The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1882-06-30 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

MKT. (Deputy• Chairman aher.mit4intastes.  The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury —Messrs. H. Forks, Winterborne Whitchurch (foreman) ;J. Barnes, jun., J. Bradford ((.3orte Castle), .T. 11. Dalwood (Sherborno), M. Dunning, W. F. Gill.rd (Stratton), F. Hellier (Bridpori), .1. Hansford (Bridport), F. Jacob (Dorchester), A. Knight (Dorchester). S. Lawrence, J. Liddim (Yetminater), C. Limning, C. Pope. A. Porkies., W. Porter (Blanilfurd), J. 11. Kyle (Meloombe Rogis), J. tiweffield, Seymour, R. Sprigs., Andrew Tullio, A. T. Tippett, R. Tuffin, T. If. Williame, William Wareham. One of the jurymen, a Mr. Read, of Bridpart, objected to be morn. The difficulty, however, was easily surmounted by diseharging that gentleman. The CHAIRMAN, in charging the grand jury, said the calendar contained the names of 18 prisoners for their consideration—a larger number than they generally had at the sessions at this period of the you. Last year at this period they only had four cases. It was true two years ago, in 1880, they had a considerable increase, but, aa their foreman would no doubt remember, this was canted by their having to deal with a peculiar class of offence, which they did not very fien see in this court—viz., • large number of rioters at the °les:nixes of Dorchester and Shaftesbury, which increased and added to the offenses very much. With that exception the number of prisoners now for trial was an unusually large one for the Midsummer Sessions. The Chief Consitable in his report yesterday informed the Court that the number of prisoners apprehended for offences in the put quarter was about the same as in the corresponding period of last year; but he remark. I very justly that although the number of offences committed in the quarter had not been larger. their character was of a much more serioue description than they usually found committed in this county. They had not those more serious offenoes to deal with to-day—they stood over for trial by Her Majesty's judges at the coming Aliases, and probably, as many of them were aware, there were two prisoners for trial upon the most serious of all offences—namely, that of murder. Happily, they had not to deal with that to-day, but it gave rather an unfavourable view of the state of crime in the county. Having remarked on the arrangement of the calendar, which was an improvement on the last, but which, even now omitted the information they used to be afforded as to the locality of the prisoner, the Deputy-Chairman proceeded to remark on several of the cases, more particularly the obtaining we mey by false pretences at Weymouth. He explained that although the prisoner was to be tried there, he had never been in the county. Still, it had been decided upon appeal that the deli voi y of a letter contaloing the fides pretences by the Poet-uffice authorities wee a delivery by the p homer, the Post-office b-ing con. adored the agent of the prisoner for that porpoise, therefore the deliveraucs of the letter by the Poetoffice on behalf of the prisoner to the tradesman at Weymouth, which induced them to part with their money, was a delivery and an act dime by the prisoner. Again, he notated out it made no mated .1 i.ifferencs whether the intent to defraud or the actual fraud was ferried cost noon the debtor, or upon the tradesmen, who oh lull have received the money. After • few other remarks, the Deputy• Chairman dismissed the Grand Jury to their room.