The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

NIGHT POACHING AT LEWENTON.

James ll'orGy (40), John Bartlett (2s) James Larkin
(30), mid Siku Grey (3:1), pleaded nut guilty to an in•
dictinent chaiging them with being in company with
others, who were armed with guns, in enclosed lands
belonging to R. Gordon, Esq., of Lewiston, for an un-
lawful purpose, on the momihg of the 18th January
last. Mr. Stock and 31r. Woodford Rook.; conducted
the prosect.tion ; Mr. Edwards defended the prisoners.
We gave the full particulars of the examination of the
prisoners before the magistrates at Sherbonie, in •
recent number of the Express. The jury found all the
prisoners guilty, and Warby was sentenced to eight
calendar montlia' hard labour; the other three prisoners
were sentenced to be kept to hard labour for six calen-
dar months.

THE ROBBERY AT THE rorr-orricr, HHERBORNE.
Mary Awe Waters (15) wan charged with stealing a
pearl brooch from a pout letter, the property of the
Postinaster-General, at Sherborne, on the 2nd August,
18.58. Mr. Slade, Q.C., and Mr. Poulden, Q.C.. con-
ducted the case for the prosecution ; and Mr. Hooks
appeared for the defendant. After the case had occu-
pied a considerable time, the jury returned a verdict of
Guilty, and the prisoner was sentenced to fifteen cal-
endar months' hard labour, the Judge remarking that it
wan fortunate she was not in the service of the post-
office, or her punishment would have been much
heavier.
This terminated the business of the assizes.

YETMINSTLR.—RaiIway A ccident.— On Wednesi
day week, as the down express was approaching OK:
Evershot station, it being then quite dark and nearly
half-past nine o'clock, the engine came into violent
collision with some object across the rails. The
train was brought to a stand as quickly as possible,
and on the officers going hack to ascertain the cause
they found that a wagon and two horses had been
most impudently driven across the line as the
express was passing. The wagon received the full
shock of the train, and was shivered to atoms—the
horses were fortunately set free and got away with.
out injury. The policeman, John Ironsides, who
ought to have been on duty at the crossing was at
once taken into custody, and on Saturday be
was brought up before W. N. Afford, Eaq., at
Sherborne, for examination, chlrged by Mr. Burton,
chief superintendent of the Great Western Railway
police, with neglect of duty. George Avery, an
inspector of railway police, stated that he was in
the train, and in passing a level crossing between
Yetininster and Evemhot he heard a dreadful smash,
and the train stopped directly. He saw that some
of the steps had been knocked off the engine, and
the engine was otherwise injured. They found the
obstruction was &wagon, which was totally smashed.
On each side of the crossing were gates, and the
prisoner was the person stationed there. He (wit-
ness) gave him a duty paper in April Is.5S, stating
that his duty would be from the passing of the
first train in the morning till the express passed at
, night. It was his duty to see the line clear. When
/ the train pat back prisoner came up, and stated
1 that lie had called to the man to stop. The crossing
1 was about 200 yards from the Yetunnster station.—
The prisoner in defence said, there was no allowed
j road at the place. On his way to the station his
lamp went out, and knowing the inspector would be
in the train he went back to get a light. He heard
somebody at the gate, and wiled to him to stop.
The prisoner was committed to Dorchmitor gaol for
j2l days' hard labour. We regret to find that the
' railway authorities have taken no proceedings against
the driver. The lout who could cross a railway just
under the lamp of an express train richly deserves
to keep the careless gate-keeper company at Dor-
i cheater. The wagon belonged to Mr. Holloway,
miller. Fortunately, it was not loaded, or the train
would probably have been thrown off the line.