The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-10-08 00:00:00

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Tex Petitions SU PPORRD To bi KILLID.—A fearful
calamity took place ou Thursday, at the South Illostyn
Colliery, by which ten human lives have been sacrifieed.
The accident was occasioned by an explosion which it
is supposed took place through the fan on the surface
which is used for ventilating the mine, as the shed
and building belonging thereto were destroyed. At
the time of the accident (five o'clock in the morning)
the night men only were in the shaft, and from all
appearances were on the eve of finishing their work
and coming up on the surface. lied the explosion taken
place in the daytime the ooruiequeuces would have been
mach more serious. The explosion was heard at • con-
siderable distance from the colliery, and in the immo
diate neighbourhood the shock vu particularly percep-
tible. The friend, and relatives were to be witneased in
the deepest agony, awaiting the recovery of the lifeless
forms of those dear to them, as they were drawn out of
the pit, and the scenes were particularly heartrending.
The bodies of the poor fellows wore not in the least
burnt or disfigured, and evidently must have been
suffocated by choke-damp. The fan in which it is
supposed the ex?losion took place, and which is about
100 yards from the mouth of the working pit, had only
recently been erected an • substitute to what was con-
sidered the dangerous process of ventilating by a
furnace. An appeal has been made to • sympathising
public on behalf of the widows and orphans now left
de di Lute. _

SlatioUS CIIARGS AGAINST • COUNTY iIAGISITILATIL
—At the Washaway petty sessions, on Monday, a great
deal el excitement was occasioned in consequence of a
charge of bastardy having been preferred against Capt.
William Moorehead, a county magistrate, who has been
in the habit of sitting at the above sessions for some
years past. The information was laid by Eliza IfilLa 'er-
rant lately in his employ. Mr.. Bishop, of Fowey,
solicitor, appeared for the complainant ; and Mr. Stokes
of Truro, for the defendant. There were twenty-four
witnesses called and eXamined, pro and con, rand the
bearing of the ease tasted eight hours. The result of
the hearing was that ea order was made on the defen-
dant for 2s. 6d. per week, mad he also had to pay up-
wards of 1:,6 meta. The whole of the proceedings were
of an extraordivary character, and created the greatest
excitement throughout the county.
FATAL PomOntso 01 TIIK LORD-LIZUTZNAMT Or
Ilinemotrrututiaa.--We have to record a melancholy case
of poisoning, which has resulted to thll death of the
lord-lieuteuant of Mournouthshire, Capel Banbury
Leigh, Esq. It appears that • few days ago, arrange-
ments were made for painting some of the rooms at
Pontypool-park, the seat of Mr. Leigh, and that
gentleman, who was eighty-five years of age, went to
spend a few weeks at Plymouth Home, Penarth, where
be was accompanied by • p3rlloo of his family, and his
valet, William Riddlesdale. While staying at Plymouth
House, Mr. Leigh received • slight bruise from a fall,
and his niedical adviser was sent for and prescribed
some medicine. At the same time Mrs. Leigh was
using • lotion for scone trifling ailment, and the bottle
containing the lotion and the medicine were placed in
tho same room. On Friday the valet gave his master
what he thought to be medicine, but which in reality
was the lotion and although the mistake was imme-
diately discovered, and every effort was made to coun-
teract the effects of the poisonous liquid, Kr. Leigh
speedily became worse, and shortly afterwards expired
in the greatest agony. The valet had been many years
In Mr. Leigh's service, and is distracted at the dreadful
mistake he has made.

