The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-09-22 00:00:00

THE ROBBERY AT WILTON TERRACE.

Caroline Roberta, and lames Madden of the Royal
Lrtillery, were charged at the Petty Sessions on Friday,
with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of James
Lewis, and stealing thence 14 electro-plated spoons, nine
electro-plated forks, and • pair of sugar tongs. The case
was heard after the last examination of the McDemotic
—The artilleryman, who appeared to he very ill, was
seated in a chair: it was said he had been invalided home
from India with liver complaint.
Jane Britt, of No, 2 Wilton-terrace, Radipole, swore to
the forks and spoons produced. She missed them on
Tuesday. They were in a cupboard on the first floor, and
the window of the room was opened, when she found it,
on Tuesday. The spoons were not tied up, but rolled in •
newspaper.
Lucy Carey, of No. 2, Wilton-terrace, said that in the
night, towards one o'clock on Tuesday morning, she was
awaked by a great noise in the house. She arose, got a
light, and listened, hut thought it was caused by the people
next door. She threw up her sash. and five minutes after
heard fireirons rattle- In the morning she asked her land-
lady if she thought there was any person about in the
night: but Mrs. Britt said it was the people next door.
John Rhodes, about five o'clock on Tuesday morning.
saw the prisoners in his shop together.
Sergt.-Major Henry Muttons, ILA., said the male pri-
soner was absent from barracks until about half-past 7 on
Tuesday morning.
Charles Form, of the Nelson inn, saw the female pri-
soner there yesterday afternoon. She nroduced the
articles of plate now before the Court, and he took pos-
session of them till he purchased the Tefrgearn in the
evening. when he saw that the articles were similar to
those lost, and he took them to the Superintendent.
Sergt. Harvey went to the barracks for Madden, and
when krriumer was charged he first said he knew nothing
about it, and then afiked the sergeant whether he arrived
at the cotarlwkion That he was the MAR because Ile was
absent all night.
. . . . . . . . . .

Supt. Vickery said last night alsnit In o'clock. the pro- !
party produced was given to him by Force. and he caused '
the female prisoner to be apprehended. When brought to '
the station he charged her with briniking into No. 2,
Wilton-terrace, and stealing the property produced.
Cautioned her, and idle stated that she found the property
in the road close to the railway bridge in Dorchester. She
afterwards stated that it was given her by one of the
Royal Artillery, a man who had been sick with the liver
complaint She said she was sitting down by the road,
when an artilleryman came running up to her, and gave
her the things to take care of, stating that he was going to
desert They went on the road towards Dorchester. and
went into Mr. Ithodea's coffee house together. This
morning she pointed out the male prisoner as the man
who had given her the property. —Cross-examined : The
female prisoner sail she saw him first about 12 or one, he
believed ; they walked a little way, and then he said lied
altered his mind about deserting, and he would stay a
little longer. The bridge wits about half a mile or quarter
from Dorchester.
Sere.. Ilarvey apprehended the male prisoner at the
has-racks, told him the charge, and eautioned him. Pri-
soner asked him —upon what grounds I Witness replied
—upon the statement of the female prisoner. Madden said
he knew nothing of it, and neve' saw her till the morning
when he wanted a little assistance, and she gave him a
cue of coffee in Mr. Ithode:s's shop.
l'.C. Horn apprehended the female prisoner last night,
and told her what she was charged with, when she said
she picked up the things mar the railway arch, on the
Dorchester road.
Mr. W. C. Senior: On Monday night last, I recollect
seeing an artilleryman pass St Jelm's church, and he
naked -me whether it had gone one. The female prisoner
overtook near Argyle-terrace, walking toward Dorchester.
It was between 12 and one.
Mrs Britt, re-called, said her door was locked when she
went to bed on Monday; but she would not say if the
window was fastened. Prisoner had not been in the habit
of coming to her house.
Mr. Senior wax recalled, and in cruss-examinatien by
the female prisoner, said that she said to him " I wish I
could walk as fast as you, for I want company; and don't
know where to go." Ile replied "You had better go
home.

Prisoner Roberts said she was going towards Dor-
chester on Monday night, and when half-way on the road
she heard a footstep and sat down to rest. She afterwards
turned round and saw an artilleryman. Ile said he was
on the road, about to desert. He had these things in his
hand, and waked what mhould do with them. He maid
another artilleryman. who had deserted the same night,
gave them to him, and he should think they were stolen
Pro_Pertl-
The sergt-major. in answer to the Bench, said no other
artilleryman was absent that night
Prisoner continued that, at Madden's request, she took
the things until the morning, when be told her not to do
away with them. She asked if he had taken them
himself, and he said no, they were given him by a chum
who had deserted..

" The pri.r.;;;—pleadod not guilty, and wore committed
to the Awilaft.