years, who was
captured on the premises and taken before the magic.
trate* the same day the burglary was committed at the
house of Mr. James Torr, manufacturer, Radford-
street. Mr. Torr being on a journey, the only persons
who slept in the house on Wednesday night were Mrs.
Tore, five young children, and 1411 apprentice named
Albert Wilson, who has known, and, to some extent,
associated with the prisoner for two or three years.
Mrs. Torr retired about 11 o'clock, the other members
of the family having gone to bed at an earlier hour. She
fastened the doors and window shutters, merely, how-
ever, putting • latch over the aneck of the kitchen
door, because it opens into an enclosed yard, the iaige
doors of whizh were securely fastened. She was kept
awake by her baby, and hail a light burning until about
two o'clock Thursday morning. Shortly after she blew
out the light she beard a loud whistle in the 'street.
She got up and went to the window, but could see no
one. She returned to bed, and bad not been there
many minutes before she raw on the wall the flickering
of a candle, which was evidently just outside the
chamber door. She instantly rang the bedroom bell,
and called out for the apprentice, who slept in the attic.
Directly afterwards the bedroom door, wliith was closed
but out fastened, was pushed open, and • man whose
face Was concealed with a black cloth mask, entered the
room, carrying a lighted candle in one hand and a large
knife in the other, with apparently • carving blade.
The intruder leaped upon the bed, held her down
with one hand, and, brandishing the knife over her
with the other, demanded to know aliens her money was.
She replied, " I have none," and continued to scream out.
He put his thumb upon her throat, and, holding very
tight, threatened to murder her if she continued to make
• noise. Her little son, who was in bed with her, cried
out, " Do'nt murder mother," and the burglar replied,
" I will, and you too, if you don't bold your 'mice."
He then held the knife over the child, on which Mrs.
Torr again called to the apprentice, "Albert. Albert !"
as did also the little boy. Prisoner said, "11.1 Albert
you," and Was approaching her again, when one of the
children, who slept in another room, entered
the bedroom where the burglar was, crying
out " Don't murder mother." The fellow jumped
off the bed and ran towards the child, who escaped
downstairs. Mrs. Ton then rushed to the bedroom
window and gave an alarm. At this time the appren-
tice was on the attic landing, but dared not descend,
because the burglar stood below brandishing his knife.
Fortunately other assistance WAS at hand. Polioe-con-
stable John Leaper, on passing the house shortly after
2 o'clock, was attracted by the noise of • scuffle, and,
listening, heard a woman exclaim, "Don't kill my
children ;" a man reply, "Give me some money, then,
and let me go ;" and • child cry out "Don't murder
mother." The constable endeavoured to get into the
premises, but found the yard doors and gates fastened.
While he was trying to force thew, the burg.
lar, who had taken alarm on Mrs. Torr calling
out of the window, opened them from within, in
order to escape. liumediately he opened the gates he
was seised by the constable, who, seeing • large knife
in his hand, was about to strike him down, when the
man called out, "Don't bit use, and I'll give you the
knife." He then quietly surrendered. When salted
what he was doing. prisoner replied, " I wanted their
money, and should not have hurt them if they had
given it to me. If her hand is cut she loss done it her-
self. I had nothing to eat, what could I ? The
prisoner had left his mask in the house, and had on •
pair of cloth slippers. He was iwmediately afterwaids
recognised as the young man Jewett by Mrs. TOM as
also, by the apprentice, who exclaimed, "Thee a coin
pinion of mine ; thou deceit-vest transporting." It
appeared that the prisoner bad visited the apprentice
at his workshop during the day and been ordered away
by Mrs. Ton. He had no doubt weereted hilueelf in one
of the workshops" (where his boot' were found) before
the premises were closed, and had thus had easy access
to the house through the kitchen door. The whistling
outside leads to the supposition that he bad accomplices.
Mrs. Torr had received • considerable remittance from
her husband on Tuesday, hot had paid it into the bank
on Wednesday. She cut one of her hands rather
severely with clasping the knife to prevent injurr to
her throat when struggling with the prisoner. The
prisoner said nothing in defence, and was committed to
take his trial at the next usices at York.
Ahaaxieo RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT BISHOP
STORTFORD.—On Thursday morning, about 3 o'clock
an accident of an alarming iliaracter took place at the
above station, which happily was not attended with any
serious consequences SA far as lots of life was concerned,
though some of the parties have been severely shaken
thereby. Two very heavily laden luggage trains came
in contact with each other just as they were about
tutoring Mohair kiwi ii•zrel Ono engine W• 11 a 1111134
buried in the other, and five or six Wagons loaded with
merchandise of every description, including barrels
full of beer, hop bags, crates, &a., were
smashed to pieces. The lines were completely
choked up, and traffic for a time was coin'
plOtely 'topped. The most extraordinary part of the
affair is that, with suah a powerful concussion, the
drivers and stokers were not much hurt.