Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-09-03 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

MURDER AND SIRC4DE. —On Wednesday last a young woman commonly called "Patty Smith, but whose real name was Emily Smith, attempted to commit murder and suicide, by drowning herself and child in the river Stour at White Cliff Mill. It appears that about eleven o'clock P.C. Hiscock of Stourpaine was on his way to Blandford in company with Mr. Hare and his nephew, of the Half Moon Inn, when as they were passing White Cliff Mill they saw something. Mr. Hare's nephew, who can swim, jumped in and managed to catch hold of her dress, and brought her to land. Her first question on recovering was "Where is the child ? " and it was found she had a child under her. For some time the infant appeared unlikely to recover, and the policeman came into Blandford for a doctor. Both mother and child were conveyed to the Half Moon, where they were put to bed, and means used to restore them, which happily were successful. When asked by the police why she got into the water, the mother said, "I was driven to do it." She was bronght up at the Magistrates Clerk's Office before the Hon. W. H. B. Portman, and remanded till Saturday In order for two doctors to examine her as to her sanity. The prisoner was again brought up on Saturday, and on Doctors Ingrain and Spooner testifying her to be ins state of unsound mind, she was ordered to be removed to the County Lunatic Asylum. Pam Susrose, Saturday—Before Viscount Portman, Hon W. H. B. Portman, and Mr E. Clay Ker Seymer. farinans, labourer, of Hilton, was brought up charged with stealing two faggots of the value of 4d from a wood at Hilton, belonging to Baron Hanabro.— The ease not being pressed in consequence of Mr Garland, the prisoner's employer, giving a twelve years' good character, he was ordered to pay costs, is, with a caution not to offend again. Thwiels Eyers, a young man belonging to Fifeheatl ,was brought up in custody, charged with stealing a silver watch and chain, the property of Charles Ford. Ford stated that the prisoner was working with him in Mr. Phillip Hill's harvest Said, at Tarrant Hinton on Saturday, and they sat down to dinner together. He (Fc:rd) was called away to speak to some friends, and the watch was stolen from his clothes whilst he was absent.. Harry John Brice, a lad working in the same Sell, stated that he saw the prisoner take up Ford's clothes, take out the watch, put it into his own pocket, and then go round to a hedge. His father, Charles 'Bice, said he saw k:yers go behind some ricks, and on searching the place found the watch and chain concealed under the grass. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and elected to be tried by the Bench. The Chairman said it appeared he had been rather a slippery customer, but they did not like to have to send a young man like him to prison, and, with the hcpe that he would not be guilty of such an offence again, they should order him to enter into his own recognisauces of £5, to come up for judgment if convicted of any offence, _ _ _  Charles Spicer and George Read, lads of Hilton, were charged with stealing a quantity of apples from an orchard belonging to Mr G. A. Ingram, of Milborne St. Andrew, on August 14th. --Defendants pleaded guilty, and were each tined 6d and Is costa  Mr Slum, of Stalbridge, was charged Wall haring refused to pay certain poor-rates on property held by him at the Blandford Railway Station.—Mr Atkinson appeared for the defendant —Mr Nicholls the assistant overseer, produced the rate • . _  book, in which was shown that the rate wasrmade in the name of John Snow and others. The hallway Company at first paid the rate, which they afterwards objected to.—Mr Nicholls said the three parties who were tenants agreed to pay one-third each, but Mr Snow said it was wrong, he had never consented to the arrangement—The case was adjourned, to enable the defeadant to consider whether he would pay his third of the rates due from 1373, or incur being summoned again for the whole amount and costs. _  Witham Cuff, labourer, in the employ of' Mr. Robert Fowler, of Whitchurch, was charged with assaulting Eliza Foster, on 3rd August. Mr Atkinson appeared for the defendant. Complainant evidently did not require any one to speak for her. She stated that on August 3rd she went round by her back door, near the Bell Inn, and saw three drunken men there. She asked them if James was there, and Cuff abused her and accused her of being a bad woman. He put his fists in her face, using threats, and as she was going into her house pressed his fists against her collar-bone, from which she suffered all night. Whilst giving her evidence complainant became much 'Netted, and, when cross-examined by Mr Atkinson, refused for some time to answer some of his questions. She denied that she called Cuff names at first, but said when he accused her of being a bad woman she was "put out." She denied she took up part of a brick to throw at Cuff. It was not Mr Atkinson's business whether she was married or not; if she had children she did not want him to keep them. Complainant called Selina Moores and her daughter, Mary Ann Foster, but neither of them were present during the occurrence. The defence was that no assault was committed; that the complainant first made me of insulting language to CuL. who, as she was turning away, said to his companions she did not want Jem, but only came to see if she could get some beer. She then took up half a brick and threatened to split open Cuff's head. Complainant, whilst this defence was made by Mr Atkinson, tsmSinually interrupted; and on a young man named Areher being called to corroborate it, she suddenly called out "You're a liar!" and gave him a sharp blow on the face, which resounded through the room Lord Portman ordered her to stand forward, and told her she was liable to be sent to prison for committing an assault in Court but, on understanding from the young man that he would not bring any charge against her for the assault, she was let off; and the charge against Cuff was dismissed. James Button, of Fimpenie, was summoned by Harriet Fry, of Guuville, to show muse, dr.c.—An order was made for Is tid per week. A new license was granted to Mrs Adams, of Tarrant Hinton, for a new house in the place of one destroyed by fire, and the limb-9es to publicans and grocers selling wines and spirits were all renewed.