Lancaster Spring Assizes 1833
Taken from the Liverpool Mercury Newspaper March 22nd 1833
James MEADOWCROFT 22, William BROWN 19, Eli Schofield 24, charged with having burglariously entered the dwelling-house of John BINNS at Rochdale, on the night of the 15th November last, and stolen therefrom 20 pounds in money and a quantity of sugar, tobacco and other articles, his property. BROWN pleaded guilty.
The prisoners were seen near the house of the prosecutor shortly before and after the robbery, and they were apprehended next day with the stolen property in their possession
They managed the business so adroitly that they did not disturb the prosecutor or any member of his family.
The prisoner BROWN, on being sworn, stated that Schofield had nothing to do with the robbery, and that he had met him shortly afterwards and gave him the articles found upon him
All the prisoners were found guilty, and sentence of death was recorded against them.
His Lordship intimated that they would be sent out of the country for life. There was another indictment against MEADOWCROFT for burglary, but it was not gone into
John HIBBERT 18, was charged with and slaying William HORSFALL at Gorton
On the 8th of December last, the prisoner and the deceased were induced by a person named BARNES to fight for a shilling, though both were unwilling to do so at first
The fight was what is called an up-and-down one, where the parties are allowed to kick and strike each other.
Deceased was taken home: he complained very much of a pain in his side during the night and died the following day
On being opened, it was found that his death had been occassioned by an internal rupture, produced by a violent kick
The learned judge spoke in strong terms of reprobation of the brutal mode of fighting practised in some parts of this county, and advised the parties practising it to beware what they were about, as a signal example would certainly be made of some of them.
His Lordship deferred passing sentence
William DUGAN 22, was charged with killing and slaying his wife, Mary DUGAN, at Manchester
On the night of the 1st of January last, the prisoner had some dispute with his wife, which terminated in her either falling or being thrown down the stairs, it did not clearly appear from the evidence which, in consequence of which she died about ten days later
The Jury aquitted the prisoner
Thomas DURCEY, 30 was charged with having feloniously intermarried with Mary Anne GIBSON, his first wife Hannah HILL still being alive.
William NEILSON stated that in the year 1825 he was a coach proprieter and employed the prisoner as a driver
In the month of February in that year he was present at the first marriage of the prisoner in the Old Church, at Manchester, and gave the bride away
Another witness named LAYCOCK stated that on the 6th of January last year the prisoner who lodged in his house, was married to Mary Anne GIBSON in the same church
In the course of the day he heard from the first wife that the prisoner was already married, and in consequence turned him out of the house, but permited the female to remain
Both the marriages being fully proved, the prisoner was found guilty, and sentenced to seven years transportation
Thomas BENT was charged with a similar offence at Manchester
An attempt was made to show that the first wif was a woman of vicious and abandoned character, and that the prisoner had acted under the impression that having separated from her and allowed her a maintenance, the first marriage was no longer binding.
The prisoner was found guilty-Judgement deferred
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Wednesday March 22
John WOOD, aged 32 was indicted for killing and slaying Robert BLOMILY at Manchester
Mr HULTON stated the case
Harriet BLOMILY said she was not a married woman, but had a child which was with her in Newton-lane Manchester, on the 7th August last
Whilst standing with a woman, a coach came up driven by the prisoner: she endeavoured to get her child out of the way, and in the attempt fell down, and the coach went over it. The child was taken to the infirmary, and died that day week
A witness was called to prove at what speed the coach was going, when he stated that it was about five miles an hour: It was the Telegraph
Mr HOULTON was called, the hosue surgeon of the Infirmary to prove the death of the child, but Mr Justice Alderson said he was of the opinion that it was a mere accident, and put it to the jury whether there was any negligence attributable to the prisoner
The jury consequently aquitted the prisoner
Joseph LINGARD 31, was charged with uttering a forged Bill of Exchange, value ten pounds to Heirom WHITTAKER at Salford with intent to defraud the said Heirom WHITTAKER and also with intent to defraud Joseph WARD, on whom the bill was drawn
Mr L PEEL stated the case
Heirom WHITTAKER keeps a public house in Salford, was in the habit of supplying the prisoner with beer
In March last year, he gave witness a 30 pounds Bill of Exchange which was paid.
