The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-08 00:00:00

AN UNRECOGNISED DISTRIBUTION OF

BEEF.

On Saturday a sharp-looking customer—a Brigs? roan—
described in the charge-sheet as Jonathan Lane, labourer,
of Longtloot, MA brought up in custody, beiore the Mayor,
charged with atealing a piece of beef. wow In weight,
and valued at Ila., the property of Mr. T. P. Souk butchur,
of the Parade.

—lli iii7pltilunt called sofficiaot evidence to justify a
remand.

Burt, • lad, is the employ of the prosecutor,
proved seeing the prisoner lurking outaide the premises
about seven that evening,
William Scott. a railway porter, also noticed hiss hang-
ing about. He appeared to be very much taken with the
appearance of the meat, and expressed hisopinion to Scott
that he shouldn't think butchers had much relish for it
after pulling it about so much. Scott agreed with him,
and west into his si I-box.
P.C. Lee at terwsrd, apprehended the prisoner, and be
was brought to the station, where he was identified by
four or five witnesses, among whom was
Frederick Long, who gave his evidence very clearly. Ha
said he was passing by Mr. Soul's shop, when he saw the
gentleman in custody leaning UP *game the side. This
attracted his attention, and he waited and watched him.
In • few minutes he walked across to the other aide of the
street, and looked at the shops very attentively, and
seemed to have his eye on the meat. He then crossed beck
again, and passed and re-passed the shop two or three
times Than he watched the lad Burt out of the shop, and
went and tried to take • pies, of beef as he passed with
one hand, but it was too much for him. He then crossed
the road and spoke to the potter, and peee.d him (wittier,.
He walked attar him to take a good view of his features
and his dress. Prisoner hesitated • moment, and than
walked acme' and took the beef with both bands, and wee
going off with it, but he let it falL He (witness/ upon that
ran across and told Mr. Soul, and prisoner hurried off down
the High.street.
Prisoner moos-examined the witnesses to show they were
mistaken in him, but they each teetered they were certain
his_ was thitmen. _ ,

-- ---
In reply to him, Long sal/ he did see s womaa pass, and
he believed if abs had not come along at the time be would
have picked it up aea,n.
Prisoner (to the Mayer): Is this into justified in saying
what he believes. He may state what be ham seen.
The lityor : What be believes is no evidence against
you.
Prisoner: That's what I thought, and I don't call it
business at all to let

Prisoner said he should call witnesses to prove he had
not entered the town ten minutes before he was appre-
hended.
He was then remanded till Monday.
On Monday the prisoner was brought up, 011 remand,
before Mr. C. J. Stone and Mr. F. Millie); when Mr.
Dickinson. in. appeared for the prosecution. Tbe semis
and additional evidence was called.
Long. the smith, who saw the robbery, reiterated his
positive belief that the prisoner was the man.
Orossexamined by the prisoner: He said he was not
a very good scholar. He knew the attars of an oath, to
tell she truth, but he did not tuuler.tand much about
law work. _

