The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-12-06 00:00:00

etnerat Ntbn.

Han:moue Cosnrcr.—The brig St. Mary, Johnson
master, from New York for Martinique, arrived at :it.
T11(1111411'8, Weot Indies, on the 11th of October, iii tow
of Her Majesty's steamer Gladiator, Captain Mickley.
Captain Johnson reports that on the sth of October he
encountered a hurricane, in lat. 30, long. 70, when the
ship was thrown on her beam meta disuiasted, and lost
deck load. On the 11th he discovered a steatuer steer-
ing for him, which proved to be the Gladiator. Soon
after Captain Hickley mine on boanl in Ida beat, and
asked what assistance he could render. Captain John-
son said lie would like to have sonic spars to rig jury-
ma.sts, when he replied, " I have no spars that I can let
you have; but I am from Bermuda, bound for St.
thomaa's, and if you like to go there I will take you in
tow." t'aptain Johnson said it would take his whole
reasel and cargo to pay him for such services, and he
could not think of it. Captain Mickley tapped him on
the shoulder and said, " Never mind, old boy," pointing
to his vessel, " that is Her British Majesty's ship, and
it is my duty to assist you in distress; I will not charge
you • cent. Have you ally hasesera ? If not, I have."
And he went on board and sent hawsers to the St.
Mary, and took her in tow. Two nights before they
arrived at St. Thomas's, it being rough, both hawsers
parted during the night, when the gallant captain of the
Gladiater immediately dewed up his sails, turned his
ship's head for the brig, and hailed Captain Johnson,
"Never mind, old fellow, I will not desert you, but lay
by you until morning," which lie did, then took her in
tow, and brought her safely into port, having towed her
nearly 800 miles. Such gallant and meritorious conduct
on the part of Captain Mickley is deserving of all
praise.
MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SCICIDR.—One of the
most cold-blooded and deliberate murders which has
ever been known in this neighbourhood was perpetrated,
on the evening of Saturday, at North Sibley, Gloms-
tershire. The murderer's name is John Shepherd; he
is about 32 years of age, the son of respectable parents,
who have been farmers and were possessed of some
property, but the whole, or nearly &o, has been spent
by the son. Shepherd has always borne • bad choir'
actor, and is of a very vicious tent of mind, lie has
been in several police forces, a ~,,, ng them the Souiernt
county police, but was discharged for bad conduct.
For some time lie has done nothing to gain a livelihood.
It appears he had for some time being paying his ad-
dresses to a respectable young woman nauird Ann
Smitheram, the only daughter of a weaver at Sibley,
but from circunistancsa which came to her knowledge
she determined not to receive his attentions any longer.
This exasperated hint very much, and he has been
heard to say that lie would kill her; it was not how'
ever thought that he would carry out his threat. On
Saturday evening, at about 6 o'clock, he was observed
near the cottage of the Smitherans, as was his custom
of late, and on the inmates bearing • noise outside the
unfortunate woman looked out to see what it was, and
, finding it was Shepherd said, " What ! are you there
again, then ?" and immediately after the report of a
, gun was heard and the deceased fell to the ground with
a scream and never moved afterwards. The police were
at once communicated with, and medical assistance (Mr.
Bullock) procured, but life was pronounced extinct.
An examination was made and a round hole was found
in her breast, just below the left shoulder, from which
the .blood flowed in great quantities; blood also was
running from her nose and mouth. After the discharge
of the gun nothing could be found of Shepherd, and
search was instantly made, but without succeas until
half-past 7 or 8 o'clock the next morning (Sunday),
when lie was discovered in a small orchard with the
half of his face, including the nose, shattered in a most
fearful manner. He was at once conveyed to the White
Hart, and medical assistance procured, and now he lies
in a very precarious state. An examination of the place
where lie was found was made, and it is supposed that
lie had shot himself in a shed about 15 yards from
where he was lying, for blood was on some straw con-
tained in the shed and over the doors, and the gun
(which had been borrowed) was hid under the straw.
