The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1885-11-13 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

AND VERDICT.  The adjourned inquest on Police-Constable Joseph Byrnes, who was fatally shot at Plumpton on Thursday week, by burglars, was resumed on Friday before the Coroner for East Cumberland. William Oarnall, station-master at Plumpton, deposed that on October 30th a strange man inquired at the station as to the trains for the south. Witness had heard of the Netherby burglary, and thought the stranger a suspicion character. He learned that two other men were outside the station. He sent for Byrnes, who came and followed the stranger. Thomas Situpson, apprentee, said he met Byrnes following the three men, and heard a shot tired, and he found Byrne's body with a pistol shot in the head, lying near the roadside. Evidence of the railway guards and servants as to the capture of the two prisoners at Tebay while travelling in the good's waggon was also given. Cooper, the gual of the express, proved the arrest of Baker at Lancaster. Martin and Hudge had both revolvers, with one chamber discharged. The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Martin, Budge, and Baker, and commended the conduct of the railway men.  THR RUSSIAN _HARVEST..  The Department of Agriculture at St. Petersburg has published its report on the harvest of cereals for 1885. This summer has been distinguished by great uniformity of temperature throughout European Russia, and by extrivirdinary drought during the early months, followed by very abundant rains during the last part of the season. The average temperature has been higher this summer than it was last year. Hailstorms have caused damage estimated at over 1.800,000 roubles. The harvest in general has been above the average for winter wheat and below it for spring wheat ; the partial failure of the latter having been due to the drought prevailing in the early part of the summer. fp the result the crop of rye has been somewhat above the average. The harvest of winter wheat has been a good one. The Hp, ing wheat crop has failed everywhere. The oat crops have also been generally bad ; and comidering, besides, that the cultivation of this &real has been considerably diminished throughout the empire, the year 1885 has been an exceptionally unfavourable one for oats; All the other cereals-fell short of the average. The beetrixit crop has been a goed one, and the cultivation of tobacco has givtn satisfactory results. It is estialab.si that this year's hal-vest will give an incr*,e of 10,000,000 quarters, or from ti to 10 per cent. foe rye ; and one of 1,000,000 quarters, or from 7 to 8 per cent. for winter wheat ; as against decreases of 7,0Q0,000 quarters, or 24 per cent., in spring wheat ; about II 25,0110,000 quarters, or from 25 to 26 per cent., moats; ! and 5,000,000 quarters, or 24 percent. in barley., The total harvest of spring and winter wheat is ealctilated at 36,000,000 quarters, which is 0,000,000 quarters, or about 20 per cent. less than the average. As to the hay crop, at the close of the season it is not expected to be a very good one, although the rains of July and August have considerably improved it. The fruit harvest shows a decrease of insignificant amount,