An extract from The Dorset County Chronicle 10th Oct 1867 Monday before Major SYMES. Thomas BLANDAMER, Landlord of the Crown Inn, Robert WHITE, Henry PROWSE and John COOMBS were brought up in custody of the police, charged with stealing a sack of oats, the property of Mr. John SYMES, of Winterbourne Abbas, on the previous day. Blandamer was also charged with receiving the same, well knowing it to have been stolen – Mr. Giles Symonds appeared for the prosecution and Mr. M.C. Weston for the defence.
Mr. Symonds asked for a remand in order to produce additional evidence. – Mr Weston said, if the bench would admit the whole of the prisoners to bail, there would not be the slightest objection to case being remanded till next Saturday. A certain quantity of property had been lost, but it had all been found. It was not like an extensive robbery of plate, where a portion only had been found; therefore there could be no objection to them being admitted to bail. – Mr. Symonds replied there were many circumstances which might present themselves to the bench that bail would be undesirable. – Major Sykes thought the case was pretty clear as far as they had gone. – Mr. Weston: But you have got all the property that is lost. – Major Sykes: That has nothing to do with it. – Mr. Weston: That has everything to do with it, with all deference to you, sir. Here is a man moving in a highly respectable station of life, and holding a situation of trust and confidence; and it would be most unjust to confine him for a week in goal, when the only witness whom Mr. Symonds wishes to call resides at Winterborne, a distance of four miles, and can be obtained on the following day. – Mr. Symonds said there would be a great many witnesses. – Major Sykes asked, supposing he adjourned till Thursday what prospect would there be of getting a magistrate to attend? – Mr. Weston said a committal could then take place or otherwise. – Mr. Symonds said the magistrate could extend the adjournment to eight days, and he asked the magistrate to exercise his discretion. – Major Sykes said he should be happy to oblige Mr. Weston, but he really could not do it. It was a hard case for a man who was in business to be kept in custody, and perhaps being an innocent man at the time. However he must remand him till next Saturday, and refuse bail. The prisoners were then handcuffed, and removed in custody of the police. An extract from The Dorset County Chronicle Page 3, Oct. 17th. 1867 Saturday before R.L. THORNTON and Captain E.W. WILLIAMS Robert White, Henry Prowse, and John Coombes, labourers, were brought up on remand charged with stealing a sack of oats, the property of Mr. Symes, of Winterborne Abbas on the 5th instant and Thomas Blandamer of the Crown Inn, Dorchester, was also charged with feloniously receiving the same under circumstances recorded in our last. (See Dorset County Chronicle of 10th. Oct 1867) – Mr. G. Symonds appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Weston for the defence. – The hearing of the case excited considerable interest, and the court was thronged with spectators, Fordington being strongly represented. Several additional witnesses were examined. Mr. Weston reserved his defence, and said, as he presumed the prisoners would be committed for trial at the sessions on Wednesday he would ask that the prisoners might be admitted to bail. – At all events Blandamer. He trusted there would be no objection to allowing, in the case of Blandamer, as all the property supposed to be lost had been found and there was nothing to be secreted or got rid of in any way – Mr. Symonds did not object and Blandamer was them admitted to bail himself in £50 and two sureties of £25 each. An extract from The Dorset County Chronicle Page 9, Oct. 17th. 1867
Thomas Blandamer 30, on bail, Robert White 34, labourer, Henry Prowse 35, labourer, John Coombs 27 labourer, were indicted for stealing a sack of oats, the property of Joseph Symes of Winterborne Abbas. – Mr. Banks prosecuted; Mr. W Ffooks defended Blandamer and Mr. Collins the other three prisoners. = The facts of this case will probably be fresh in the memory of our readers. A sack of oats wasdropped from a wagon on its way from Dorchester, which was picked up by a portion of the prisoners, who it is sought to prove had sold the corn to Blandamer. The bag could not be found; but oats of a similar sample were discovered in a store to which the latter (presumably the prisoners) had free access. The jury acquitted BLANDAMER; but found the others guilty. COOMBS was sentenced to two months, and PROWSE and WHITE to one month’s hard labour each. Genealogical Notes:- (1). Henry PROWSE (Junior) was baptised at St Georges Church Fordington on 18 Sep 1831 the son of Henry PROWSE (Senior) a labourer by his wife Ann WHITE whom he married there on 1st May 1831. (2). Henry PROWSE a labourer was married after banns at Fordington to Kezia GARRETT by Rev George Evans Moule the Missionary to China |