The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-20 00:00:00

emeriti Netts.

A WITCH Sroße.—The following case, which was
heard before the Bench at the Teignbridge petty sussions,
is given in the Western Times :—Johns V. Jackman.—
In this case an old woman named Elizabeth Johns
serninonel • young woman named Ellen Jactsaan, for
assaulting her on the 15th of July, by
scratching her arm and making it bleed. Mr. Francis
appeared for the defendant. The evidence adduced
went to show the extent to which ignorance and
sui!:
isnt.ll, prevail
oldin sworn of
.t heco
eightyun)trey.
years
isotfriacgt;
T
bears the very doubtful reputation in the village in
which she lives. of being a " witch," and every unusual
occurrence in the parish is ascribed to her supernatural
agency. The defendant, • young woman, about twenty
years old, is the daughter of • farmer in the same
parish, who had been so unfortunate as to loge some
cattle through sicknees. Their (loath was, or course,
attributed to the evil doings of the " white witch," who
had " overlooked" them. About the time the assault
complained of was conenitted, deft-whines father had
some pigs which were diseased, and this was also set
down to the " ill wishes" of the complainant. There is
an idea prevalent aniungit those who believe in the
supernatural powers posecue.d by "watches." thet their
nischinations inay be rendered nugatory by trawiug
blood from the " witch" with • rierty nail ; and this
was the plan adopted by Miss Jackman to free her
father's swine from the devil with w••ich witch Johns
had invested them. A plan had been concocted betweeu
defendaut and game of her neighbours to inveigle com-
plainant into the road, on the pretence of seeing the
comet. This was carried into effect, and complainant
with • table cloth wrapped round her shoulders. by the
suggestion of one of the plotters, accourpriuied them
into the laue. (It should be said that the charm cannot
be disselved unless the witch be enveloped in white).
While they were standing in the lane, plaintiff came up
and joined the party, whilst defendant was saying her
prayers (which sonic of the witnesses said elle was
saying hack werds) she caught her by the wrist, and
inflicted several scratches on her arm, which bled very
much. Having thus performed phlebotomy, according
to the rules kit down for counteracting the effects of
witchcraft, defendant expressed her satisfaction at the
way in which she bad performed the oeeration, by
saying, " it's all right now ; the old b— can't witch
us no more now." Two or three witnesses were called
for the complainant, who beard defendant make use of
these words. Mr. Francis. for defendant, denied that
any assault had been committed, but the bench thought
otherwise, and fined Miss Jackman 2s. 6.1. awl 12s. coats,
GALVANISM, BY ITS WONDERFUL IDENTITY with
Nervo-electric force, is the very spring of life, and the
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CHAIN BANDS AND BATTERIES in Rheumatism,
Nouralgia,Head and Tooth Ache.Spasina, Aethina, Bren-
t:lllWe, Indigestion,laverCornpleint, Paralysis, Epilepsy,
Nervous Deafnees, Nervous Debility, &a., is proved by
numerous authentic reports extracted from the Scientific
anal Medic 3 Press, which, with a great variety of private
testimonials, are comeiled in • painplil,t, "Pt•l.Velt•
MACHU'S UPWARD MEDICO-GALVANIC SYSTEMUFSELF•
APPLICATION," gent post free, on receipt of three stamps,
by .1. 1.. PULVERMACHER awl Co., 73, Oxford • Meet,
London, adjoining Princess's Theatre.- —Mein Gratis.
PERILOUS POSiTIoN or A ROPEAV AL ECR.—Tlie
second of a series of Pes whit ii commenced with Mr.
E. T. Smith's proprietonhip of Creirionie took place
nu Monday. the notable feature of this occasion being
the performance of the "Female Blondin," who walked
along a role which had been stretched from the
esplanade across the flour-mills on the opposite bank.
This feat, taut an perilous, perhape, as it luny appear to
be, was neverthelees invested with a rinfficient quantity
of &tiger by unforeseen circumstances. The rope on
the Cremorne side was deficient in the number of gamy.
lines and weight' necessary to keep it steady; and
when the performer reached the timber support over
which the made cord passes, at • distance of soine five
or six hundred feet from the esplanade, die found it
difficult to proceed. After some futile Attempts had
been made by the attendants to remedy the imperfec-
tion, the " Female Blondin" started from the halting
place where she had stayed for more than helf.an-bour,
and proceeded about a dozen yards along the remaining
portion of her journey ; but she found the rope go very
far from deserving its ordinary appellation that she was
obliged to back with all !wettable speed to the little
perch on the summit of the support. Here she stopped
for another tedious interval, an I then for a second timo
essayed a completion of her task. By dint of courage
and perseverance she reached the middle of this final
length of cord ; but her position was new the more
unpleasant, from the equal difficulty of returning to
going on. The rope swayed so violently that she was
compelled to take • sitting posture, and fresb attempts
were male to fling hues over the mien cord, with the
purpose ^I steadying it. These attempts were evally
abortive with the first, and had to be ebaridoned.
Meanwl its the performer bad wisely chosen her seat
near • couple of weights and their attendant guy-lines
I!. Was very fortunate that she was able to do this, as
the final incident of the scene proved. Dusk was coming
on, when she threw her pole down in despair, and
began to lower himself by the small lines. Though
they must have cut her hand terribly she maintained
her hold with • courege that all the spestators must have
admired, even while they trembled *for her fate. A
boat liad been rowed to her relief, and she descended
into it amid hearty cheers.
A DeitrERATIS PoACHIIII.— A t Bridgenorth, on
Saturday, James Higgs, of Wolverhampton, a noto-
rious thief, who has undergone four years' penal sea.
vitude for felony, and been committed numberless
times for poaching, wee brought before the magistrates,
charged with trespassing in pursuit of game Ott the
lends of J. C. Whitmore, Esq., of Apley Hall, near
Bridgenorth, Salop. On Wedneeley night one of the
keepers, named Cooper, employed on the Apley estate,
was engaged going his rounds, when has attention was
attracted by • rustling in the underwood. The night
being an extremely dark one, he was some tirue before
lie could ascertain the cause of the noise, but at length
be Was enabled to perceive the form of a mar., busily
engaged in laying out a net. Favoured by the darkness
the keeper was enabled, unperceived, to keep close to
the poacher, and seize the net. The poacher, although
somewhat steggered at first by the audilennese of
Cooper's appearance, sprang at the keeper, forced liim
to the ground, and, seizing him by the throat, tried to
strangle him. Cooper, however, managed to untie his
neckcloth, and, leaving it in the poacher's hands, was
enabled to recover his feet. Higgs then attempted to
get away, but the keeper's son, soooniparrial by a dog,
coming up at the time, he was pursued and caught, the
dog pinning him by the arm. He was subsequently
remanded.
"GARIBALDI'S EISOLISHYAN."—The celehreted Cul.
Peard, who has obtained Imola world-wide renown as
"Garibeldi'a Englishman," in consequence of the daring
feats which he performed with his rifle while accom-
panying the army of General Garibaldi. was entertaired
at • banquet at Ty wardreath, by his brother Cornish•
men, on Monday evening. The gallant colonel, in
responding to the toast of Ina health, made • long speech
no the past, the present, and the future of Italy. One
hundred and ninety gentleiuen sat down to dinner, and
the-proceedings were characterised by • genuine display
of enthusiasm.
THE DRAWBACK ON PAPP-B.—The Chancellor of the
Exchequer has given directions, and made the necessary
arrengeruements with the Commissioners of the Board
of Inland Revenue, for the allowance of grant or
drawback on the stock of leper in hand to stationers,
pasteboard makers, paperodainers, and other dealers,
bolding above one ton, on the hat of October next, the
day on which the paper duty expires.
AN "Aserm" VOLUNTRIR.—During a shooting
match between some volunteers on the ground at
Blacklev, on Settirday, an old man, 76 years of age,
named Edward Whitehead. as native of the •illage,
made his appearance, and claimed the liberty of
shooting with the others on the ground that be was
one of the "Old Volunteers." His request caused no
little merriment, which was quickly changed into such
astonishment at the masterly manner in which lie
handled the rifle; out of ten shots at 200 yards be
merle 13 points, ranking second idiot on the ground,
being beaten by Captain Porteous, who scored II
points.
THR CHASHIL SQUADRON.—The Cork Herald says
that orders have been received by Admiral Erskine to
proceed with his division of the Channel squadron,
lying in the harbour, to Kingstown, to await the arrival
of her Majesty at that port. It is understood that
after her Majesty's departure from Dublin the orders
ef the fleet are to go on a cruise to the west of Ireland,
and thence return to Cork, from which, notwithstanding
whet may be said to the contrary, the Herald is
informed it is likely the Queen wi'd return to
England.
_ .

