The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1862-08-19 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

SLAM, Q.C.) TR& ATTEMPTED MORD= AT WORLR.  William Lancaster, 20, labourer; Albert Knowles, 19, plasterer; Frederick Knowles, 17, plasterer; Benjamin Day, 18, labourer; and Edward Hewlett, 17, labourer, were indicted for an assault on Samuel Thomas, at Worle, for stealing from his person the sum' of 2e, and for attempting to drown him, with intent to kill and murder him.—Mr. Spoke was counsel for the prosecution; Mr. Prideaux defended Lancaster, Dayj and Hewlett; the other prisoners were not defended.—lt appeared from the evidence that, on the 19th of July, prosecutor visited the New Inn, at Worle„ having gone there ifor the purpose of paying for some, bacon he had previously bought there, lie remained there a considerable. time, and indulged himself in. sundry jugs of beer; and, although when he left he was not intoxicated, nevertheless he had had enough to. make him merry. The prisoners were aLso at the New Inn, and with them proueutor got tossing for drink. They took advantage of him, played off a number of practical jokes upon him, and at length induced him to. "stand treat" for tobacco and beer. This was continued until twelve o'clock, when the landlord refused to draw them any more beer, and the proseoutor thee left. Previous to starting, however, the prosecutor began to entertain some suspicions as to the honesty of the company he bad got into, and in order to make theui believe that he had no money he borrowed sixpence of the landlord. After the prosecutor had bit a short time he arrAved at a farm occupied by nfarmer named Beekes. - Here the priioners came up to "him, and, with the exception of -Day, handled litna very roughly, asking him to pay for more beer for them. He refused, and they then dragged him down and webbed a quantitrof dirt in his eyes and mouth, so that he was unable to see distinctly what they did to him.. They dragged him along by the hair of his head, and used him in a moat violent way, ending by throwing him into a pool of water three feet, deep. Having done this the prisoners went away for a short time, but afterwards returned, and, taking him out of the pond, dragged him along the road. At this time Lancaster called out, "Let us kill the or else he'll have a warrant out against us." The other prisoner', however, prevented him from carrying this into effect; but they searched his pockets, and took 25., which was all the money he had. They then left him, and he returned home in a meet deplorable eondition, about two o'clock on Sunday morning. He was got to bed, and on the Monday morning he gave information to a sergeant of police at Worle, who apjerehended the prisoners on the itharge.—Mr. Prideanx, on the part of his clients, 'aid be could not deny that the prosecutor bid been badly treated, but contended that the identity of the prisoners bad not been satisfactorily made out.— The learned Judge in summing up, said the injuries which the prosecutor had received were too severe to have been the result of • drunken frolic.' He did not think that the evidence was so strong against Day as against the other prisoners.—The jury acquitted Day, but found the other prisoners giulty.—Lanciaster,„ Albert Knowles, and Frederick Knowles were oath seaweed to three years' penal servitude, and Hewleta was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labour.  A