The Telegram. — 1893-10-24 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE BRADVORD ABBAS OUTRAOL—I'redk, James Moors and Jut Ass Lipte were charged with maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to William Meech, at Bradford Abbas, on July lOth.—Mr. Salter prosecuted, and Mr. Armstrong defended.—Mr. Salter explained that two charges were preferred against the prisoners the first, of ohetructing the police in the lawful execu thin of their duty ; and the second, of doiug grievous bodily harm to P.C. Meech, one of the Sherhorne police. In June and July thece had been a great many complaints about depredations committed by poachers. The police were accordingly upon the alert. During the morning five constables were set to watch. Mr. Salter proceeded to state his caw, and then called P.C. Paine, who said on the morniug of the 15th he was in the Bradford road 911 the watch. At five o'clock prisonere approached in a two-wheel trap, aud witness suispected them of poaching because he saw a bag in the trap, and because, when they sal Urn, although they were then going at a trot, they but the horse into a full gallop. He heel up Ins hand for them to stop, but they would not, and he failed to pull the herse up. P.C. Meech said about 5.30 on the 15th lie was watching with three other policemen on Yeovil bridge. Prisoners approached in a trap, and as he suspected that they had been poaching he signalled to them to stop. Moors urged the horse into a gallop with a stick and tried to pass. Witness sprang forward and caught the reins. Moors pulled the reins taut, and witness was knocked down and dragged some yards, and the wheel went over the "small of his back." The next lie could remember was P.C. Miller coming and helphig him up. He was a good deal hurt in the loins, where the wheel passed over him, and his head was bleeding also. }Ora month afterwards lie Was attended by Dr. J. H. Williams, of Sherborne, and could not walk without the help of a stick. He produced the trousers and tunic which he was then wearing, and which were torn and creased.— P.C. Miller gave corroborative evidence. Prisoners drove through the other three constables after Meech had been knocked down and run over. Meech's helmet fell into the trap, and was afterwerds picked up SOO or 500 yards further on.—The two other policemen, of the Somerset Constabulary, said that after Merely had been knocked down witnesses called to the occupants of the trap to stop, telling them that they had driven over a man. They slid not stop. Moors struck the horse into a gallop with one hand and pulled the reins with the other. Lyne called out to Moore, " Drive over the —if thev won't get out of the way !"—Dr. Williams, of Sherborne, who attended P.C. Meech, said he was suffering from two scalp wounds and a contusion in the loins 18 inches in length. He was also bruised in the lees and shoulders. It was only with difficulty and pain that he eouln walk, and he was incapacitated for four or six weeks. This was the end of the evidence.—Mr. Armstrong,in a brief speech, contended that no ease had been made out against Lyne ; but Mr. Salter maintained that there was ample evidence that he was present aiding and abetting. The magistrates over-ruled the objection raised by Mr. Aimstrong.—Mr. Armstrong contended that when the constables called out Moors tried to pull up the horse, which was then going at a sharp gallop, and in se doing the reins broke on one side, and then It was hopeless to try to pull the horse up. lie contended, moreover, that the policemen had net sufficient grounds of justification for requiring the two men in the trap to pull up.—The jury found prisoners guilty of 'inflicting grievous bodily harm."—The chairman said that it woe a most serious assault, because it was quite possible that, driving at a man in that way, prisoners might have been standing in the dock charged with manslaughter or murder. It was not due to them that the injury was not more serious. They would each be imprisoned for nine months with hard labour. _ _