The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-10-26 00:00:00

WIMBORNE PETTY SESSIONS.

Before C. J. Parke, Esq., Rev. Carr Glyn, Rev. G.
V. Garland, Colonel Paget, W. Rolls-Fryer, Esq.,
Lieutenant-General Greathed, K.C.8., Lord Engine
Cecil, and Parke, Esq.. jan.—A young labouring
lad, named William Hodges, of Wilkhampton, was
brought up in custody charged with stealing a bushel of
barley, valued at 4a, the property of his master, Mr.
James Mitchell, of Dean's-lease.--The prisoner lodged
with a man and his wife named Pickford, and Mrs.
Pickford, wanting some barley for her fowls, the
defendant said he would get her a bushel for 3e. 6d.
from Mr. Mitchell's. He duly brought the barley, and
was paid for it. Unfortunately, for him, the next day
Mr. Mitchell was poising Pickford's, and the good
woman, overcome with the ides of having been
favoured with a bushel of barley at 6d. less than the
recognised price, went out and thanked him. Mr.
Mitchell, it appeared, had had no hand in the bargain,
and consequently Master Hodges's system of doing
Wainer was dectected. When charged with having
stolen the barley, he denied all knowledge of the affair;
but the next day he left his work, and did not allow
up again until he was taken into custody, when he
admitted the offence. He likewise now pleaded
guilty.—Mr. Mitchell did not wish to prom the case,
and as the D.C.C. stated that nothing was known
against the defendant, who was a native of Yeovil,
and who had been in custody since Monday, was let
off with a fine of 5a., and an appropriate warning.
—Henry G. Hicks v. the Highway Board and the
Way warden, of Kinson, threatened to ho a long case.
It was partly heard at the last sessions, and was a
summons brought by the complainant, against the
Board, for the nen-repair of a highway, in the parish
of Binoin.—Mr. Trevanion was for the complainant,
and Mr. Dibbeu for the Board, and there was a con-
siderable array of law books. A discussion of some
length ensued as to whether or not the case could be
re-opened, Mr. Trevanion contending that it could not,
that it had already been decided in favour of the nom-
plainant.—The Bench were against him on this point,
and then a summary curtailment of the proceedings
was made by Mr. IHbben, who put Mr. Wilson. one
of the members of the Highway Board, into the
witness-box, and who declared that the Board disputed
their liability. As it is one of the beauties of English
laws, that such temporary pleas can upset a came of
mere matter of fact, the Bench found their jurisdic-
tion ousted, and the summons had to be dismissed.—
Mr. Trevanion gave notice that be should prefer an
indictment against the Board at the next Quarter
Sessions.—Mr. Dibben asked forcosta—Mr. Trevanion
said a more monstrous request he had never heard, the
Board already owed him £43 in the matter, and the
only reason they were there that day was through
lathes on their part. The modest request, amid some
laughter, was ref used.--Charies Manna a decrepit-
looking old labourer, was summoned by the
police for having been drunk on licensed premises
on the 15th of October.—P.S. Hazard and P.C.
Bassett were called, and swore they hal seen the
prisoner drinking in • beerhouse, kept by a Mrs.
Harriet Fripp, and when he came out he was so drunk
that he fell down in the road.—Defendant loudly
denied the base insinuation, and declared that having
been nearly all his early life a well-digger, he had con-
tracted rheumatism, which was so bad that he often
fell down when he attempted to walk.—A man by
the name of William Wareham, who was in court
came forward, and bore out this statement, further
declaring that he saw the defendant, shortly on or
about the time in in question and he was then sober.
—The Bench under the ciommatancee gave the defend-
ant the benefit of the doubt and dismissed the
in omons.—A summons against Hrs. Harriet Pripp,
for permitting drunkenness on her premises was with-
drawn, bth she was cautioned that she had once or
twice previously been warned. —She knew that, she said,
but she was quite innocent this time.—Martha
Wilcox, of Wodlands, summoned William Sherwood,
of Horton, to show cause, Trevanion was for
the plaintiff; Mr. Atkinson, for the defendant, did not
appear. For the complainant witnesses were called,
among them her father who delared be actually
caught the couple flagraste delieto, and rowed hU
daughter about it afterwards, and others who had seen
them together near certain spots. This however, did
not satisfy the Bench, and the asse was dismissed.