In May last he was again indebted for beer, for which prisoner gave another Bill of Exchange for ten pounds, drawn on Joseph WARD
Joseph WARD was called, and proved that the bill was not drawn by him
DARBYSHIRE, the constable, said when the prisoner was brought to the police-office, he laid before him two bills and asked whether he had drawn them, when he replied that he had
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and the learned Judge sentenced him to be transported for life, observing that he had no discretionary power of mitigation.
James RIGBY, 50, was indicted for the manslaughter of William MOORS, on the 1st of January last at Stockport.
It appeared that on the evening of 1st January last, the prisoner and the deceased were at a public house in Stockport, when a dispute arose, and they went out to fight, and to the second round MOORS fell down and broke his leg. He was carried to Manchester Infirmary where he died of the wound on the 19th of January.
It did not appear whether the deceased fell from a blow or by accident, and the jury in consequence, under his Lordship's direction, aquitted the prisoner.
John GREEN 35, was indicted for stealing a heifer at Manchester, on the 14th November last, the property of Mr James LAMBERT
Mr GREEN stated the nature of this case to the jury, from which it appeared that on the day in question, the prosecutor had a number of cattle in Smithfield Market, when the prisoner was observed to go among the cows and drive one of them away down two or three streets to the top of Hanover street, where he was taken into custody
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, and his Lordship sentenced him to be transported for life
Thomas ARMSTRONG 20, was indicted for killing and slaying William BROGDEN, on the 23rd January last, at Manchester
Mr HUTTON stated the case to the jury, and called the sister-in-law of the prisoner, who stated that they heard a noise at the grating of the cellar, and some one called out that they were getting into the house
They called out murder, and the prisoner went out with the poker in his hand
Shortly after the deceased was found in the cellar-hole, he was taken out but died in the course of the night from the effects of his wounds
The jury found the prisoner Guilty, but strongly reccommended him to mercy
His Lordship sentenced him to be imprisoned for a fortnight
John HOLECROFT 44 was charged with killing and slaying his wife Mary HOLECRAFT at Burton-upon-Irwell, on the 14th of October last
It appeared that the deceased had been drinking at a public house, and left with the prisoner after midnight in a state of intoxication
She fell when she got to the door and the prisoner kicked her
He then took her up and carried her some distance, and then procured a wheelbarrow and took her home, when she died almost immediately
On examination by the surgeon, it turned out that the wound which caused death might have been occasioned by a fall, and as there ws no evidence of it's having been inflicted by the prisoner, the jury, under his Lordship's direction, aquitted him
Samuel STOCKS and Thomas BLACKSHAW were indicted for killing and slaying Alice TATTON at Manchester
The former being a most respectable merchant, the case excited more than ordinary interest
He surrended at the bar to take his trial, and was surrounded in the dock by several highly respectable friends
Mr STARKIE and Mr L PEEL were for the prosecution:
The Attorney General and Mr WIGHTMAN for Mr STOCKS and Mr BRANDT for the prisoner BLACKSHAW
Mr STARKIE in stating the case to the jury, observed that the indictment charged the prisoners with causing the death of Alice TATTON by negligence, and after detailing the facts of the case, said he admitted at once that in law there would be considerable difficulty in bringing home the charge to Mr STOCKS, for undoubtedly he was not present at the time the accident took place, but had been repeatedly cautioned respecting the state of his teagle for hoisting goods into the warehouse
The Learned Judge was of the opinion, that that would not be sufficient to convict Mr STOCKS, and therefeore directed the jury to aquit him
The case then proceeded against Mr STOCK's porter, BLACKSHAW, and evidence was called to prove that on the 6th January last as two packages were being lowered from the third storey of the warehouse, they fell and one of them on the head of Alice TATTON, who was passing at the time
The witnesses seemed to be of the opinion that the cause of the package falling arose from the rope which was round them not being tight enough
The prisoner admitted to the police officer that he was engaged in lowering the package
The house surgeon to the Infirmary said that the deceased was brought there on the day in question and that she died five days later.