CAPTURE Or WIE &LER —The OrkNey Herald says :
"From the late unfrequency of the visits of a bottle•
nosed wanderers from the polar regions, it might per-
haps have been inferred that they had bottled up the
recollections of the sad fate of such of their race as had
previously visited our shores, and Lad finally 'turned
tail' upon us, if they had not indeed resolved to abide
henceforth within the comparatively safe precincts of
their own icv homes. Not so, however, for on the
morning of Wednesday last the inhabitants of Bourin, in
the Island of Noway, observed another large arrival
moving about in the anchorage of Huhu, and not more
than 300 yards from shore. Crowds of men, women and
children were forthwith collected, while several boats
pot off to Intercept the retreat of tVe whales seaward.
The huge animals allowed themselves to be quietly

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driven toward% Use shore by the men in the boata, and
li, a abort time they w:re stranded, the boats still
ki eying close together to onset:nit their escape. Int medi-
at ly the ma, with sharp hnitrumenta, rushed on them
nil in • abort apace the whole of them, to the numb. I
of nearly .ixty, were eaptur,..l. Some of the fidi
measured about eighteen feet long met sixteen f •et ie
eireniiiference. On Friday the whole were sold, awl
reali,el U n sum of ticailr 1:210. the principalmir .I:asera
being Mr. CiAifiC, 11011.tIld, R.•01.3y. Lila Mr. Malcolm
Green, Ki akwa l, in company with some others. In the
miniver:dive failure of the lien ing liAing, we congratn-
late oar Bossy friends on this' 500011
rather .ay ocean gift.
Vitn.BST OUTitsn• CIPJN A You Su Won A:it . tit the
West Itidit.g Court-laetus:, on Tu,d3y, Julep!' ILirskow,
architect, qiceoshead, was charged with committing
• rai.e on Mare .Marpl,.., aged 15 years, the daughter
of the Rea. J. M.rrie4, Independent minister, Union
Croft. the precious Frista niht. On account of Mr.
Morels.' haying a visitor a minister (von a distance),
it had be^n arranged that she should sleep that night
at the bowie of a friend, a deacon if the church. She
I left home abaut eleven o'clock, and it is affirmed that
lon the way she wiss met by Bairstow. who soccnted her,
I and ultimately carried her out of the road and cam-
witted the crime.