The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-05-17 00:00:00

Dcbonsbire.

KINGS/BRIM S.— Church Repairs—The old tower
iS about to be taken down and rebuilt, a new roof to
be erected on the church, and varions other repairs
and improvements to be mule. The expense, esti•
mated at 41,200, will be defrayed partly from the
low& fund, and partly by subscription.
• •• - -

A poll for a church•rate was taken at Sidinouth on
Wednesday weak, and at the declaration of the poll
Wednesday, the numbers were announced to be
—Fur the rate, 6•5 ; against, O; maj wity against,
12. This is the first tone that a rate ha* been
refused in Sidmouth, and the affair has caused much
excitement and ill feeling. The proposed rate RIO
the second rate of the year, and its object was to
defray the expanse of enclosing the burial ground.

Beisesv.—At the Guildhall, Bodmin, on Friday,
before the Masor, Mr. John Ward, and Captain
Liddle, John Belling, watchmaker and silversmith,
was charged with bribery, in having given Thomas
Chapman, farmer, residing at Halgover. • county
parish within the boundary of the Parluunentary
borough, £lll, for the purpose of inducing hiin to
vote for one of the eaudidatai at the recent election
for Elocimin. The charge was laid under the second
section of the Corrupt Practicer' Prevention Act
(1854). Mr. Whitellurt, the honorary secretary of
the Ballot Bociety, London, conducted the prosecu-
tion. At the recent election for Bodmin there were
three candidates—Mr. Wyld, the LOA member, and
the Hon. F. Levesou Gower (Liberals), and Dr.
Mitchell, a resident in the borough, who styles him.
self a "Liberal Conservative." The contest lay
between Mr. Wyld and Dr. Mitchell, and it was •
very warm one. Thomas Chaman deposed as
J
follows :—I know a man named ohn Belling, who
is now in court. On the 25th April he said to me
that if I would vote for Dr. Mitchell he would lend
me £lO, and I might give a note of hand for the
money. I said that I should not like to do any such
thing, and that if Dr. Mitchell was not returned he
would call on me for the money. He said he would
pledge his word and honour the note should be
given up as soon as the election was over. I replied
that I should not like to do business in that way.
He then said to me " Do you weeder the offer."
On Wednesday evening I asked what I was to do
with my second vote. He said, "Do what you like
with it, so long as you give Dr. Mitchell one." I
said that I had voted for Sir. Wyld at former elec.
time, and he said, " Well, I ilo not think you
could vote for a better man." He then said " I
want to bind you to secrecy, which you are not to
divulge to anyone—not even to your wife." I said,
" It won't do to tell the women every thing that is
done." Then he offered me two £5 notes, whico I
took. Before be gave me the notes he rose up, and
asked me to step beck into a darker part if the
room, which I did. He then said to cue " Take
this, and go out of the back-door." I then left the
house, and I went to Mr. Pearce, Mr. Wyld's
solicitor, to whom I gave the notes. In crosieee-
amination the witness said—he bad voted fur Mr.
Wyld at former elections, and promised him one
vote now. Mr. Wylddid pay him for voting fur
him before. He went to London before the election
of 1852—it was in 1847 or 1848. Had voted for
Mr. Wyld at that time. Went to London to prove
that he took • refreshment ticket for AL Made •
communication of what took place with Brewer to
Mr. Wyld. Mr. Pearce, Mr. %Fyld's solicitor, pug.
Vt the line of conduct witness was to pursue.
ir.learce instructed him to take the it oney, and
he went to Belling's house with the view of taking
it. Mr. 'bebop —My friend Mr. W Inte.iurt has
celled your attenti 111 l to the second section of the
Act ; but did Mr. Pearce read to you the third
section, which states that any person taking any
nomey or %reel% to do eu shall be liable to the
same penalties as the parson who offers the bribe?
Witness—No. Mr. Pearce del not then promise he
would keep him out of trouble. Was not aware
that he Will going to get into any trouble. Mr.
Wyld was present alien fie handed the two .e 5 notes
to Mr. Pearce. Mr. William Pearce, solicitor and
agent for Mr. Wyld at the last election, corroborated
the evidence) of the last witness, so far as related ter°.
ceiving the two t 5 notes (non hon. In cruse-examine-
noodle stated that be had advised Chapman to receive
the money, and that nc offence hail been committed
to his knowledge. Advised him to do this knowing
the law ; and gave hie) this advice iu order to detect
bnbery. The Bench retired, and after an absence
of about ten minutes the Slayer stated that they
were unanimously of opinion that there was suffi.
eient evidence to justify them in committing Belling
for trial for the offence. Mr. Bishop then applied to
the magistrates for a summons against Chapman, on
the ideneation of John Norden, charging him
under the third section, with a misdemeanour, in
having accepted a bribe, scoonling to his own con-
fession. The Bench were of opinion that Chapman,
to accepting the money, did so without any corrupt
motive.
ACCIDENT ON 'T/1s CORNWALL RAILWAY.—A
serious accident happened on this line on Friday.
The train to which the accident occurred was that
which was clue at Truro at 10.10 p.m., and con-
sisted at engine, two second-elar carriages, a first-
es,caa and a truck. When nearly at the
end of the f(rove-lane viaduct the train went off the
line and rushed along, tearing and destroying the
rails, sleepers, and everything it encountered- Just
as the truck cleared the end of the virduct, the
engine fell over into the water and mud, a height of
28 feet, carrying with it two carriages, asecond and
first. The guard and the peerages.' in the remain-
ing carriage del all they oould to render assistance),
and persons were also dispatched to St. Germane for
aid. After some delay all the passengers were
removed from their perilous situation, very few hay.
log received any material injury ; but three servanta
of the company lost their lives—Hoskin, the guard,
Briscombe. the engine-driver, and Hannaford, the
stoker. The body of the first-named was found just
after the accident, and thous of the two latter about
an hour afterwards, the rail of the engine lying on
Orin, and from their position it is presumed the
death of the poor fellows must hays been instan-
taneous.