The Weymouth, Portland and Dorchester Telegram. — 1878-11-15 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

CERNE ABBAS.  COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS, Weilnesday-.—Before Captain Mount Batten and Colonel Digby, M P. Two young m in, of Meleen:the Horsey, named Richard Hopkins anl Frank Curtis, 1 tbourers, were charged with stealing a piece of beef, weighing about 20.b5., from a cart at Melconthe Horsey, en the Is inst., the property of Henry Tom% of Sturm.nster Newton.—Mr. Topp, on being sworn, said he Was a butcher, and resided at Starruinster Newton. On the el/aline of November Ist he passed through Chiselb irne and Ideltoinbe on his way home from D n-cliester with A horse and cart, which c taloned some pieces of beef. He calla lon s3veral custma-rs in those villages, leaving his cat in the road during the time he went to the houses, and when he got to Hartfoot-1 toe he missed the largest piece of beef. Hs had it safe at Chieelberne, and t was i,upessible for it to fall out as tee cart Wis a deep one. The piece of beef now produced was his property, and was wo ith 14s. It was stolen from his cart on the night of the let inst.—P.C. Burden said he was a police cont she ttttiined at Cuiselberne. About half-past ten at night on the Ist int. he was on duty at Melcombe Horsey, and on passing the cross roads where there is a cart house, he turned on his light, and saw the two prisoners standing in the carthouse, and they appeared to be trying to hide something. He said "What have you there r Hopkins said "All right. police; it's nothing any harm ;" and Curtis started homewards. He (witness) ex onined a bundle Hopkins had tied up in a pocket-handeerchief under his arm, and found it to be the meat produced. On further questioning him prisoner told different et iries as to how he came by it, and at last said lie touud it. As he did not feel satisdial with the account prisoner gave, he took him into custody on suspicion of stealii g it. lie afterwaids took Curtis into cut gly, when he (Jett s) said he knew nothing ab iut the la a', but ha I met Hopkins just before seeing him (witness), and had lent hint his handkerchief to tie it up in.— rho Be :ch sentenad Hopkint, who pleaded guilty, to s x wake Hard ',thew, ire! discharged Cartis. Three gin e-is nemed .fames A I ford see Janics Alford, 511111., and Hesskiah Alford, was (-tweed on a warrant wii violently a,dittit..kg l' minas lioghes, a gipsv, at la tppowder, on the 30t i o,:totier, at nine in the ser •ning. Tney were further cearged wti obtaining by threats and menaces from Ce tries Hostiles, another gipsv, tie sum of us., at the saute time and place. The evidea et went to show that these met, who were all gipsies, travelled the country sweeping chimneys arid men line anbre les, had fallen out by the wty some twelvemont is ago, eat had not rni t since until the illy in q le-tmn, when it was alleged Thomas Hughes was ballv beaten by the Alfords, setting his head cut open, and his arm bruised, ibt., and Charles flutters gave them 11 . to get teem to go away. Eta gave it teem entirely throu:h fear as they demanded money ef him, and their behaviour an I threats were se violent that had he not done so he feared something mire svrious would have happened—murder, he believed. —The thre s pri.to,teri were tortu dly 0 untuitted fortrial at the January Sessions on both charges.