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

nLosy AT 1100RIL CRITCUELL.

Charles Laski' was indicted with stoiling two flannel
petticoats and one cotton vest, the property of William
Paytres, at Moore Critchell, on the 2211,1 January last.
The property was st.slata at the prosecutor's lodging
house, where he had slept, and was found ist the lodg-
ing Louse at Blandford, where the prisoner slept. Ifs
was seen to conceal something, and on searching the
pLice these articles were found. Primmer had been
twice previously cousieted.--Benteuee4 to 1$ mouths'
hard labour.

The Grand Jury on ecmcludinf their labours made the
following representation :—" Vs o. the Grand Jury, of
the County of Dorset, desire to express to her Majesty's
Judges of KUlie our opinion that the present scale of
ellowstice to prosecutors and witnesses is so low that
in all MO, • dislike to become prosecutor, and a
reluctance to give evidence, is induced, and in many
instaeces there is • failure of jussioe from parties
refusing or neglecting to bring cases forward, under
the spprelieneion of their doing no entailing the neemity
of appearance at the assizes or sessMns. The present
scale is wholly inadequate to cover the ordinary and
necessary expenses of any witness at the assize town,
whose situation is that above the labouring closes.
The uniformity of allowances to all castles is improptr
and unfair, since it is manifest that the accomodstion
which that allowance would furnish is not such as
elergynieu and other professional men and the higher
classes of tradesmen and their families are entitled to
whilst at the same time there are many in..tances
amongst those classes where the position of the parties
renders any call for increased expenditure • serious
obstacle to their coming forward to assist the public in
the suppeession of crime and the use punishment of
offenders. The Grand Jury therefore hope that your
Lordships will. represent the matter to the proper
authorities, that their attention be directed to such
alteration an will remove the cause of complaint which
now exists."

The business of this court tenuiusted st half past 5
o'clock.

(Before Mr. Justice Wit Lac.)
The Court opened at 9 o'clock.
PTEALING A PEWTER CUP AND • GLAM.

Mary Awn Vincent (42), wu indicted for stealing a
cup and glass from a publichouse in Dorchester on the
14th of Fehruary. Prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Purkit said he was the landlonl of the Coach and
Horses Inn. Prisoner was in the tap room on the 4th
of February with some other persons drinking. Pri-
soner was left behind, and after she had gone the
articles were missed. P.S. Barrett said from informa-
thm he received he went to the Queen's Head, Fording.
biu, and taxed prisoner with taking the articles.
She denied it, but on being taken into custody,
tie • articles were found in her possenion,
which were identified by Mr. Purkis, having
his initials on the pot. The jury found the prisoner
"Guilty," and a former conviction having been proved,
she WWI sentenced to three calendar munth's hard
Ben prosecuted.

1111:ALISO mem.
Thomfu Putt, WA4 clisrge.l with ctealinT quan-
tity iif metal. the property of hii. twister, at IN iniborne
on the s:h Fehrti,,ry. Prkoner ',lexica not
C.,nho proseente,l, 1111.1 Mr. IV. Ihmks de-
fen4e.l.
tle,.rge (Irak paid he was in the employ of Mr.
Urey, the prosecotor. On the Tali FOirilail he wail
repairing an engine. seta i,ikr,l everal artieks which
he WA. uaing. He riatv the brass cocks which were
taken from the prisoner, which he coula swear as being
I bit mantel's property, althangh they were broken up.
The pri.oner had nothing whatever to do with the

engine.
A marine store dealer P:11,1 that on the 25th January
he was in Wimberne, awl there saw the prisoner. He
asked Lim whethi rhe sekbed to buy some old metal
which he had at I . Witness said he did not nand,
and in the evening he bouzlat the metal, and gave the
prisoner 2s. fel. for it.
In cru,s-exavnination he said he threw the metal which
he bought of prisoner amongst a beep of old metal, so
that he could not swear to the article*. He sold the
metal purchased of the prisoner to another dealer, who
handed it over to the polietutan, by whom it m pro.

duced in court.
A statement was read from the -primner.whith shawl
that he sold the metal. but be did not steal it.
Mr. Ffooks, li. addreming the jury for the defence.
referred to the evidence of the marine athre dealer, and
said that half of the crimes similar to that which was
now before tlo• emirt, wt le caused hy such characters AS
the marine store di L:er,who had just given hisevidence.
The prisoner would not 1-ave ha-on in the position lie
tow was hail it i.ot been for him.
The learned Judge. in au 1111 l .ing up. icsid he agreed
with the counsel for the defence, that a great deal of
such thefts as that now occupying the attention of the
Court was in a great measure caused by marine store

_
dealers.
The jury returned • venlict of "Guilty." and a
former conviction baying been proved against bun, he
WWI sentenced to 6 calendar months' hard labour.
The jury in giving their verdict,. stated that they
were Norry the marine store dealer I self had not been
! placed at the bar, as they considered by his dirty con-
duct t list lie ought to have been indicted.
His I,onbiliip said he agreed with what the jury had
said, lout as it was against both law and custom he
could not do so. lie said. however, that his esiewies
should not be allowed, lie then addressed the dealer,
and warned him that in future the police would keep a
iut met at 4.11% %wow hivn, sad 6.1 would eartaii.ty dv.avve
any attention which might be paid by them to him.