SERIOUS CHARGE OF THROWING AT RAILWAT
TRAINS.—At the Warrington Borough Court, on Mow
day, three boys, namal Thomas Fairhurst, Henry
Hewitt, and Thomas Bradford, were charged with
having, on the 24th September, thrown pieces of iron,
or other missiles, at trains on the London and North-
Western Railway, near Warrington. The prisoners are
all employed at the Delimit Iron Works, which are
situated about • mile from Warrington Station, and
close to the railway, and on the day in question they
were seen by an official of the railway company to be
standing upon a heap of slag and cinders. As the
North goods train Caine up, about 10.15 a.m., he saw
Fairhurst take up something, put it into • sling, and
throw it at the engine. It was believed to be a piece of
iron or slag. The other boys were not seen to throw,
but they picked up pieces of slag, and handed them one
to another. Inspector Shell stated that offences of this
kind had become so prevalent that the directors were
desirous of making an example of the defendants.
Only • few minutes before this offence was committed,
a piece of iron was thrown at • coal train from the
same place, and fell in the breaksman's truck. At
Preston Junction • carriage window was lately smashed
by a stone, and several offences of the same kind had
recently corns under their notice. The prisoners were
committed for trial at the nest Liverpool assizes:
EETSAoRDINART BURGLARY ST TWO SISTERS AT
Baaprozw.—A. few nights since the premises of • Mr.
George SuppiLL, a grocer, of Bradford, were broken
into and robbed of £lO, a cash-box containing £5O
having been removed from • drawer, but left behind.
The following evening, detective officer Hartley appre-
hended on the railway platform at Hull, Louisa Rim-
saington, aged 17, and Eliza Ann Rimmington, aged
13, on the charge of having committed the robbery.
They at first denied the charge, but soon after made •
full admission of their guilt. Louisa stated that, on
Thursday night, they both concealed themselves in the
back yard of Mr. Soppitt's until the family had retired
to rest. Eliza then obtained access to the house
',rough the cellar window, awl opened the back door
to admit Louisa. On obtaining an entrance she passed
Toni the sitting room into the shop through a small
window, and robbed some drawers there of more than
£9, and • cash-box, but they left the box behind, think-
ns; they heard some movement upstairs. They climbed
over some outbuildings and got from the yard. They
took the first trAin on Friday morning to Ueda, and
afterward.' proceeded to Hull. They had expended
Dearly £7 in new clothing, including bonnets, jackets,
crinolines, kc. On Monday, the prisoners were brought
up at the Borough Court at Bradford. A rug stolen
Irons Mr. Soppitt's was identified as his property, and
the officer related the confession of the elder prisoner
as to the manner they had committed the robbery.
Louisa was some time ago in the service of Mr. Format,
but suddenly absconded. "She is " wanted" at Hull
for two robberies. Tie prisoners are the daughters of
• respectable journeyman miller, twirling at Bradford.
They were both committed for tits! at the assizes.

