The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-10-25 00:00:00

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A POOLE LANDLORD.

William Nicholas, landlord of tbe New Ina, Longest,
Paola, was brought up at Weymouth, on Saturday, before
Dr. Drew and Messrs. J. Robinson and J. Lundie, charged
with • criminal assault upon Elisabeth Sibley, • qulet-look-
Mg servant, aged 24, at the White Hart, Lower Bmd-street,
where prisoner wee 'in posseutioo."—Mr. Hann* appeared
for the proucution, and tbe prisoner stated Mr. Treranion
wee his eolicltir ; but be was unable to attend, being
employed in another case.

Mr. Hanna said the offence was one of a very 'Peons
character. It appeared that Mr. Robins, of the White
Hart, in Vile WWl], is in liquidation, and Messrs.
Aldridge, of Poole, mot down the prisoner t 3 take
ion of the house He came here on Thursday
possession
aceuand remained as custodian of the house,
Mrs. Robin& and the prosecutrix, her servant, being
also there. On the day following, between one and
two o'clock, all the inmates were having dinner in the
kitchen together, and shortly after, prisoner, who had
been in the bar, called hire. Robins, saving that the
butcher wanted to see her. She lelt the bar, and went
out to see the person supposed to have called; the servant
was removing the dinner things, when prisoner followed
the girl to the back kitchen, just acroee the yard, and she
went back the second time, prisoner followed her and
shut the door. It appeared that between the back kitchen,
across the yard, and to the bar, there are no less than three
doors, ant whoa he called Mrs. Robins he closed the dear
behind her, so that he acted with premeditation. When
the girl got into the back kitchen he assaulted her. She
screamed but no one could hear so as to distinguish,
though Mr. Robins did hem a sound, went back to the
rear of the premise., and met the girl coming from the
back kitchen across the yard, crying most wofully. A
e use of this kind was usually difficult to bring home, girls
attacked in this way sometime. do not complain for some
time after but here immediately this girl was assaulted,
she ran to the front bar and told her mistress, there being
no time for reflection or emextion. Mrs. Robins
immediately went t m the =min me rear of the premises,
and charged him with the offence, which he did not deny,
but like the cringing coward he was, begged for mercy, cry.
mg—" Don't ruin me and my family. Why should the
man beg for mercy if he were innoont of the crime! He
had male further statements, and those statements would
come out, and the Bench would not, Mr. Hann. believed,
have the slightest hesitation in committing him to the
Assizes for the disgusting crime, for there could not be
the slightest doubt that the horrible offence had been
I committed. .

-The Proaectitrix was called; she was very quiet in her
demeanour. ICU stated that she is from Dorchester, but
entirely without friends, except at Weymouth.
Kliabeth Sibley said she • was single woman, and had
been ••ervant at Hr. Itoisines for about five mmths. Oa
Thursday last William Nicholas cams to the White Hart
Inn to ate possession, and remained there on Thuriday
night. On Friday they bad dinner about half.past one,
when her muter, mutreu, herself, prisoner, and two
children sat down in the kitchen nut to the bar. Just
as they had finished, the prisoner told Mrs. Robins that
the butcher wanted to fee her in the bar, and Nirs. Robins
went, but prisoner remained in the kitchen. The children
and lir. Robins had then left, and no one *lse wu in
the kitchen but witness and prisoner. fie,af ter Mrs R,hiea
left the kitchen, closed theldoor between it and the tap-
room, which leads to the bar. At that time she was
clearing the kitchen of the dinner things, and had once
got armee the yard with some of the thinp to tha back.
kitchen. When she came back from the beck kitchen to
the other kitchen she had some dishes in her hands, and
prisoner came after her, but did not close the door. He
came to where she was—in the back kitchen. Witness
emitiaaed that prisoner then seised her, and committed
the offence. She struingled and endeavoured to rmiat
him, and called out for Kra Ribine. In the strudele with
the primmer her collar was tore off her neck, arid the Pins
torn out. Immediately after she went and spoke to her
mistress in the bar about what had taken place. At this
time prisoner was still in the back kitchen, and she and
her mistress went to the kitchen where they had had their
dinner, and her mistress examined her. Prisoner then
came into ths room from the yard. Yrs. Robins then
asked him what he had bun doing to her servant. saying
...yam,
a married man, with a wife and family, ought to
be ashamed of yourself; You scoundrel. You ought to know
better ; I am not only her mistress, but ram a mother and
I will lave you punished for it." Hs then said "Hush I
don't make • noise; forgive me for the arias of my wile
and family; I'll make it all right." At this time witness
was crying. Some other convereation took place, but
witness oould not recollect, being fainting and almost
exhausted. Prisoner was a stranger to her, and she did
not Joke or laugh with him, nor had he attempted to kiss
her or lake any liberties before; he only Cr4llll on the day
previous. Hs attacked her unaware., and completely
overpowered her.—Cross-examined: He chased her about
the table before she went to the bulk kitchen first: be
was larking, but she did not think he meant any harm.
The first time he took her hold round the waist, and also
followed her; but he did not maks any attempt the first
Urns—Prisoner : I beg your pardon.
Dr. Drew advised the prisoner not to ask any irrelerant
questions, or to rake any statements in his defence, as he
was undefended.

Prisoner, however, went on croae-exeminiag, the
tendency being to show that be attempted a minor assault
on the girl the first time she went out,
Dr. Tlssrd, last evening, about • quarter before sight,
examined the prosecutrix, and this morning again made
an examination, which confirmed his previous Con.
elusions.
Mrs. Robin., wife of John Robing, said prisoner was •
servant at her house for five months, and she bad
always found beta quiet, modest, and well-behaved girl;
but not quite so bright as she should b.. Had never
seen any levity of conduct in her. Lost Thursday
prisoner came to her house. Witness went on to corro-
borate her servants' statement, adding that she told
prisoner be ought to have been the first to protect the
girl, instead of trying to ruin her, and also asked lehn if
he called himself a man. He replied "I am not a man,"
and repeatedly begged for meriy fer his wife and famlly's
Bele She, however, persisted that she would hays him
punished.
The magistrates told Mrs. Robins she had acted very
t persons would have shrunk from coming
or in such
• cases. this.
Mrs. Robin. in the course of her subsequent evidence,
told how she Lund the girl in such • fainting state that
else gave her some cold brandy-and•water to revive her.
A person crying out in the back kitchen could not be
beard in the Sr.b when the door between was shut.
John Robins, landlord of the White Hut, was in his
front bar about two o'clock. and heard an unusual noise,
when he went to the emokinuroom towards the kitchen,
and met the girl just outside the bar door, coming towards
the bar. She was completely upset, and in a state of great
excitement and agitation.
Sergeant Delmont went to the White Hart when
and said prisoner standing outs( le the bar, and he maid
ann
think we can settle this without putting it in the hands
of the po ice." He went in and saw promentrix in the her,
crying. Mr.. Robins gave prisoner in custody fora criminal
assault, and orisons, wanted to settle the cue with Mrs.
Robins and the girl. Brought him to the station, where
he was about to make • statement, bat was cautioned that
he had better say nothing, as it was • very serious charge,
and then he stated he did not commit the offence, but
attempted it. He added: I don't know what made me
do it, I must have been out of my mind.
Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and wished to reserve his
defence, on being so advised by the magistrates' clerk.
He was then committed for trial at the next Ariz's.
Prisoner: You can't tell me where 'tie to be!
His was told in November, about to 90th.
Prisoner: Will von accept bond I My house and foral.
tore are worth £3OO.
Dr. Drew: The magistrates are not disposed to accept
ball, as this is • most serious offence