The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-02-22 00:00:00

Voroet Conntl exprtss.l

DORCHESTER, TUF-sDAY, FEBRUARY 21, DM.

DORCHESTER.

TINVERREOR Ssamos. The Rev. W. Martin,
Premitive Methodist Minister, preached • special
temperance sermon at the Temperance Hall, Pease.
bine, on Sunday afternoon. There was a good attend-
ance. Mr. Merry presided at the harmonium.
TIDI 75th Regiment, stationed at Chatham, is to be
immediately brought up to full war strength by trans-
fers from other corps. The regiment is one of the first
for foreign service, and it is said the reason for increase.
jag its present strength lathe possibility of further troops
being required for the 'Transvaal or the Gold Coast,
In which case the 75th would be one of the first
regiments to leave.
ADDRESS= are announced to be given at the Town
Hail this (Monday) and Tuesday evenings, in connec-
tion with the Dorchester Young Men s Christian
Association, to commence each 'venial.: at eight o'clock.
The 'Wren's will be given by Mr. George Ilefford,
formerly a working man, and all classes are invited to
bawd.
A Putestao btemirtir.-0a the 31st ult. the principal
Inhabitants of Winton', near Bristol, assembled in
the schoolroom for a very interesting proceeding. Dr.
W. O. Coombe, of Felton-house, after many years'
residence, has entered upon another sphere of duty,
and having endeared himself to the residents in this
and other parishes by constant Ws of generosity and
frequent gratuitous medical attendance upon the poor
and others, a subscription was set on foot, and a very
handsome marble clock, manufactured by Benson, of
London, was purchased. This, together with an
Illuminated addnars, was presented to Dr. Coombs.
The company was a large and representative one,
including the Rev. It Tripp (rector of Winford), Rev.
A. Wadtnore (St. Katherine's), Dr. Hale (Chew
Magni), Messrs. Hamlyn and Perham (of Wrington),
and several ladies. After partaking of a well.pre-
pared tea, provided by Mrs. King, Winford, the Bev.
H. Tripp presented the testimonial in the name of the
subscribers. Euloa.:stic speee.es were made by the
Rev. H. Tripp, Messrs. liamlyu, Perhiun, and Dr.
Hale, each commenting upon the wcrth and excellence
of Dr. Coombs and the great less the district was
about to sustain. Dr. Coombe replied in an eloquent
In which he thanked his numerous friends for
L.litch• k
andemne present. A very pleasant evening
was spent. The address on vellum, hrudsomely
Illuminated, was as follows :—" Presenter' to William
Godwin Coombs, Elul., M.D., of Felton House,
Winford, together with • clock, on his leaving the
neighbourhood after many years' resident's, as •
memento of the esteem in which he is held on account
of the many acts of kindness rendered by himself and
family to the poor, and as a recognition of hie genial
and generous-hearted disposition universally evinced
to all pardes.—Signed, on behalf of the subscribers,
IL Tripp, M.A., Rector of Winford. Dated 24th of
January, 188L"—The above will be read by many in
this neighbourhood, who remember Dr. Coombe with
much pleasure when he was Assistant Medical Officer.
under the present Medical Superintendent, in charge
of the County Asylum, at Foretop. Dr. Coombe was
very generally esteemed and respected, not only by
those officially connected with the two asylums, but
also by those placed under his medical care and treat-
ment, and many friends who were intimately
acquainted with him.

COUNTY PETTY SESSION B.—SATURDAY.
Way H. B. Williams, Esq. (in the chair), rid
Captain lianas].

THE POST-OFFICE ROBBERY.
Edward Buahrod, who was last week brought before
the Borough magistrates for attempting to commit
suicide, wee brought up on three charges of obtaining
money by false pretences.
Mr. T. Coombs appeared to prosecute on behalf of
the postal authorities.
Thomas Bishop Elle./ was the first witness. He
said he lived at 13roadmayne, and on the sth August
he received a letter. It was handed him by the post-
man Bushrod (letter produced). He charged him
Is. 61. on it, saying the letter was over weight. He
paid the money. He opened the letter and found only
one sheet of paper. His letter had the Is. 61. marked
In blue on the envelope.
Prisoner: I said the letter was from New Zeriand,
and that it had no stamps on it.
Wetness: He said the letter was over weight.
Ann Tucker said she lived at Broadmayne. On
December 24th she received a letter by the second
delivery. The prisoner handed it to her, and on the
Christmas morning she paid him one nanny for it.
She made that payment thinking it was an official
charge. When he handed her the letter he said" You
have to pay a penny on it," and she promised to pay
hem on the following morning. (Envelope praduced.)
The envelope had the hue mark n it.
Francis Fooks Bartlett, of Broadmeyee, said on
December Bth she received a registered lett,r from the
prisoner. It was sent by Mr. Rose. of Weymouth.
Prisoner said there was 8 I. to pay on it sic registered
letter. She paid the money. There was a blue mark
on it.
Mr. Charles Pawns, postmaster, of Dorchester,
said the marks oa the three envelopes (produced) were
not the official marks of the Post-office, excepting in
the case of the registered letter. Ho produced the
rural letter carrier'e letter bell fir August 511, from
Dorchester ti Broadmayne. There was no official
charge of ls. 61. on it. bat there was one of l 1. only.
All the money that the carriers were to collect was
entered on the bill ; they had to collect it, and bring it
back to the Poet-office with the bill at night. He only
made a return of 1 I. on the day in question. He
also produced the letter bill for December Bth. There
was no charge of 81. on it. He made a return of Id.
only on that day. There was no letter bill for she 24th,
as there was a special deliveiy on that day. The blue
mark of lc 61. on Ellery's envelope was not an official
mark. There was an official mark on Miss Bartlett's
envelooe only es regarded the registration, but the
figure Bd. and the word " p sated" were not official.
Letter carriers were not &Rowel to make any charges
whatever. They were provided with blue pencils.
Hs questioned the prisoner on February 10th in conse-
quence of enquiries he had made at Broadmayne
during the day, and he denied it at find. Ile told him
he should suspend hire, and he replied he would conies,'
to all the charges.
Prisoner had nothing to say in answer to the charge.
He was then charged with obtaining 61. by false