SHOCKING Surclinit.-An inquest was held at Glou-
cester on Tuesday afternoon on the body of • young
woman named Mary Ann Kerslake, aged 20. The
deceased was the daughter of a fanner living at South
Sydenham, near Tavistock, Devon, and had been in the
service of the Rev. H. Fowler, master of the College
&boo), Gloucester, as housemaid, for about a year.
Latterly her fellow servants bad noticed that she was
"flighty" in her manner; she talked strangely, told
untruths without object, and some nights would wake
the girls who slept in the room with her by praying
loudly, and on other occasions by her furious swearing.
On Sunday week she bad been telling some ridiculous
stories ; the housekeeper, who had known her from a
child, woke kindly to her, and she promised amend-
tnent. In the afternoon, instead of attending church,
she visited the dock, and after tea she accompanied two
of the other servants to the church door, where she
suddenly left them, and went to Hemstesd and drowned
herself us the canal. Her bonnet was found in the
canal on the following day, and some children's clothes
on the towing path on the previous day, but it was
thought that these belonged to seine other persons who
were reported as missing, and that the deceased had re-
turned to her friends in Devon. Search, however,
was made on Monday, and her body was found in the
canal. The jury returned a verdict of "Temporary
insanity."
FIRE ix DIANCHESTER.-1:20,000
Thursday morning a fire broke out in the cotton waate
warehouse of Messrs. Chadwick and Taylor, Miller-
street, Manchester. Corporal Davis, with two engines
and a body of men, immediately proceeded to the spot,
and found the names issuing from • number of the
windows on tho third and fourth stories. The ware-
house was filled with cotton waste, and in addition
hundreds of bales were piled up against the walls out-
sider Seeing that the fire would be a very formidable
one to °puttied with, Mr. Davis sent for the Salford
brigade, which promptly responded to the call. A good
supply of water was obtained and both brigades worked
withgreat energy to extingufsh the fire; but owing to
the inflammable nature of the contents of tini building,
the fire was not got under until five o'clock in the
' morning: The origin of the fire is unknown, and it is
stated that the damage will amount to nearly k... 10,000.
The premises in the neighbourhood of which this fire
hroke out have been on fire several times within the last
few years.
HONOUR AMONGST THIEVES. —A curious case was
, brought before the police magistrates at Southwark on
Thursday. A publican charged a prisoner with having
palmed on him forged notes. The prisoner retorted
that the prosecutor took them as stolen notes, and that
lie bad other stolen property to hiss possession. The
polioe-constables took the hint, searched the prose-
cutor's house, and were rewarded for their puns b
finding some silver spoons, which he admitted to have
bought from the utterer of the forgeries, and in cense-
!teener' he was made to succeed the man he had accused
in the prisoner's dock.
BRUTAL OUTRAGR UTOX • FKIIALL—On Monday
a meet brutal and unprovoked assault was committed
on the person of a young girl, 16 years of age, named
Dorcas Davis, residing at Churchdown, a village
midway between Cheltenham and Gloucester, and.
from the facts which have mune to the knowledge of
the public, a charge of • most serious complexion will
be preferred against nine young ruffians who were con-
cerned in the outtage. It iippears that the young
woman, who is unmarried, and the daughter of revolt-
able parents, was passing along the highway towards
liar home, when also was met by a ',arty of young
men returning to Cheltenham from the Gloucester
" :nip," who, without the slightest provocation or
intimation id their intention, fell upon her, threw her
down, and took meet unwarrantable liberties with tier,
awl in doing so inflicted serious injuries upon her
person. One of them knelt on her throat, while the
others criminilly assault..d her. She managed to effect
her escape, and gave information to the police, who
apprehended on Wednesday night, in Cheltenham,
seven gut of mine of the young men kuown to be im-
plicated.

EXCITING SCLNY..—FIVE MOPE Lien SAVED PT TNII
ROYAL SOCIETY'S FINN ESCAPIL—Os Thursday morn. I
ing, about half-past three o'clock • fire. nearly attended
with fatal consequences to five human beings, happened
in the premises belonging to Mr. G. P. Kay, licensed
victualler, end proprietor of the George the Fourth
Tavern, situate at S. ltichardetreet, Linehousedlelds.
The discovery was made by a police-constable on the
beat, who despatched Conductor Hardway, of the
Royal Society's escape, statioued at Stepney. The
instant the conductor received information of the event
he started with his escape, and upon reaching the spot
he new the landlord at the first-fluor window with •
child in his arms ready to drop either upon the atone
flags beneath or into the arms of anyone who might 1
chance to come up. Conductor Hartlway at once un-
shipped his first-floor ladoer. gallantly mounted, and
brought the child down, a girl about live years of age,
thus saving, to begin with, one life. He next ascended
again, and got out of the bunting premises • young
woman about eighteen year, of ageln a aime of aaapor,
she having been nearly staff by the heated smoke.
He then ascended for the third time, and rearmed •
girl about nine years of age, also partially exhausted.
Fortimately the child recovered under proper medical
assistance. After that he had saved the mother of the
children, and eventually saved the father, who refused
to leave the
att herninizo7TlMilailie untilhe wassaiislied that
boi• hia bad bola tweael. g.as

