Such was the sympathy among Dorset folk towards smuggling that sometimes in the Dorchester Courtroom there were unexpected legal outcomes. Two Dorset men, James H Adstock and William White, who were natives of Portland, appeared before Justice Sir Stephen Gaselee at the Dorset Assizes in July 1826. They were charged with making signals to smugglers at Chesil Cove on the Isle of Portland. Their actions, on the 8th April, provided the bootleggers with the opportunity to make their escape from the pursuing customs men. It was a fine night so the officers said they could see clearly what was happening. It was reported in the Dorchester Courtroom that the two men were loitering on the beach at around two o’clock in the morning and were heard whistling extremely loudly after they espied two Prevention Officers approaching. Both men were known to these Officers. Upon hearing the whistling sound, a small boat carrying five men quickly departed the shore. Others ran towards the cliff. The...