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Taken from the Liverpool Weekly Courier – Saturday 17 May 1890

Contributed by Tony Swarbrick

LIVERPOOL SPRING ASSIZES

These assizes were opened at St. George’s hall, on Monday, before Baron Huddleston and Mr. Justice Laurance. The calendar contained the names of 33 prisoners, whose educational status is put down as follows :- Well educated, 4; imperfectly, 20; able to read, 2; neither able to read nor write, 5; and not stated, 2.


A HABITUAL CRIMINAL
Edward Hughes, 21, labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary at a house in Mulgrave street, Liverpool, in March last, and stealing a quantity of articles. Mr. Segar prosecuted. His Lordship, in sentencing the prisoner, said he found that in 1879 he was sent to St. Georges Industrial Schools, and afterwards to a reformatory, where he took a leading part in an attack upon the officers. Since then he had been convicted of wounding and burglary, and he was a person in whom he recognised the habitual criminal. To such persons he never felt justified in extending mercy, and he sentenced him to seven years’ penal servitude.


A JAUNDICED VIEW OF SOCIETY
Charles Wood, 31, described in the calendar as a commercial traveller, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with having maliciously set fire to a stack, the property of Thomas Mawdsley, at Maghull, on the 24^th April. The prisoner declined to give an account of himself, and handed up a statement to his Lordship, in which he stated that it was indifferent to him whether he received sentence of five years or twenty five years.

His Lordship, in passing judgment, said he did not sit there to gratify the jaundiced feelings of persons who might be discontented with the world. It was his duty, in the prisoner’s interest, not to accede to the suggestion he made, although he might be disappointed at not being sent into penal servitude. He ordered him to be imprisoned for eighteen calendar months.


COMPLICATED BIGAMY CASE
Edward Lee, 39, labourer, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with having committed bigamy with Jane Johnson, at Manchester, on the 8^th November, 1886. The prisoner stated that in 1879 he was sent into penal servitude, and when he came out he found that his wife had married again. Subsequently he was sent to gaol again, and during his absence his wife committed bigamy with a second man. By the two men his wife had had five children. His Lordship sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment. Eliza Lee, his wife, also pleaded guilty to a charge of bigamy with John Turner, at Salford, on the 27^th Nov., 1871. His Lordship, in sentencing her to three days’ imprisonment, advised her not to go about the country marrying other people. (Laughter)


PROFICIENTS IN HOUSEBREAKING
Henry Hall, 24, labourer, and Edward Houghton, 28, labourer, pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary at Widnes on the 20^th April, and stealing a quantity of wearing apparel, the property of David John Brookes. His Lordship remarked that they were proficients in housebreaking, and sentenced Hall, whom he described as a desperate character, to seven years’ penal servitude. Houghton he sent to gaol for nine months.


FATAL RESULT OF A WRESTLE
Robert Richardson, 34, labourer, was charged with the manslaughter of Jeffrey Lomax, at Heywood, on the 1^st May. Mr. Overend Evans prosecuted. According to the evidence the deceased and the prisoner had a wrestle, and Richardson threw Lomax on to the ground. He then bent his legs up until his feet almost touched his face, and in that way his neck was broken, his death resulting some time after from the injury. The witnesses stated that by the rules of wrestling before “a fall” could be claimed both the shoulders of the man down must touch the ground, and it was in endeavouring to obtain a fall that Lomax obtained his fatal injury. His Lordship, in summing-up, said he often wished they could introduce into English jurisprudence that which was of very great benefit to Scotland, namely, the three verdicts of guilty, not guilty, or not proven. The jury found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged.


THE USE OF THE KNIFE
William M’Connell, 20, fireman, and Thomas Lindsay, 20, labourer, were indicted for maliciously wounding Richard Wignall, at Liverpool, on the 26^th April. The case for the prosecution was that on the night of the 26^th April the prisoners went to the lodgings of the prosecutor, whom they asked to be allowed to see. They were shown to his room, and there Lindsay struck with the buckle end of a belt a lamp which was suspended from the ceiling. The lamp was broken, and falling on to a table set fire to it. As Wignall was endeavouring to extinguish the fire Lindsay struck him twice with the buckle end of the belt and caused wounds, from which the blood flowed freely. He made an effort to escape from the room, and M’Connell stabbed him three times with a knife on the head. When arrested M’Connell denied using a knife, but admitted striking the prosecutor with a belt. Lindsay said he did not strike Wignall. The prisoners, who still adhered to the defence they had previously made, were found guilty of unlawful wounding.
His Lordship, in passing sentence, said he was afraid they were both loose people. M’Connell was a very bad character, having been twice previously convicted of wounding. His conduct was most atrocious, and the sentence passed upon him must be in marked distinction to the sentence upon Lindsay. He was sentenced to 18 calendar months’ imprisonment and Lindsay to six calendar months.


