The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-25 00:00:00

- -
SUMMER ASSIZES.

WESTERN CIRCUIT—DORCHESTER, FRIDAY.
CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice Willes.)
Henry Dommett was indicted for the wilful
murder of Charles Dommett, at Allington, on the
sth of June.

Mr. Collier, Q.C., and Mr. Compton were counsel
for the prosecution, and Mr. H, T. Cole for the
prisoner.
The prisoner is about 45 years of age. When
placed at the bar he seemed in a very desponding
state of mind, at the same time very calm and col-
lected, and apparently quite aware of the dreadful
position in which he stood. Upon being called upon
to plead he hesitated for a moment, and then said
" Not Guilty."
Mr. Collier then proceeded to open the case,
from which we glean the following facts :—The
prisoner was a hemp sorter, and had been for some
years in the employ of Messrs. Gundy, of Bridport.
He was a man respectable in his position, moral,
religious, and of good character, one of the best of
husbands and of fathers ; he had a wife and family;
his eldest child was 24, and his youngest four years
of age. The facts of the case were short and simple.
On the morning of the sth of June about 6 o'clock,
the prisoner went to his work, he seemed to
have been in a somewhat moody and me-
lancholy frame of mind ; he muttered some-
thing about a large bill he would have
to pay, and he gave directions to one of
his fellow workmen to sharpen a knife for him. He
returned home to breakfast at 8 o'clock, taking the
knife with him. He breakfasted with his family.
At 9 o'clock his wife went out, and he was left
alone with his son Charles, a boy six years of age,
of whom ho was particularly fond. The only other
person in the house was his eldest son, who was
upstairs confined to his room by illness. Upon that
occasion the prisoner cut the throat of that, his
favourite boy, with the knife he brought home with
him. His eldest son heard a noise below, and he
came downstairs, and there he saw his little brother
lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with his throat
cut from ear to ear. His father was sitting quietly
in his arm-chair. He said, " Oh, father, what have
you done !" He said something indistinctly. He
then called his mother, who came in from the gar--
den. No motive for the act could be suggested.
These were the simple facts of this unhappy case,
John Dommett, son of the prisoner, was called,
and he detailed the facts above stated.
In his cross-examination he stated that his father
was particularly fond of the little boy. He was a
very kind father, and a very religious man. Of late
he had remarked that a great change had come
over his father. He had been so much depressed
that his mother had talked to him about it. He
was very restless at night. He had come into his
room several times in the night. He had asked his
father why he did so, but he would not answer him.
He had gone to bed in the middle of the day. He
had said he was getting very low and nervous. He
had taken medicine for his head. His brother
Charles was ili on the day of the Prince's marriage.
The rest of the family went out to join in the festi-
vities, but his father remained at home with his
little brother. Had heard his father say he thought
he was going out of his mind.
Mary Marshalsea went into the house directly
after the deed was committed. The prisoner sat in
a chair and looked like a dead man. He never wag-
ged foot nor finger. He did not answer any ques-
tions that were put to him. She had lived next door
to the prisoner for 20 years. He was tender and
affectionate to his children. There was not a ten•
derer-hearted man in England. Had noticed a great
change in him some months since. He shook vio-
lently, and drew up his legs and arms. At length
he said a policeman would come and take him away
and then he would be taken before his good, kind
master, and then ho would be had away to Dor-
chester, and then would be hanged.
When taken into custody ho said, " Saul forsook
the Lord and went to the witch, and he fell."
Mr. John Goode, the surgeon of the gaol, had
watched the prisoner. 'When in the gaol he seemed
very ill when first came. He looked haggard and
was in a prostrate state ; in a nervous tremour,
scarcely any pulse, tongue white and flabby, and
eyes bloodshot. His manner was strange and ex-
traordinary. He was in a state of mental confusion.
The symptoms of insanity had not been so decidea
lately. Did not consider him in the full possession
of his senses. Thought he then knew that what he
did was wrong.
Cross-exaelined—The symptoms about the eyes