The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-08-16 00:00:00

BOROUGH POLICE.

SATURDAY.
Before (C. Edmunds, lie.i.), and Mesini. T. Edmunds
and H. Cornick,

MIL BUCKNOLE'd TliEol.o,ll.—A LIVELY CASE.

At the County Police Court a Saturday, Mr.
Daniel Pearce, retired, West Alington, appeared to a
summons issued at the complaint of Mr. Josiah
Ilucknol' . talor &c., Aliugton, who alleged that Mr.
Pearce threatened to smash him. He requested that
he migh find sureties as he felt in danger of his life.
Much interest was felt in th • case, and a large number
of tract:men were present in court. It havi• g been
known that the affair ems° out • f a theological
difference of opinion betwe m the parties, and Mr.
Bucknole's love for questioning the Divine inspiration
and author;ty of Holy Writ, being equally well known,
no doubt contributed to the unusual interest taken in
the common charge—a breach of the peace. Mr. W.
H. Manley appeared for Mr. Pearce, the defendant,
but Mr. Hulot le defended himself. Mr. Manley did
not admit the charge.
. . . .

Josiah Bucknole7contrary to expectation, took the
oath, and cot= need with an elaborate address to
the Bench, iunoring the frequent requ-sts oii the part
of Mr. I lundry and the magistrates to confiiie hintself
to th- incidents of the 10th inst. At length complain-
ant was understood, in the interval. of his ramblings,
to Ray that ab ut ten months ago he introduced to the
defendant a ma.iazine called " Truth Seek-r," to read
an article. This led ti a theological confliction
(laughter), and whenever he m-t defendant after that
he noticed in very severe frown on his countenance
(laughter). On Wednesday last he was near the
Market House talking to Mr. Kenway, when Daniel
Pearce was behii.d him. The very moment their
eyes met he got at complainant like a sayswe dog.
The Mayor : He did not bite you? (Laughter.)
Complainanti: Ile muttered at me, threatened to
smash in and with a rou:h course expression repeated
his inferior-animal-like threat and looked at me with
Indescribable ferocity. He said he would like to give
me a Devonshire kick; called me a hypocrite ; said I
did not believe in God or devil. He abused my wife,
said I only had ray wifetokeepme ; and said, "Youold
snip; you old tailor, Go home; Go home." All this
was accotnpained by vehement gesticulations on the
part of complainant uttered in such a high key as to
cause peals of laughter in court.
Complainant : " I felt that if any man thirsted for
the Wood of another, that man did for mine"
(laughter). I said "I thought you were a Christian
and I told him I was a tailor and a gentleman."
Mr. Cornick : "A gentleman tailor did you say ?"
(Lau;hter.)
No' sir: A taller and a gentleman ; I feel that I am
in bodily danger, I do; I ; and the appearance of
the man! (Laughter.)
By Mr. Manley: "When I called for the took I
did not say the Pearces belonged to the ignorant rec..
I said Christ was not the only man who would have
died for men, that I would do s . to-morrow, if needs
he- Defendant did not say I was a lion, but said I
had a deal of the lion in me." (Laughter.)
The Mayor "You said just now thst defendant
looked at you with indescribable ferocity; have you
any idea bow you looked?" (Laughter.)
Mr. George Kenway, rope manufacturer, South.
street, for the prosecution, said he was conversing with
c ouplainant when he heard a groan behind him,
afterwards repaated. Complainant said "Stop a
minute," and turning niund facin,..- defendant, asked
him if lie was addressing him. Pearce said to him
"Don't speak to me, you old villain," or such words.
Witnetw said he should leave, but complainant asked
him to stop, but witness declined. He afterwards saw
a mob of people, but did not see the row. Some
mention was made about a track which defendant had
refused to have. Could not see any provocation for
Pearce's conduct. Ile advised complainant to go on:
did not think complainant was in danger,
Mr. Andrews. cooper, /leaminster, said Mr. Pearce
appeared excited, and heard something said about
tracts. Pearce ',aid he should like to give him some-
thing with his fists, and threatened defendant what he
should lik to do.

Complainant : Did he not look morn lik an excited
animal than a man?

*havn't had much experience."
(Laughter.)
Daniel Wakely, butcher, deposed that complainant
walked up to defendant, and he heard Pe ,rce say "Go
away (min me you 01 I hypocrite," putting up his fists,
and complainant said to witness, in presence of defend-
ant, " I am as strong as a lion I am ; see my jMnts,"
and said he had hit many a man up against one of
those things at the fair. Witness answered "I
suppose you always strike straight out from the
shoulder?" and he said "Yes, that's how I do it."
(Loud laughter.) Defendant mid he should like to
give complainant the Devonshire kick. He did not
see complainant was in danger.
. . . .

This concluded the evidence, when Mr. Manley
submitted that it was a trumpery and ridiculous case,
and should never have been brought before them.
The man wanted to thrust his theological opinions upon
defendant. He had gone through a chow in the
Court to excite the sympathies of the people, but had
only excited laughter and ridicule. lie felt sure that
the Beach would not bind down the defendant, but if
they thought proper to do so, he should ask them to
bind both ..ver.

_
The Bench decided to (hatpins the cane saying it 'WM
a pity it should have been brought before them.
Loud applause in Court followed.