A SCRIPTURE READER’S BIGAMY
James Albert Mason, 35, engineer, was brought up for sentence, he having pleaded guilty, on Tuesday, to committing bigamy, at Leeds, on the 23^rd April, with Annie Clara Taylor. The prisoner handed to his Lordship a testimonial from a lady in Manchester as to his character. The testimonial described the prisoner as a “person who has a Christian character, gentlemanly in appearance, of good address, and his heart is all aglow with love for Christ.” It further stated that he had been a teacher in her Sunday school, was a thorough devoted Christian, and ever showed a cheerful willingness to take part in cottage and other meetings, and that he was likely to prove a real blessing to any parish or district wherever he might be sent.
His Lordship remarked that he was afraid the lady did not know his inner life.
The prisoner explained that that testimonial referred to the period of his life from 1875 to 1883. At that time he was a Scripture reader, and lived a good Christian life for some years, but his first wife turned out to have an uncontrollable temper, and an unhappy union was the result. She was also addicted to falling from the truth, and ultimately he left and went to lodge with Taylor and her aunt. After marrying Taylor he lived a good life until he was arrested.
His Lordship said that Taylor in her evidence stated the prisoner represented himself as a single man, and got £140 of her money.
The prisoner denied that he got £140 of Taylor’s money, but admitted that he concealed from her the fact of his previous marriage.
His Lordship sentenced the prisoner to six calendar months with hard labour.

The prisoner’s first wife, a lady-like person, who was sitting behind the dock, shook her fist at her husband as he was going down the steps, and exclaimed, “May God forgive you.”


SAVAGE CONDUCT OF BROTHERS
Patrick Dunn, 38, labourer, and John Dunn, 28, labourer, were indicted for the manslaughter of Malachi Dooley at Liverpool, on the 20^th March. Mr. M’Connell was for the prosecution, and Mr. Segar represented the prisoners. The case for the prosecution was that on the 20^th March the prisoners, the deceased, and a fourth man named Legg, were drinking together in a public house in Ennerdale street. The deceased and Legg left the house, and were followed shortly by the prisoners. Dooley was knocked to the ground, and, it was alleged, Patrick Dunn took hold of him by the ears and bumped his head on the pavement, causing injuries which subsequently resulted in his death, whilst his brother kept back the crowd. Mr. Segar, for the defence, submitted that when the men went out of the public house Dooley struck one of the Dunns, and a fight ensued, and the cause of the death was the result of a fall. In any case, he said they could not find John Dunn guilty unless they were of opinion they were acting together. The jury found both prisoners guilty.

His Lordship said he found that both the prisoners had been in the army, and one was now in the enjoyment of a pension in the reserves. They only worked casually, and were both of drunken, dissipated habits, and violent disposition. Nothing could be more brutal or horrible than the course they took with that unfortunate man Dooley. It was true that John Dunn was not shown to have been guilty of that excess of violence that Patrick had, but he assisted to keep back the crowd. Conduct like this must be suppressed for the protection of society, and he sentenced Patrick Dunn to five years’ penal servitude. John Dunn was sent to gaol for 12 months with hard labour.


SENDING THREATENING LETTERS TO LADIES
Edward Murgatroyd, 50, engineer, was put upon his trial for having, at Southport, on the 24^th January and 17^th April, maliciously sent to Mary Ann Butterworth certain letters threatening to kill and murder her. A further indictment charged him with having sent a letter to Harriet Hobson threatening to kill her. Mr. Little appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Shee represented the prisoner, who pleaded guilty.
Mr. Little, in stating the facts of the case, said the man had been acting under the belief that these ladies knew where his wife was, and he had had recourse to this mode of compelling them to tell him. On behalf of the ladies, however, he had to say that they wished the prisoner to be dealt with as leniently as possible under the circumstances.
Mr. Shee, for the prisoner, said that he was once in a prosperous position, but he had had reverses and then taken to drinking, the result of which was that he and his wife were separated. That had all been forgotten, and now his wife had gone away again, and he was very anxious to find her, and had been all over the country looking for her. He was under the impression that these ladies knew where she was, and although he wrote the letters he had no intention of carrying out the threats.
His Lordship read the letters, which commenced: “Prepare to meet your God, for there is cold lead waiting the opportunity.” They contained statements to the effect that he was on the watch for the recipients of the letters, and were signed “An Injured One.”

