The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1877-01-30 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

WOUI.I respectfully submit the Court would have to consider was whether or not a substantial felony hail or hail not been committeiL The result did not rest upon whether or not the prisoners were to be tried with the principals. If he showed upon the evidence which he should call very clearly that a substantial felony hail been committed Within the lsiniers of the county, here, he contended, was the phwe where the case should be tried. The Magistrates Clerk sail the difficulty was, that supposing the felony hail been committed—for the make of aremnent- the prisoners must lie tried at the next assises, which were previous to the assize. in Somerset, and he took it they could not be convicted of the act of harbouring, unless the men tried for murder hail been fotind guilty of the murder. Mr. Williams thought himself the law was that they must be tried where the principals were tried. Mr. Howard : They ought to be committed to the Airchester prison. Mr. Williams : And then get a Mika". Mr. Howard Yes.  Mr. Williams said he did not think that he was justified in sending them for trial, but he would take as much evidence as they liked. He did not care if be Ptayed there all day. IThe learned magistrate however somewhat modified this self-Jimmied martyr tom, when three o'clock Caine. Mr. Howard was not allowed to call all his witnesses, and the examination of several had to be cut short. Mr. Williams said he wished he bad never given in. in the first place. One witness would have been sufficient. The magistrates' clerk coincided.] Subsequently Mr. Williams said he would tell them at once that he intended to hand the priamers over tqSatneraet. He did not think he had jurisdiction in the case:  Mr. !toward: You are not disposed to exercise it, whether you have or not.. Mr. Williams No, I don't think I have the power. Mr. Joni& : It would involve trying the charge of murder as well.  Mr. Williams : In point of fact it would. Mr. Symonds: And the principal offender being absent. Mr. Howard then resumed his statement of the facts. It was also settled law that whoever supplied S prisoner with a horse, money, or necessaries, to enable him to mope, makes himself an accessory after the fact. Now it appeared that on Thursday November 7th, a very cruel inurder 1,1 Xi committed in the neighbourhood of Yeovil, the facts of which they were undoubtedly conversant with. Three men of the name of Hutchings, were supposed to be guilty of that murder, and rewards were offered for their apprehenxion, and they were now confined in Taunton gall' awaiting their trial As the murder took place on the night of Thursday, on the Friday morning—it then being a county talk, the two primoners were at Yeovil, and consequently must have become acquainted with the aecurance. On the Saturday, nothing appears to have taken place, a search however being made through all parts of Ole county, here and elsewhere. Thee they came". Sunday. Now first of all he would remind them that the Sunday was a day which was about the best that could have been selected for the purpose—that of by means of a horse and trap lending themselves to help those men to escape from justice. On Sunday there was very little traffic about the public roads, no carts, and but few people on foot, and there were no means of telegraphing. So that any person who wished secretly to get any person away would on the day have the most favourable opportunity. It was