Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1879-01-03 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

MISDENSANOUR. James Al(ford, Hezekiaa Allferd and James 41Iford, jtifL. were indicted with felonionsi and with menaces and force, demanding from Charles Hughes, lla., at Map. powder, on the 30th October last. A second count charged James sillford, 'en., with &isn'ting and beating Thome' Hughes, causing Mtn grievous bodily harm. Prisoners pleaded not guilty. Mr Castle prosecuted. The prosecutor avoided a blow from an iron her by running away, hut when his father heard his son hello& "murder," be found himself belted into the van, and when young Jim Allford invited him to come out, or his neck would be broken, he secured himself by the bolt; but the attackers smashed a window, and he advised his wife to give 'ern another half-sovereign, for he was afraid they'd smash the van with their crowbar. The senior prisoner told about his going to get • chimney-sweeping job at Mr. Woodhouse's Ansty Brewery, his son being "inflicted," and he also went for some 'hams, but denied the offence. Young James Allford declared he was going for 'hams, and crossed the fields, when he was attacked by the prosecutor's dog, and defended himself. Hesekiah explained the quarrel similarly. When be hosed the row, he thought they were gag-men, that is nolicemen, and they threatened to knock his bead off. There had been a quarrel between young James Allford and Hughes about • twelvemonth ago. The Chairman pointed out that a witness who went out to view the field of battle, swore that all three were present; but he left to the jury the solution of the doubt as to who was to blame for the fight The Jury found all three guilty of a common assault, but not of doing bodily harm. They were then charged "with feloniously and will menaces demanding from Charles Hughes, lie,, at Map' powder, On October 30th." Mr. Castle stated that after the assault on Hughes, the prisoners attacked the van, and, threatening to smash the van to pieces, a shilling was given them; with this they were not content, but declared they'd have the horses, or the blankets, and at last half-a-sovereign more was given to Net them to go awayChimney-sweep Hughes told how the elder prisoner smashed a window with a ter'ble large stick, and the young one got. on the shafts and tried, to pull the door open. Witness got a bill-hook, and declared—" If you come up here I'll cut yer hid off." The younger called, out—" Father !he got a hand-hill," but the father ordered him to pull the—out; never mind the hand-bill, and threatened to smash the van ; hut said Hesekieb, "don't smash the van for the sake of the little children." After they had the money, the older prisoner declared he'd have more, and threw him "one for luck,' this being • stone as big as a baby's head ; tett Hughes—(no butter-finger was he) caught it in his left hand, and saved the baby from being killed. Mrs. Hughes had 7 children in the van and her infant and told them not to hurt her infant, but one said "Bother your infant, I'd as lief 1441 that as you." Young James also knosked about the fire in the van, and it burnt her. One said—" Have the cow out, and let's kill her." Young Alford declared that £4 10s. was coming to him, but Hughes only paid him 17s. out of £4 10s. and with other things he owed him altogether £lO. The Chairman remarked on the fact that the women generally give very good evidence, and suggested that Perhaps they were more cool and collected in quarrels like this. The jury found all three guilty, but recommended Hesekiah to mercy. A conviction in 1870 WM admitted by James, the younger, in the name of Loveridge. Tne Chairman told them the second offence was • very see ious one, the question of old account could not be an excrise, people must not take the law in their own hands. For the assault, the nominal sentence of one day's imprisonment was passed; het for the other offence James Milford had twelve months' hard labour, James Allford, jun., to pensl set vitude for seven years and Hesekiah four months' hard labour. Mamma Used pleaded guilty to unlawfully obtaining by false pretences, by writing a letter in the name of the prosecutor. The Chairman remarked it Was something like a forgery, which was a very serious offence, and sentenced him to three months' ha- d labour.