amended, and having entered the room, alreedy fillea
with smoke, Im saved the eaehhox. book', ke., and by
the time he reached the emend Um isabas had taken
poesession of the entire WWll's'. Three MOMS 01 tie
London Brigade, under Ir. Bodges. the Mild caw el
the D district, and Engineer Naidema, ware promptly
in attendance, when they found the whole el the
lti
MI well as the budding, mending out inmenee shea4
names, which were attacking the houses ea the opposite
aids ef ths carriage road. At that period netbdag short
of the entire destrustion of every hoses neat meld be
apprehended ; but there being • good supplyel the East
London Company's watir obtained, the Ire was
eventuallyovercome.-Another fire, attended with a pub
lose of property, happened on Wednesday eight is the
premises belonging to Mr. FL Boston, fuser, known as
Low Dell Farm, Walthametow, in Ifamex. The out-
break began in • building. needy 110fese long, end
the fames quickly communicated with the boner-hoes..
A scanty supply of water only meld be procared from a
pond, and unfortunately this sufferer was uminettrel.—
Another fire took place during the night in tie
premises of bfr. a Dudley, • butcherhwasereryirs 2 (411
business at No. 8., Devonehire-plueLc -road
East It commenced In the first 1110Ort mod MA,*
extended to the upper pert of the lofty building. The
flames could not he extinguished until thiorakss
were nearly destroyed and the red burned . The
cause of the misfortune is unknown. A strong badly el
polies attended at each firs, and rendered ementiel aid So
the firemen by keeping great crowds from obstructing
them in their dangerous lineations.
DEATH OF A LADY THROWN FILIGRT.—For seem
weeks put the villages along the baae of the Yorkshire
ruoorlands have been kept in a state of ferment owing
to a series of impudent burglaries which have been com-
mitted in several farmhouses. So daring were some of
theme proceedings that the thieves actually took Um
money out of the pockets of the servants in their bed-
room without awakening the owners. At length one
of the gang have been secured. Early on the morning
of the 27th ult. the house of Yr. Skelteci, of Yount
Pleasant, Lebberxton, was forcibly entered by two wee
armed with guns, who ransacked the lotus, aeourini
£24 in nsmey, and • quantity of plate. Mistily emcee.
The burglars, with the mostaucluiess °Deimos, walked
through the house with lighted torches, their penes*
being neither masked nor disguised in my way, thee
rendering identification easy. They metianally
threatened 11r. Skelton's Wolf he did notgive up to them
all the valuables be had in the bottle. Yr. and Dn.
Skelton, and two servants, were the iemates of the
I house, and their terror was nab that Mo.. Sleeken who
was in delimit/ health, died in the morning, death 6
hastened by the fright canoed during the cominiselonl
the burglary. One of the thieves wee afterwards apple-
headed, and the police hare obtained such information
as ills expected will speedily lead to Me apprehansioe
of his accomplices. _

A MODERN JACK 811111THMID.—At the Doncaster
police-court on Thursday, persont William Sheardown,
EN., and Alderman Dunbill,—Joseph Boyd and
Thomas Henson were brought apt Kbarg•ll with stealing
a quantity of lead from the cottage at the top of
Chtquer lane, formerly occupied by the pzdener to
Thomas Walker, ZVI., but in consequence of the
absence of one of the witnesses the CMOS
WBS remanded until Friday. The prisonen Wen OW
vcy,-.1 beck to the gaol, when they wen lodged in set.-
rate colic About an hour and • half afterwards the
prironcr Hanson, who is • mairomd vgaboad mg a
dosperate thief, was observed on the roof of Wm pal
by some persons in the street, and they immediately
gave information to the police. In the mantises, bow-
over, Hanson had got to the back of the gaol, and drop-
ping down on to wnse low buildings adjoining, reseberd
the ground in safe •. He then made off as hard as lie
towards

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Marsh-gate Sr