Taken from the Liverpool Weekly Courier – Saturday 21 May 1887
Contributed by Tony Swarbrick
THE CAT FOR LIVERPOOL HIGH RIPPERS
HEAVY SENTENCES AT THE ASSIZES
At the Liverpool Assizes yesterday, before Justice Day, John Baker, 20, George Baker, 19, Francis M’Tavey, 20, and Bernard M’Call, 20, who were stated to belong to the notorious “High Rip” gang, were indicted upon eight separate counts accusing them of robberies with violence in Liverpool on the 4th February last. Mr. Shand, with whom was Mr. Carver, conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Segar defended M’Tavey.
In his opening statement to the jury, Mr. Shand said that the principal prosecutor was Lewis Harrison, a pawnbroker, carrying on business at 223 Scotland road, and the prisoners were indicted for stealing from him with violence several articles of clothing. The prisoners resided together in a lodging house at 52 Sylvester street, and on the evening of the 4th February they left the house together at about half-past five o’clock. Subsequently while they were standing at the corner of Westmoreland street a man named James Marsden passed, in company with a friend. As the prisoners occupied the parapet Marsden and his friend went off it, but as they were passing, one of the prisoners, who was identified as John Baker, struck Marsden on the head with a knife, which penetrated through his hat and inflicted a very serious wound.
The prisoners then went in the direction of Harrison’s shop and endeavoured to steal the articles which were exhibited for sale outside. Harrison interposed to prevent the removal of his goods, and M’Tavey thereupon drew a knife and struck the prosecutor with it. A struggle ensued between them, and eventually M’Tavey ran outside, where a crowd had assembled, and commenced striking with his knife in all directions indiscriminately. He returned to the shop and again attacked Harrison with his knife, but the latter managed to keep him at bay with a long pole. Finally the prisoners departed, having previously cut down a pilot coat, a serge jacket, and two shirts which were hanging outside, and taken them away.
They were next seen at Mr. Rimmer’s pawnshop at 25 Latimer street, where they forcibly tore a jacket, the pockets of which contained 4s., from the person of an assistant named Nelson, and also cut down with their knives a number of articles which were hanging outside the shop. One of the prisoners shouted, “Out with your knives, lads,” but fortunately for Nelson they did not appear to have used their knives except upon the clothes outside. The prisoners afterwards went to the shop of Mrs. Reed, confectioner, 29 Latimer street, whose daughter Mrs. Norris, was standing at the door with an infant in her arms. George Baker struck the child in the face with his fist, and Mrs. Norris screamed out that her child was killed. M’Tavey kicked her on the thigh, and at that time he had a knife in his hand. Her brothers, John and William Reed, came to her assistance, and during the struggles which ensued John Reed received a severe cut on the wrist, whilst William Reed was knocked to the ground by one of the prisoners and stabbed in the back.
The prisoners broke the windows of Mrs. Reed’s shop, and subsequently attacked a butcher named Smith, who carried on business at 58 Latimer street. Smith was held either by John Baker or M’Tavey, and at the same time received a very severe stab in the back. Later on they appeared at Mr. Newport’s pawnshop at 406 Scotland road, and assaulted a boy, and also an assistant named Pitt. At that time George Baker had a knife in his hand, and John Baker was carrying a slingshot, with which he struck Pitt on the knee. John Baker pulled down some frocks which were hanging outside, and they all then ran away. While running down Dalrymple street the prisoners were seen to knock down two women and also to strike a child. They again turned up at a shop at 190 Scotland road, where they stole two hats and assaulted an assistant named Agnes Howarth.
Information of these acts of violence was given to the police, and the prisoners were subsequently taken into custody. Inside the coat pocket of George Baker was found an open knife, and a slingshot was discovered in the pocket of John Baker. Three of the shirts stolen from Harrison’s shop were found in the possession of M’Tavey when he was arrested. The prisoners were first tried upon the charge of robbery with violence at Mr. Harrison’s shop, and upon that count the jury found them guilty. In answer to Mr. Shand, the Judge said it was hardly necessary for the prosecution to prove the other counts of the indictment.
In passing sentence his Lordship said his first intention was to punish the prisoners with a long term of penal servitude, but when he considered their ages he thought they might be dealt with in a way which would render them less burdensome to society, and at the same time effectually protect society from their depredations and outrages. He had never before heard such outrageous conduct narrated in a court of justice. He should hardly have thought it possible that in a city of England or in any part of the world where civilisation was understood and practised, four ruffians could have banded themselves together, armed with deadly weapons, and broken into one shop after another, assaulting the occupants and carrying off their property.
They might consider it an heroic thing to set society and the police at defiance, but they would not find the punishment at all heroic, and he hoped that the sentences he should inflict upon them would effectually teach them that it was more desirable to earn their livelihood by honest industry than by levying war against society in such a ridiculous fashion. Whatever they might do the law would eventually prove too strong for them. They might evade detection from time to time, but the course of justice would overtake them in the end, and they would find how bitter was the life of a member of the criminal classes.
He should sentence John Baker to 18 months’ imprisonment with hard labour, George Baker to 16 months, M’Tavey to 15 months, and M’Call to 21 months, and he further directed that they should each be flogged three times, and on each occasion receive 20 lashes with the “cat.”
Old Liverpool 2009