Prisoner: No, I think sot,
By Mr. atone: He knew that if he took • false oath be
sipped against God, and would be punished hereafter.
Prisoner And d• you also know that you are liable to
be had up and prosecuted beret
Witness: Yes.
Eimond Dyke, a labourer, of Blue Boar-lane, proved
'ming the prisoner loitering about the shop, and that he
made an unsueces•ful attempt to take something from
the shop He (iritnees) ends man named Biggs, who was
In his company. Went across to Kr. Biker's glawhoossi•
and then they saw a boy coins out of the shop, and the
Prisoner went up and took a piece of meat from the slab
and let it fall down outside. A young man soda woman
went scree, and the prisoner went away down the street.
He was perfectly sure the prisoner was the man, as they
had met him full in the face.
Prisoner crose-ezenined the witness am to his identlti,
but, could not shake his evidence.
Scott, the potter, repeated his evidence.
JtUtee Butte, labourer, corroborated Dyke' evidence.
The lad Burt also stetted, as on Saturday, that he had
seen the prisoner loitering about the place.
Kr. George Posner, builder, of Poole, deposed pegging
Dyke and Biter% and hearing one say to the other "Twig
him 1114 VI, now he's going to take it, and he looked across
and saw the prisoner Mks the meet from the slab and
drop it.
Mr. T. P. Soul, the prosecutor, simply gave evidsere
sa to finding tl II meat on the pavement and pickis it up.
Hs subsequently had the mad cleaned off it and
It to the police.
P.C. Les proved that from Scott's description he
apprehended the prisoner, who wasted to know the
charge, which he t 7.11 him de would know when he got in
the station.
This was thecae. for the prosecution.
In answer to the Bench, the prisoner said he wished 'be
awe to he settled there, for he had no mosey, otherwise
h• could set critneeses. He had been locked up since
Prides, sou the only woman in court who could speak for
him wie his wife, who had four little child/ea
Kr. Stone: If you want a remand, you can have it.
You bard he ad the charge are you guilty or not guiltY.
Prisoner: Well I want the case settled, so I most
plead guilty. The longer it is kept about the mare my
wife nod children will suffer.
Mr. Stone told him he had no need to plead guilt,: he
could miltu his statement and call witnesses.
Prisoner said, them he would just maks a statentwit.
Or Piidsy he wee in Wimborne, and never left there till
stew dark. He walked as fetes the await with a beg of
bowie, weighing about cwt., on bL bark, and an ad
chair on his arm. He went in and had somehow, and •
brewer's cart then came on and took him into Poole, put
-
Wig him dove at the railway crossing. Ile walked through
the town, with the bag on his back and the chair sable
arm, and did not stop until he got home, where he
rcamined about Sr. minutes, and then went with his wife
to airs. Harmer's, and thence into the market where be
was arrested. • little girl would prey. that, and “Gelt•
tale" Gibbs would state that he met him in the street.
awl be them had the Wags on his.

MY Shone: You us have It edjorarned.
Primus : 1 am Mud et @topples in Mu gesupp.
it.pitp Stout, a pirl of about 15, was th.ocalled by the
prisoner. and raid ors Tridsy evening. shoot a Quarter.
put run, she was in Mr. Luse's house, when be came in
and broucht is 051 la b•ck • bigot binge, sod an old chair
in hir band. Mrs. Lane was not in, and ths prisoner went
out to look tor h*r
In answer to Mr. Dickinson, she s .id she knew the time
barsose Mrs..psne told bor..
. .

-m-a-n-4;bbit had mum he would hive
thrown a different light upon this come.
Stotts: If you think I should adobe you to have
edjournmant We will di,. you every opportunity to
wove your are inn west, and would he very sorry to punish
you if you are innocent. It would also be wrong of you
to lie under the stigma if you can prove you are not
guilty.
Prisooor : There's a difference between the prosecutor
and Inc lie has rot plenty of money. 'derma! have &Oa
a gr!pciarrsa (ivagistrato clerk) immured the prisoner
that it he dogtrod to summon witnesses subparts.. would
be issued without his bring rallod upon to pay fat them.
Primmer: That's where 'tis even If that Rua Gibbs
ooins, you mio there are 5 or 6 witnesses suds lawyer
spina, um.
Mr. Stone : Mr. Dickinson has not been pressing the
on.. &Kohut you. You have had a vary fur trtaL Re
to. only asked toms quoitloos •htch were asompary.
Prisoner: Then •ettle it at onos ; but I think myself a
very unfortunato man.
Tim magistrates. having oongultad Mr. Stolle, gladrags
log tbe prisoner, told him he would be flood mid this
expenses,. or in default of payment one month's hard
taboo/. That was as lenient a molten** as they felt Nati-
fled lb imputing, and it was so laniont simply in meridian-
tion of his wife and family. He deserved a math more
mews punbdimont.
Prtaotier : Will you give um • week to papist
MI. (Potts No; but you will retools in custody at this
station WI to-morrow, and if in tit* msanwhilo you es•
get the money, well and good.
Prisoner But 111 Can get boa 3•0041 to COMO sad promise
to pay It (of ins?
Mr. : The magistrates think In your cam that
pertaael mostrity la the twat.
Pria..nitr : Very yolk then. 11l go to Jail, and the next
month I get it shall be for doing sanethiug, not nothing.