There was a fracture of the spine, and the spinal marrow was lacerated: it might have been occassioned by a very great weight falling on the head
The Learned Judge in summing up the case to the jury, said that if they were satisfied that he had not used reasonable and due care, they must find him guilty
The jury after a short consultation found the prisoner Guilty but strongly recommended him to mercy
The learned Judge in passing sentence said thr werdict pronounced was a proper one and he hoped it would have great tendency towards placing the lives of the people of Lancashire in much greater security
It would not be necessary for him to pass a severe sentence in the present instance, but should the example fail, he should be compelled hereafter to inflict a much greater punishment
His Lordship trusted that in passing a lenient sentence he should not in the least be exposing the lives of others, but he hoped it would be sufficient warning
His Lordship then sentenced the prisoner to two months imprisonment
Thomas Bond WALKER 17 was indicted for breaking into the dwelling house of Betty GARTSIDE at Royton on 16th November last and stealing a watch and a quantity of wearing apparel to the value of ten pounds
Mr BAINES stated the casefrom which it appeared that on the day in question the prosecutrix went out to her work about eight o'clock in the morning, leaving her mother and son at home; they went out in the afternoon and fastening the door, and about five it was found the house had been broken into, every place ransacked and the articles in question carried off, part of which were pawned by the prisoner the same day at Oldham
The jury found him Guilty
Death recorded
John HAWORTH 23 was indicted for assaulting Richard JONES on the highway at Ardwick and robbing him of his watch and nine shillings
It appeared that on the 29th of September last, the prosecutor was on his way home when he was knocked down by three men, who after giving him some violent kicks, robbed him of the articles mentioned
The prisoner was seen going towards the place just before the robbery, without his coat, and followed after and taken into custody and the prosecutor said one of the men who knocked him down was without a coat
The jury found him Guilty
Thomas PRESTON 17, Charles HIBBERT 24, and Thomas NEWSON 18 were indicted for breaking into the house of William JOHNSON at Barton-upon-Irwell, on the 22nd August last, with stealing seven bottles of wine and one mallet, his property
Mr BAINES stated the case, the circumstances of which were that on the 22nd of August last the prisoners were seen in the neighbourhood of the prosecutor and being suspected, three persons watched, and tok two into custody with the property in their possession
The other who was seen coming out of the cellar window, was taken into custody the following day at Manchester
The jury found the prisoners Guilty
Death recorded
Edward O'NEALE 18 and James CALLAGHAN 25 were indicted for killing and slaying Edward MCPHEM at Manchester, on the 25th of November last
Mr ARMSTRONG stated the case to the jury, observing that it was a most serious outrage and in the very least amounted to Manslaughter
The Judge-"Do you think it amounts to murder?"
Mr ARMSTRONG-"I say, my Lord, that at least it amounts to manslaughter
The Learned Judge however allowed the case to proceed and several witnesses were called who proved that on Sunday the 25th of November, the deceased and several other persons were assembled at a beer shop kept by a person named Connes KEY, in Manchester when O'NEALE, CALLAGHAN and a number of other persons entered the house and made an attack on the deceased and his friends, one of whom escaped into the cellar
The deceased was knocked down, and O'NEALE jumped upon his back: he then got into the yard, seized a mop handle with which he defended himself for some time, but was overpowered by numbers and again beaten by both prisoners and others after which they left him in a state of insensibility
He was carried to the infirmary, and he continued to get better, and the parties were set at liberty, but on the 8th of December he suffered a relapse and died of inflammation of the brain on the 10th
on opening the head a quantity of matter was found formed on the brain
The Learned Judge summed up the case to the jury who after a few moments consultation pronounced them both Guilty
His Lordship in passing sentence said the case was on eof the most brutal he had ever heard, and he doubted within himself whether or not it was his duty to stop the case, and order a bill for murder to be preferred before the Grand Jury, but it was always better not to go to the extremity of the law when it could be avoided
It however would be unsafe to allow them to remain in this country and therefore the sentence of the court was that they should be transported for life
William HOWARD 45 and John SMITH 25 were indicted for having feloniously in their possession at Oldham, on the 12th of November last a mould for the purpose of moulding sixpences
The mould of the plaster of Paris was produced as found in their possession.
The jury found the prisoners Guilty
Peter LEONARD 28 and Bridgit BRENNAN 28 were indicted for a similar offence at Liverpool, on the 15th August last
The case was principaly supported by persons in the employ of the police
After the evidence had been gone through, the jury retired and had not returned when our reporter left Lancaster
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