The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1865-03-14 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

ATTEMPTING TO MURDER A GAMS KEEPER. Solomon Wedmore was indicted for attempting to discharge • loaded gun at Edwin Mehnoth, with intent to murder him, at Spettiabury, on the 4th of February. —Mr, Warry prosecuted, and Mr. Cole defended. —Edwin Melmoth said he was under keeper to Mr. Drax, and lived with his father, who was head keeper. Between 11 and 12 o'clock on the night of the 4th of February, as he was going to Spettisbury, he saw two men in a field in the occupation of Mr. Strange. He went up to prisoner and asked who he was, when •he replied, " A friend." Witness said "You look like a friend with those rabbits in your hand." He caught hold of him when prisoner's dog seized and bit him through the thumb. The dog afterwards let go, when prisoner took witness' gun away and told the dog to lay down. Whilst they were struggling he told prisoner to be oareful as the gun was loaded. Prisoner called to his companions, when one a them came up, he did not know who and knocked him down. Prieoner afterwards pointed the gun at him, when witness said "you would not take a fellow's life, would you r' He replied " your life," and snapped the gun, but the cap missed fire. Witness then ran away, because he saw some more men coming. Prisoner said "Down with the —, he will know me." When he first went into the field he,sew two men, who appeared to be beating for game. The next day he went to the police and gave a description of prisoner, who was apprehended. The night was light but rather lacy; the moon was in its second quarter. He saw him when he was apprehended, but could hardly recognise bum at first. When he saw him in the field he had a black jim-crow hat and smock on, but on the second oocasion he had a cap and sleeve jacket. He desired the °Meer to remove his cap, and he then identified him.—Cross-examined: He had not drunk three half-pints of beer throughout the day. He had been out rabbit shooting all the day. The night was not dark ; it was rather misty. The dog obeyed prisoner when he commanded it. The hat was tried on prisoner when before the magistrates, and, although it was a bad fit, witness could recognise him as being the man he struggled with. When the superintendent of police showed prisoner to him he said, "Is that the man?" and witness replied, "I hardly know; take off his cap, and friss up his hair." This was done, and prisoner then appeared much like the man he had bad the struggle witli.—By the Judge : He accounted for the gun not going off because the cap was damp, and bad been on the gun for five hours.—George Headley said on the 4th of February he was at Bedlam. When he was leaving his house, soon after eight &dock, be saw prisoner and three more men go into the road leading into the town. The men bad two dogs with them; each of them bsd a atiok, and one also had a bag.—Crossexamined : He saw the men in Blandford every night. Spettisbury was about three or four miles distant.—Jeremiah Watts, superintendent of police at Blandford, stated that on the evening of the sth of February prosecutor came , and gave him a description of some one. In MlNquence of this information he apprehended prisoner on Tuesday at Little Fontrnell, where he was at work. When he got up to him he asked him to get down from the scaffold. Melmoth, who was with witness, said, " Well, I hardly.know if that Is the man nose," and added, "Takeoff your cap and brush up your hair." Prisoner did so' when Melmoth said, "That's the man, I'll swear to him." Prisoner was then taken into custody, when he denied any knowledge of the offence with which he was charged.—Mr. Cole contended that the evidence had not made out the prisoner's identity in a satisfactory manner.— The jury said they were not satisfied with the identity, and returned a verdict of not guilty.—On prisoner leaving the dock he said "I thank you all, gentlemen; I am an innocent man."  thet ms house ail" Itus bed 7113be bad, it wo have destroy -U plate, will separat.ed 04 - -ittah elitrre4--In earn* 1 bad notbluz to do wit.)l fealons of RP, Balsuut - teo intimate with her. ..