Shot corresponding with that found in the wound was
mom, him, also powder and wadding. He is not ex.
pected to recover.
THE CONDEMNED MURDERER IN NEWCATIL—It has
already been stated that the sheriffs have received a
communication from the Howe-office further respiting
the execution of the Portuguese seaman Francisco
Pietro Gun:amens, o/nu Charles Annois, who was con-
victed of murder at the last session of the Central
Criminal Court, and who was to have been hanged on
Monday, to the 26th of December next. It has been ima-
gined that this amounts to a final decision on the part
of the Government that the prisoner's life shall be
spared ; but it appears this is not the case, as the House
Secretaiy, in his communication to the Sheriffs, states,
as lie did in the former instance when the first respite
was sent, that the prisoner should be distinctly given
to understand that his life is not positively spared, but
that the inquiries that are being made require further
delay to bring them to a satisfactory conclusion, and
that this alone is the ground for the further delay. The
prisoner Ilimsolf understands English tolerably well •
hut iu such a serious matter the sheriffs felt it to be:
their duty to request the Portuguese Consul, who, on
behalf of his Government, has acted th:oughout the
proceedings in avaiating the prisoner in his defence, to
attend at the prison, and explain to the prisoner in his
own language the nature of the communication that
had been received, in order that there might be no pos-
sibility of mistake, and that gentleman at once complied
with the request, and carefully explained to the pri-
soner the reason for the further delay. He expressed
himself thankful for the kindness he had received, and,
as he had done all along, declared that he had no motive
for killing the unfortunate captain, and that he did not
know what lie was dont,' when lie committed the dread-
ful act. It is understood that inquiries are being made
at Lisbon as to the condition of the prisoner's mind
shortly before he shipped on board the vessel of which
the unfortunate deceased was the in”ter, but it is not
likely that, under 5117 circumatauces, the capital sen-
tence will now be earned out. .

ATTEMPTED Pi.----1A shocking attempt at
wholesale poisoning liu been brought to light at Stuffyn-
wood-hall, Derbyshire, the residence of Mr. Joseph
Paget, a magistrate of the county. On the 23rd of
November information was received at the chief con-
stable's office in Derby respecting the affair, and on the
afternoon of the same day Detective Barnes (connected
with the force of the county) was despatched to investi-
gate the matter. It appeared that on the 2nd of
November, about midnight, five of the servant-maids
were taken ill. There are six maid-servants in the esta-
blishments, and only one escaped the general i110C614
They were awoke with a burning pain in the bowels.
Brandy was administered to them by the housekeeper,
and, as they recovered in the morning, no
notice was taken of the matter, nor was Mr. or
Mrs. Paget made acquainted with it. On Monday, the
14th, the cook was taken ill with pains of a sundae
character, bat more acute; afterwards the parlour-
maid, the housemaid, the housekeeper, and the re-
mainder of the female servants were all affected in •
similar manner. Brandy was again administered. In
the meantime Mr. and Mrs. Paget were riding out to •
meet of the Derbyshire hounds, during which time they
were also taken ill. Upon their return they discovered
that the aunt of Mr. Paget (who was visaing at the
hall) was also suffering in • similar manner. The coach-
man, Thomas Spowage, was despatched to Mansfield,
three miles off, for medical assistance, and Mr. Furniss,
the medical umn in attendance, pronounced that the
symptoms were those which would be produced by
cantharides. He administered medicines, but they con-
tinued ill during the day. Towards night, however,
they were to a certain extent relieved. Detective
Barnes examined each servant separately, and his sus-
picions fell upon the coachman. In the first instance
poison had been introduced into the beer, which had
been partaken of by all the domestics, except Mary
Dean (the parlour•maid). In the second instance the
coffee had been drugged, and of this the whole house-
hold, including Mr. and Mn. Paget and Mr. Paget's
aunt, had partaken. On Friday night, the 25th, the
officer discovered that Spowage had purchased an ounce
of cantharides at a druggist's shop in Mansfield. On
Saturday, the detective requested the coachman to drive
ll in one of Mr. Paget's carriages to Mansfield. Upon
arriving at the druggist's shop he was immediately re-
cognized by the proprietor as the man who had pur-
chased the cantharides at his shop. This the coachman
denied, and also denied any knowledge of the drug, or
the use of it. Mr. Barnes then asked the prisoner to
drive him to the police station and having taken him
into the office the officer charged him with administering
on the 2nd and leth of November until/irides to Mary
Dean (the parlour-maid) and other domestic servants,
with intent to murder them. The prisoner said, "It
is false," but appeared greatly agitated at the time. He
was immediately removed to a cell, and was brought
beforethe Derbyshire Bench of Magistrates on
Tuesday.
