The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-03-23 00:00:00

POZTLI.ND.

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LOCAL BOARD.—We hear Mr. G. & Andrews and
Mr. J. P. Scriven have announced their intention of
retiring from this Board at the coming election.
BOSCAWIN BOTB.—On Monday 70 boys from the
Boscawen went for their Easter leave. On their
return they will join the training brig Seatlower.
Navals—Sub-Lieut. R. H. L. Risk to 11.11.5.
BoACAWAO.—LiOUL N. F. E. Freeland t>
Warrior.
Miesloss.—Sermons on behalf of the Bible Christian
Foreign Mi.siotut were preached on Sunday last at the
Zion Chapel, Wakeham, by the Rev. I). Howes, of
Wells.
CONVILTB.—A number of oonvictshave been removed
this week. On Tuesday m trning there were six
invalids for Woking; in the afternoon 36 arrived
from Pentonville; and on Wednesday morning nine
weto transferred from Portland to Milbank.
EItiTICRTAINIIIXT.—A most plealing entertainment
was given by the memberd of the Easton Young
Men's Institute on Thursday evening. The programme
consistsd of readings compiled from "Uncle I outs
Cabin," which were interspersed with ap ropriate
music by the choir. The attendance was good.
FOOTBALL.-0O Saturday lest a match was played
on the Naval Ground between the Portland Club and
Mr. Hare's team from Weymouth. The latter was
very strong (comprising several men belonging to
the Portland Club), and it succeeded in beating the
home te.m by six goals to two. This is the only
match the Portland Club has lost this seas m.
H.M.S. BOSCAWAIL—Tbe boys belonging to this
ship had a drat in the Nsval Ground on Tu-nlity
morning. They came tui nhore and marched to the
ground beads I by their life.and-drum band, 'lley
presented • smart healthy appearance, and in their
robust and healthful look one can hardly recognise
the pale-faced and wan-looking lads who comprise the
drafts on their arrival here from bond n, from which
place nearly all of them hail.
A WARDER FINED .6115.

At the County Petty Peedons ,m Situr. ay last, Henry
Welters. late warder in Portland Priam), was ch..rged with
having on tho litth of January. whilst a ',remit in the
Convict Istablistiment. conveyed • letter on behalf nf a
cert..in p, honer, contrary to the St.itoie.—M,. Howard
appesrLd to prosecute on behalf of the Tre...10., an, Mr.
Ilttrm.tt was tar the defendant, wh piteled
Ho Nerd than stated the case, wging the beceseity of
mantain,ni discipline in suc'd an ea ablishinent. and said
te. woalty £5O. or ex m Atha' band/mutant 00
then Rave an outline of the cue, asying there was •
noviot in the prbon who had to ,ved in a g,ol pcktion.
There brought to the person directed t a
cerwin H. Jones, which was taken to the governor. and
the complicity of the defendant delentld.—Toe governor
then called the defendant, who •chnowledged his guilt
sod pleaded having been misled, and raid fur leniency.
was dismissed from
.the prison. and the novernment
. . . .

doided to pooecute. lie would ;i6sk
with the case on ita waits and as a waristug to others.
Mr. Barnett tell he could not light against the circuor

stances, but he would say there erns not a warder in the
mtablistamentwhe cool i produce I. tter walk:pedals. Re
was El years in the navy, ene 14 months in the could •I
t Moon ; his character was most exemplary, and he (Mr.
Burnett) thought a moderate tine would be sufficient,
altheugh he was quite aware an exmaple must be made.—
Mr. Middleton said the case seemed quits clear, because
the man hal pleaded guilty, but if the governor of the
prison (Mr. Clifton) wished to say anything as to the
deten lanes character they would be gid ts hear him, as
it might Wll/010 extent affect the deem, of the penalty.
M. C itton said he hal great pleasure in besting testi-
noon, to the previous good conduct of the defendant.
Every subordinate officer who joined the oonvict estab-
lishment was made acquainted by himself—for It was •
duty he never delegated to any one else—with the rules of
the establishment before he undertook his respundble
duties. In this case he (Mr. Clifton) pointed out to the
defendant the risks he had to avoid In joining the service,
as there were many men in the prison who belonged to
the some service as himself, and who had seen a better
poeition in life, who were always endeatiouring to elicit
the sympathy of the subordinate officers for the porpoise
of carrying on nefarious pre %ices, such as sending letters
surreptitiously and secretly obtaining money. It was
not so in this cam, which was seeking an appointment
from the friends of the convict in question. lie (the
governor) especially cautioned Walters against lending
himself to any such p action. Prisoner for the Ant 12
months served so well that he plaeed him in a mush
better poaition than he usually did in such cases He
heard from the officers under whom prisoner served in
the navy that be bore a inollt exemplory character, and he
gave mach proof of this during the first twelve months
of his service in the prima, that he put hint in • more
responsible office. The letter in question was addressed
to a convict named Jones, and there was an engineer of
the moue name in,the prison, and the gatekeeper thought
it was for bins, but the assistant-keeper imagined It was
for the couviet, and it was brought to him Mr. Clifton)
with other official letters, and on opening it ii his /Mon.
ishinent he found Walters had been sending out letters
in a surreptitious manner for Ulla convict. Although he
had said so much in his favour he could not help pointing
out the extraordinary evils resulting from this clandestine
traffic; many persons had been ruined by it, and money
obtained which never reached the convicts.—The magis-
trates retired for consideration, and on their return Mr.
Middleton mid the Bench had given the oasts their most
careful consideration, and the prisoner must be aware
from the position he held how very serious was the offence
with which be was charged, and it appeared the law
regarded it as the most serious offence that could be coin.
mimed in the management of a convict prime, and nothing
was more utterly subversive of discipline in an establish-
ment of the kind, which could hardly be carried on if such
things were aliened. The magistrates had decided, alter
much consideration, not to send him to prison, as they
might have done, but, regarding his former character,
they could not do lees than inflict • penalty of I:2s—half
the amount laid down by law—with the alternative of SIX
months' imprisonment in default.—Mr. Burnett said the
money would be paid.