The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-29 00:00:00

THE CAPTURE OF GILES HUTCHINGS.

THS MOMS Of GILES HUTCHINGS.

A correspondent writes as follows :—" The home
in which the convict Hutchings hiss been residing for
some time past is situated on the north side of Nitton
D iwn (Isle of Wight). Instead of the but one
expected to see. I found • stone-built cottager with
thatched roof. There Is also a small garden surround-
ing the house. On entering the abode of this noted
convict I was struck with the clean appearance of the
room, the stone floor being perfectly white. The
scouring of the Boor, I was informed, was his last act
prior to his arrest, In this room, which we must be
Wowed to etyle a living room, were • small round
table and two caos-seated chai, then being the only
articles of furniture in the room. Upon the table
there was something placed which reminded one of •
hasty lunch. In the firegrate there wens all the
indications of • peat fire, which showed that even
during the mild weather of the past two weeks the
income of the house had not been without • comfort-
able tire. A saucepan and small coffeepot appeared
to be the only cookitg utensils the inmate employed
In the preparation of his meals The only other
indications of the house having been reoently inhabited
by a human being were • few small pic.ures • trades-
man's alinanacit, and • short pipe, partly filled with
tobacco. A peep into the larder revealed • quan-
tity of c inked potatoes and several pieces of
crockery. The upstairs portion of the hones then
became the object of my curiosity, which I woe
invited to inspect. There are two rooms, one of
which has evidently not been occupied. In the
remaining room I found • bed made up on the floor,
at the heal of which stands • small American clock,
and a large quantity of potatoes are lying about in
various parts id the rooms. There were also strewn
about in bewildering confusion bottles and jars and a
packet of Thorley 's food for cattle. In lieu of a
mattress there were three sacks stuffed with straw,
ranged in a regular position upon the floor. I shivald
have mentioned that downstalis was a tub, which
stood in • corner of the room, and contained a supply
of meal for his pigs. This, by the bye. was exhausted
on the Tueiday morning, but probably some sympa-
thetic neighbour will take upon himself the responsi•
bility of keeping the pigs until such time shall aria'
for the dispoesl or otherwise of his property. Hutch•
ings appears to have taken Peat pleasure in his three
Pifti and fowls, as it le stated he would sit for hours
out of doors watching them. The neighbours all agree
that he was • quiet and inoffensive man, seldom con•'
versing with them, but when he did most civilly.
From what I observed and was informed I should
imagine that he was living a quiet, contented and
comfortable life, ea it was to • great extent, • life of
seclusion' and therefore one that be would be careful
to
'll=Zaturehanded as Giles Hatchings wee brought
before the magistrates at Newport on Monday. He wae
in irate, and was stroller guarded. The superiatendoot
of police said he wee quite wanted as to the Meathy of
the Priwritor. He had bees identified by two Chatham
warden, sad a man in the islaad. who Wall horn sad
brought up is the same Owe, recognised kiss as Gila
liulap, to additioa to which he corresponded in every
particular with the published description. Prissier, who
said "I am not the man: WM bladed over to several
convict prison warder' present. end Wet at MOO removed
In their custody.