THX BRIHERT INHEHIT AT NOM-WM.—Mc extra..
ordinary, although only partially developed, proceedings
with reference to the exposure of the bribery prevalent
at Norwich, and the alleged attempt to corrupt • town
councillor with the offer of £5OO, continue to fonts the
topic of general conversation in the constituency, the
impression being that a strenuous effort is being made
by several of the leaders of both political parties to
stifle any farther inquiry. So strong is this feeling that
• meeting has been held by a number of the electors
with the view of protesting against a compromise, and
some of the individuals present declared that if it was
permitted by the Liberal leaders they would decline to
vote or interest themselves in future elections, the cor-
ruption practised haring become intolerable to well-
disposed and honourable citizens. Resolutions were
adopted by the meeting to the effect that those present
cordially approved the course taken by the Town Coun-
cil in relation to the alleged attempt to bribe one of the
councillors, and that they earnestly honed iho efforts
made would not be relaxed until the ease had bun
thoroughly and impartially investigated. It was also re-
solved that the apparent determination among some
leading partnians to stifle all inquiry and defeat the
ends of justice by • compromise or other means increases
the obligation of the Town Council to persevere in the
Course upon which it has entered honestly and fearlessly;
and that it was important to excite a popular feeling
which will no longer allow a few 01811 to compromise the
character and welfare of the city by the " abominable
corruption" which "seems now to have reached •
crisie... yr. Q.C., who has been oonsulted in the
case, expresses an opinion that amrt a.
cmoinuoiruriity;
that
:theit
magis-
trates could not legelly commit Mr. Has ye; or his clerk
if there were a partisan majority against the ememiftei,
ceed
rse
d ho
„feir:;elvr t
..tuu • d
fudn,
innantodbeirentt'i:ipletieroid:z2reuntonnficedbmsyua. were ;14' adaiulyieit:dolnnifee7,:i_Beiioinsenin.rytr:ilh,et:tivitelehditropAeiim.nh.t_...mr:a:tibtf::?.
that, if the magistrate* should refuse to commit, the
he
adds
influenceatht could
there bevoauti tdri
nb
apply for his sanction to prefer an indictment or call
upon him to file an ex %Few information against the
Partisanship there might
direct the case to be tried in &county in which DO kka.
probably if the present information weire
a person wholly unconnected with the Prec"."o7sTil
' moved for a criniinal information the Cour' vow'
orthoonang.
log the jurisdiction from Norwich, notwithetnads4,olg.
wouldthe ends of justice. The Solicdtor-G ral isans•• tee
that under the circuntatan awed. eg**
are authorised by law, and that it ia their dial rbe 7th
mutt Mr. Harvey and his clerk by warrant lundli -ktoria.
section of Jervis's Act, the 11th and 12ti,- essoxr°-
P. 43h as having
refused to answer ,Otion,
tug the premises which were the subjees_T-
without offering any just excuse lig 1.1.
twe'dhbeavtigret:l,l;edffi•tßei:roity.;;.o.,i
ion:at