Mrs. Butterworth and Mrs. Hobson were called, and deposed that they were unaware where the prisoner’s wife was.

His Lordship intimated that he would consider what sentence to pass upon the prisoner, who was accordingly put back until next day.

Edward Murgatroyd, 50, engineer, who pleaded guilty, on Monday, to sending threatening letters to Ann Butterworth and Harriet Hobson, at Southport, in the months of January and April last, was brought up for sentence.

Mr. Shee, for the defence, asked to be allowed to further address his Lordship on behalf of the prisoner. He said he could assure his lordship, from inquiries he had made, that the expressions of regret which the prisoner had made were really and truly sincere. He also understood that the ladies who were for the prosecution were themselves anxious that the court should take the most merciful view possible.

His Lordship said the greatest curse a woman could have was a husband who gave way to temptation and yielded to the desire for drink. He thought that was the cause of the prisoner’s present degraded position. He hoped he was justified in coming to the conclusion that the letters he had written contained idle threats – threats that he never intended to carry out, and probably were uttered because of the irritation and disappointment of not being able to get tidings of his wife. He proposed to adopt a course to him which he hoped would earn from him his gratitude to those ladies whom he insulted, and who were the strongest persons pleading in his favour. He should pass on him the sentence that he enter into his own recognisances to come up to receive judgment if called upon.



SENTENCES
Charles Fredrick Gaster, 25, letter carrier, pleaded guilty to stealing at Liverpool, on the 3^rd April last, a postal letter containing two postal orders for the sums of 20s. and 5s. He was sentenced to 12 calendar months’ imprisonment.

Martin Buckley, 30, labourer, who pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him unlawfully wounding John Henry Nickson, at Windle, on the 26^th April, was ordered to be imprisoned for six calendar months.

George M’Hugh, 18, labourer, and John Proctor, 19, pleaded guilty to burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of John Toll, at Liverpool, on the 6^th April, and stealing a quantity of wearing apparel. They were each sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment.

Mary Ellen Molyneux, 22, of no occupation, pleaded guilty to stealing a chemise of the value of 9d., the property of John White, at Eccleston, on the 8^th May, and she was sent to gaol for three calendar months.

John Conroy, 29, blacksmith, was found guilty of having, at Windle, on the 1^st February, stolen a jacket, vest, pair of trousers and other articles, the property of Joseph Connor. Previous convictions were recorded against him, and he was sentenced to 12 calendar months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

William Dixon, 30, stoker, was found guilty of burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling house of Albert Milloy at Salford on the 5^th May, and stealing a pair of boots, and also of having damaged a window of an amount exceeding £5. The prisoner had been several times convicted of felony, and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

William John Monks, 21, shopman, pleaded guilty to committing a burglary at Toxteth Park on the 5^th April, and stealing jewellery of the value of £150, the property of Joseph Brown. He was sent to gaol for 12 calendar months.

John Entwistle, 24, cotton spinner; Peter Crompton, 21, collier; and John Hodgson, 32, collier, pleaded guilty to committing a burglary at Westleigh on the 10^th April, and were sentenced respectively to six months, four months, and two months imprisonment.


ACQUITTED
Edward Shaw, 20, labourer, Thomas Bell, 35, bricklayer, James Adams, 29, labourer, and James Feeney, 29, labourer, were put on their trial on a charge of receiving two coats, the property of Charles Gildea. Shaw was also charged with burglary at Gildea’s house at Liverpool on the 5^th April, but owing to the absence of a witness the case could not be proceeded with against him. The jury found prisoners not guilty and they were discharged. His Lordship remarked that their characters were not good ones, and he cautioned them as to their future behaviour.

Ephraim Cooksey, 23, brass finisher, and Richard Worrall, 23, brass finisher, were indicted for having committed a rape on Mary Ann Casson, at Dalton, on the 3^rd May. The jury, after a trial which lasted all day, returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoners were at once ordered to be discharged, his Lordship remarking that he entirely agreed with the verdict

Old Liverpool 2009.