The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1861-04-16 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

WIDNZSDAY.  The trial of prisoners was proceeded with this morning, the Right Hon. Lord Portman presiding in the Ant court, and the Rev. G. P. Cambridge presiding in the second. The Court having been opened with the usual formalities, Lord Portman charged the grand jury. He stated that the justices had desired him to preside in consequence of the lamented illness of their respected chairman, at whose absence he was sure they would deep regret. Ile congratulated them on having a foreman of so great experience in the duties of the grand jury es they had that day, but it would perhaps 'tree; then his bands if be were to tell them that unless they ascertained there was sufficient evidence to place a prisoner on his trial, they had better throw out the bill, or they wluld in a measure defeat the ends of justice, as, if the bill were thrown out, and additional evidence was hereafter obtained, the party might be again charged for the offence. He then referred to several taxes in the calender, and subsequently dismissed them to their duties.  Edward Randall was charged with unlawfully stabbing William Squibb, his brother-in-law, at Sutton Pointe. Mr. Saunders prosecuted, and Mr. Hooks defended the prisoner. The prosecutor mid he went to prisoner's house about 12 o'clock, on the 14th of March, and asked him about ill-treating his sister—prisoner's wife. Prisoner replied that he had nothing to nay to him, and knocked him down with his fist, and in falling lie knocked his father dowq. On getting up he knocked prisoner down. Prisoner then went for a pick behind the door, and said " You b-- b—, I'll murder you," and struck him on the head with it, and tried a second time to strike him.—Crossexamined :--Had heard prisoner had called him • rogue. Had sot drunk more than two gleamed of beer that day. Saw P. C. Bond at the publichousc. flood diurnt say "I'd be d—ul if I would be made a fool like ibis any more." Ile said "If I were you, Squibb, I'd let it drop, and would say nothing to tither party. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Fooks suggested that as this was • family matter, the prosecution should be withdrawn by defendant making an apology. Lord Portman said that the seine thing suggested itself to him on looking over the depositions. Mr. Saunders on the part of the prosecution refused to accede to the request. P.S. Hitch produced prosecutor's clothes, which were covered with blood, and Dr. Brown proved that he attended the imisecutor who haul a serious wound on the head an inch and it quarter long into the bone. Haul attended him several times to dreu the wound.— Richard Squibb, father of prosecutor, corroborated the evidence of his son, and Lord Portman said the further they proceeded with the cue the inure painful it became, and asked if this family affair could not be nettled without proceeding. Mr. Saunders said that if the case rested with him he perhaps might yield to his lordship's suggestion' but the prosecutor knew tours about the affair than himself.—P. C. Bond produced the pick, on which there was blood and human hair when he received it.—Joseph Milbortie saw soner with the pick in his hand—saw also the hatchet in prosecutor's hand. There was blood on the faces of both the prosecutor and prisoner. Mr. Ffooks made an able defence to the jury, and tailed five witnesses, from whom it appeared that Squibb ran to Bandall's house in a very excited state, and that he commenced the fray. The Court sututued up in favour of the prisoner.—Verdiet, platy of • common assault. Prisoner was ordered to enter into his own recognizancxs of 00 to keep the peace for 12 months. George Peaty, was charged with stealing a sack and pick, the property of Odes Symonds, at Come Abbas, and was sentenced to 6 months' hard labour. Joke Chapman was charged with stealing a quart of brandy, the property of William Sherwood, at Sherborne.—Sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. _ .  James Jest', • lad, pleaded guilty of stealing a florin, the property of his master. Sentenced to 4 years in the Reformatory. Charles Thonser for obtaining, by false pretences, a pair of trousers, • woollen shirt, and • collar, the property of Lewis Phillips, at Weymouth, was sentenced to one month's hard labour. Edward Galpin charged with stealing 12Ibe. of brass, belonging to William Lane, of Toiler Fratum, and also with stealing Filbs. of brass, belonging to Edward Pope, of Toiler Porcorum, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour for the IM offence, and 2 months' imprisonment for the second,