pretence..
Minnie Jemima Lane said she lived at Broadmayne.
On the February, 6th lust— she received a registered
letter from the prisoner. He said 'There is s•xpence
to pay," but did not say what it was for. (The
envelope was produced). She paid the sixpence, and
signed the receipt (produced).
Mr. Parsons produced the letter hi" for the day in
question. There was a charge of 61. on it, but it was
not the charge on the registered letter. He put in the
receipt tom for the registered letter. The sixpence
which wee charged on the letter bill was for o:dinary
letters. The blue mark "posted" and the figure
" 6d." were not official marks. He hut no right to
make any charge on the letter at all.
Mr. Supt. ale said he apprehended the prisoner
on Thursday last on a warrant, chart:mg him with
obtaining 6d. by false pretences of a Mrs. Lane, of
Broaffmayne. After telling him the charge, he asked
If Mn. Lane was in here, remarking—" I wish she was
here, as I want to get it off my mind, and get the matter
settled; I know I foolishly done it." He asked it he
wern speaking in confidence, and witnees told him no,
be bad said too mach already, and had better net say

any 0:10111.
Prisoner, who had nothing to say in answer to the
charge, was duly committed for trig.' at the next
Quarter Beerions.
eTILALIAO MONIIT AT 'Bons TAUCHIMICH.
Robert Dear was charged with stealing £l2 from the
hoses of William Buckler, at Frome Vauchurch.
Mr. M. 0. Weston appeared for the prosecution.
Sarah Buckler, the wife of John Buckler, said she
ridded at From. Vsuchurch. She was staying on the
9th inst. at the house of her fatherin-law, William
Booklet. She saw prisoner on the afternoon close by
the house. He was looking out of the Found.," window.
She and her husband left the house that afte..ionn,
mid left William Buckler bedridden upstairs. On
leaving the house she locked the door, and put the key
an over the ledge. She hal known the prner from
obey, and he %WM a tenant of William Buckler, and
often came tome him. She was absent from the house
from half pest two to twenty minutes to four. On her
return she found the key on the same ledge on which
she put it, but in • different place. She also found one
of the doors open which she had shut when she went
out. She communicated the fact to her husband on
her return. She did not see the prisoner that rfternoon
efterwards. She looked round the house but did not
mks anything.
John Buckler said he resided on December 9th with
his lathe, who was now dead. In consequence of
information received, he, on December 81st, examined
his father's money, which be kept in his bedroom.
When he last saw it there warn 612 belonging to his
lather, and El, which was his own. On the 30th
December there was only El. On discovering his loss
be went to Dear and charged him with it. He denied it.
Oes January 6th he was fetched by the nem named
Harwood to • barn where he was at work. Prisoner
was Alm there, and said he had taken the money,
that he bad 6s. of it left, which he offered to give him
beak, if he would forgive him. He declined to do it.
Charles Harwood said he was a carpenter, residing
at Brows Vauchurch. He recollected seeing the
paineuer at his shop on January 6th, about six o'clock
in the evening. He asked him if he had seen Buckler,
and he replied he had. Prisoner said "Did he say
anything 'tont the money?" Witness replied "Yes
he still sticks to it that you had it." He then walked
out of the door saying be should see him again brand-
bye. Be came beck again crying. and be said he did
have the money. Ile had ss. left, and he said " I
wonder if I give him the sa. back jibe would make it
up r Whams declined to have anything to do with
it, beat would fetch Buckler. Buckler came, and the
prisoner offered him the 5,. On the prisoner being
asked what he had done with the money be said he
dld not know, but he had been there more than once.
P.S. Itch said he was stationed at Midden Newton.
On the Iffilt February he apprehended the prisoner on
• warrant. On charging him with stealing the money
be mid "I know I took it, end I am very parry I done
ft." Be begged hard to let him stay till it was dark,
but he said he must go to Dorchester at once.
Prisoner pleaded guilty. He made a very lame
amuse. He said be d never have known where
the money wee if John Buckler's wife had not told
Idea where the money woe She had told him more
am ones; she said it was her husband's money.
Sept. Gais said he knew nothing against the
previously. The prisoner has worked for
tartorberts, at From* Vauchurch, all his life.
The Chairman considered it a most serious offence.
It was only within a very short time that power had
been given then by those who made the laws to deal
with this ems at all. If it had been two or three
peen ago theuesould have had no choice but to have
metaatea
more
eittehe
"desTeregmere.enthQizenartehorth..lieesimachayvhadeHreceie could
te idm. They considered the cum eerionsP°wer
Vim/Pritld set lower the sentence beyond that act
Iliggswer to inflict, and he would tineedel be
4.
tw dm amothe with hied labour.