The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-01-29 00:00:00

Drammut. OF • PoILICY obSTABLZ.
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Mr. A%I.INu. before the businew of the meeting
roil, menc. d, wbhed to re,k under what circumstance.
And lot whom, II police constable named Aldridge ha.l,
been discharged from the police force. He understood
that he had been Tot 8 months in the force, and that
no cnniplaint 1.4 bean made against him by his
.mperinienilent. In short, hit amewititendent evoke
very highly of I ,aa he believed he would make an
..acellent conAtable He (Mr. Ayling)asked the que.tion,
as, till altar the asan's dismissal, lithad not heard a
ward about it. _

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Tbe lilaToa aid a akarp bad been made against the

policeman. filet when he WAR in the employ of Mr.
1:01.1, of H.et. RR gaineki• pry., herhot Imre, en 4
chi.ree4 another permon with it. The aubject wag
rofvrred to A COltimitt.p, and on their report, which WWI
1111f$V0111,1111e tO t OHM lie Was dischkrgi l.

Ilr. Onew *aid this ass the first he had heard of the
circumstance, and asked the Clerk to read the minute.
The ClA:nu said there had not been • minute Liken of
the circumstance, SA although the man bud been on trial
7 or 8 months, a longer period than usual, he hail ne:cr
been regularly appointed. It apiesred to the com-
mittee, who investigated the Cabe, that the policeman
in question had made a false clrirge againet smne
parties, who 1101111 surcharged in consequence ; but it
afterwards being found out that they hail been wrong.
fully convicted, the county magistrates reversed their
deekion.

Mr. Andutt said the affair took place three years
an. Whoa the man applied for this situation, the
master, Mr. Boyd, gave him an excellent elle•
rscter, and he understood that he said the charge made
agaiu‘t the man wax utterly false, and was now brought
forward because he had been the 1111Canil of convict ing t
He understood that Mr. Wroth Lethbridge had acknow•
ledges' shooting the hare which Aldridge's acieusert said
he had shot. . .

Mr. DREW thought that the cue looked like one of
persecution.
Superintendent LIDRERY am then called in. He
stated that Aldridge wee taken on trial al a policeman
on the let June last, and that he bad admirably con-
do tedi himself while in the force. He came with an
excellent character from Mr Roy& (for whom lie had
teen gamekeeper 5 years.) Mr. Addison, of Ito.lwell, and
Mr. M..e.h, of chickerell ; and lie was in hopes of keep.
ing his. es he believed he would make an excellent
constable. He saw Mr. Royd on Monday, and on his
telling him the charge that had been made against
Aldridge, lie said it was all false, and that it was node
out of malice. The hare that it was amid he had shot
and falsely accused others of doing, had been acknow•
'edged by Mr. Wroth Lethbridge as being shot by
him. . . . .

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Mr. JUHN TIZARD asked when this charge was made.
Ile hid not heard the aubjcot broached at any of
tin-jr meetings.
The Msvoa said it occurred at tLe meeting before
list. just as they were separating.
Mr. Mourning said that a complaint well made that
they were employing • man whose word could not be
taken, as he had. whoa • gamekeeper, ender Mr. Boyd,
accused Mr. Lucia's's' and his party of having killed a
brie, when he himself killed it. After the meeting be•
fore last. lie and Mr. liar., and the Town Clerk went to
Mr. Idickham, and ascertained from him that the re-
port made against Aldridge win correct.
Mr. HARR said the cue appeared to them to he a very
bad one. pelt appeared that Aldridge shot the hare, and
charged Mr. Lockham end his party with the offenee,
and they were convicted. They, however, afterward*
proved to the satisfaction of the magistrates that
Aldridge had sworn falaely, and the line wu reuiltted.
The name of Mr. Lethbridge was not then men.
tinned. . . . .

Several members expressed their astonishment that
the charge had been made, and the man discharged, and
thy had known nothing of the circumstance.
The Cl.flie said the man was not discharged—he was
simply called upon to resign. They did not want to in.
jure the man, and the worm taken was out of kindness
to the man to prevent exposure.
The MAYOR read • letter from 8. Pretor, Eaq„ of
Wyke Regis, to the effect that whilst Aldridge was in
his service, he found him sober, honest, and industrious,
and that he conducted himself in every way respectable;
and that he mid the man's friends trusted the Town
Council would reconsider the matter, and reinstate him
in his former position.
After considerable discussion, Mr. ATLING said he
would place • notice on the paper with • view of moving
a resolution on the subject at their nest meeting.
The CLIME then read the minutes of the previous
meeting.
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