The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1861-05-14 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

LOT/L.—The Union de rOigest of Angers records a singular case of the murder of a hatband by his wife, the only motive being "excess of maternal love"! Thu odly son of a woman living at Blaison, in the department of Maine and Loire' was drawn for a soldier. The mother, distressed beyond measure at the idea of parting with him, consulted her neighbour as to the means of procuring his exemption, and in the course of her inquiries she learned the piece of military law that if she were a widow her son would be exempt, as the prop of the family (maim de famine). Upon this hint she murdered her husband. FRACAS BIETWILII THE 88TLI AND ESSEX IttFLI regreat to learn that disturbances have this week taken place between soldiers of the 88th (Connaught Rangers), stationed at Colchester camp, and men of the Essex Rifle Militia, billeted in the town. On Sunday night, it appears, the disturbances commenced by some limn of the 88th catching • solitary and unoffending Essex rifleman rambling in Darling's. field (now the government drill ground), and maltreating him by striking him on the bead with a stick. On Monday night, by way of retaliation, a party of Essex riflemen, walking upon the Military-road. pounced upon a solitary 88th man, named Edward McHugh, who had been to post a letter, when the riflemen struck him on the head with • stick, thereby inflicting • severe wound, which bled so profusely that the injured man was taken to the camp hospital. The 88th men hereupon vowed vengeance against the Essex Rifles for ill-treating their comrade, and on Tuesday night the town was coinpletely in a state of consternation, numerous gangs of the 88th, armed with huge bludgeons, being seen hurrying to and fro, seeking about in the lanes and alleys for the riflemen. They entered every public house supposed to be the billets of the riflemen, who were for the most part wisely got out of the way by the landlords, several of whom locked up their men in stables and upper rooms to keep them from the fury of the assailants. In one instance we heard of a party of the 88th rushing upstairs to the bedroom of the riflemen, when one of the latter, seizing his rifle with fixed bayonet stood firmly with it at the charge to guard the door, and threatened the men of the 88th with the "cold steel" if they dared to enter; the latter thinking discretion the better part of valour, beat a huty retreat. One of the 88th threw a stone at a rifleman quietly sitting upon the door step of his billet, the Anchor, Magdalenstreet, and cut his head open. During the fracas the pickets from the camp were scouring the town in all directions, while others were posted in different streets, so that they succeeded either in driving the 88th into camp, or taking them prisoners. The tradesmen of St. Botolphetrept, the chief thoroughfare to the camp, were obliged to Close their shops earlier than usual, on Tooorloy pittlit, to toLo woof. Ow sui..ll.lor whin], ormturoti imminent. On Wednesday night, the 88th were confined to barracks, and thus no disturbance ensued. We understand the ringleaders in the fracas have been brought before • court martial and punished. Various exaggerated reports have been in circulation that several of the 88th and Essex Rifles were killed, but beyond the infliction of sundry ugly cuts and bruises we are happy to say no serious ounscrtnences are likely to ensue. It is, however, considered of the utmost importance, for their own safety, and the preservation of the peace and good order of the town, that the belligerent forces should be kept as far removed as possible from each other's oompany.—C7iehnsford Chroniek.