Carlisle Patriot, 04 Mar 1826 - Cumberland Lent Assizes (5)

[petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk]

Saturday 04 Mar 1826   (p. 2, col. 4 - p. 3, col. 5)

 

CUMBERLAND LENT ASSIZES, 1826.

 

[continued]

 

STEALING FROM THE PERSON.

 

JANE WILLIAMSON, 28, was arraigned on a charge of stealing from Edward M'CORMICK, of Carlisle, cash, in notes and specie, to a considerable amount, and pleaded not guilty.

 

Ann GRAHAM, 22, an accomplice, was admitted King's evidence, on the application of Mr. AGLIONBY. They both belonged to the frail sisterhood.

 

Mr. AGLIONBY conducted the prosecution.

 

Edward M'CORMICK called.—I acted as clerk at an auction in Carlisle on the 2d and 3d of November, and received money to the amount of about £130. On the evening of the 3d I had on me about £50 in Whitehaven and Scotch notes, and in silver and sovereigns; the whole was in a canvass purse. From the sale, I went and stopped some time at a public-house in St. Cuthbert's Lane, and about half-past ten, met in Scotch-street two women, who stopped me. The prisoner said she wanted to speak with me. One of them, the prisoner, I believe, pushed me into a passage, and shut the door—and then they were one each side of me. In a short time, I left them, and went homewards; and before I reached my home door I missed the money, purse and all. I have once seen the notes in the Clerk of the Peace's office, but do not know them again.

 

In answer to questions by the prisoner, M'CORMICK acknowledged that he was very tipsy; but he did not say to her that he had plenty of money.

 

By the Judge.—The time was half-past ten. The sale ended so late as ten. I only had one glass of brandy and water, and part of three pints of ale. The drink took hold of me; but I knew what I did in the street. I never saw the prisoner before; and was with her only a minute or two; had scarcely any conversation with her.

 

Ann GRAHAM, the accomplice.—On the 3rd of Nov. last, I was in Scotch-street, about half-past ten, in company with the prisoner. A man came by, with a parcel under his arm; the last witness. He went up the lane with Jane WILLIAMSON, the prisoner, and remained in the entry five or six minutes, and then he went away. The prisoner said she had got some money from the man; she gave it into my hand, in a kind of yellow canvass bag, and I returned it to her. Prisoner and I went down to the house of a man named GORE; there WILLIAMSON gave young GORE the money to read over, which was taken out of the bag: the amount of notes was £33, a quantity of silver, and some sovereigns. John GORE burnt the bag, and gave the money to his father to keep in the chest; the prisoner told him to keep the money secure.

 

John GORE said the prisoner lodged with his father three nights prior to the transaction. He got up and let the females in, as the prisoner lodged in the house. WILLIAMSON wanted a candle; she said she would give 10s. for a candle. There was none in the house; I enquired what there was to do? You shall soon see, said she. When the fire burnt up, she produced the bag of money, to the amount stated. She said she got it from a very grand gentleman. She gave me 15s. for my trouble, and burnt the bag. I kept the notes till I gave them to the constable. Next day I saw WILLIAMSON, after she had been taken up, and she desired me to keep the matter secret.

 

J. L. MULLENDER, constable, apprehended WILLIAMSON, and confronted her with M'CORMICK; he identified her as one of the women who robbed him. She said that she had not been out the night before, on account of having been very poorly. He found 19s. 6d. on her, which she said she got from a gentleman, and that she got more from him than that. On the same morning he saw GORE; and after the woman was committed, he gave witness three five-guinea notes, seven one guinea notes, and seven of one pound. Two days after he saw the other woman; and she stated that the GOREs had some of the money for their trouble.

 

Wm. HODGSON, Esq. produced the money, having received it from MULLENDER. A guinea and a one pound note were found in GORE's house, in the chimney.

 

M'CORMICK was called; he could not swear to the precise notes; but he knew he had Whitehaven five guinea notes, and one-pound Scotch notes.

 

WILKINSON, on being called on for her defence, said, impudently, that she would now speak the truth, since things were come to the push. The prosecutor, said she, was so drunk he did not know what he did; he took out his money; said he had plenty of it; and so he dropt the bag. After he went away, she found it lying on the ground. Then they went to GORE's, and she admitted almost all that was done there, except as to burning the bag, which, she said, was thrown into the fire by young GORE. Old GORE had a guinea to make up his rent.

 

Mr. Baron HULLOCK, in summing up, said that if M'CORMICK had dropped the bag, while in the passage, as averred by the prisoner, she was still guilty of felony in detaining it; but there could be little doubt of the actual theft.

 

Verdict: Guilty.

 

His Lordship told the prisoner, he thought the best thing he could do, both for herself and the public, would be to send her abroad.

 

Prisoner.—Oh, my Lord, my Lord!

 

The learned Judge resumed.—She was one of that class of persons by which the public were deeply preyed upon; and, taking her crime into due consideration, the sentence of the Court was, that she be transported beyond seas for a period of fourteen years.

 

The prisoner set up a loud scream of apparent agony, and violently threw herself on the ground, at the head of the subterranean steps leading from the dock to the gaol; and her cries were heard in the distance as the officers reconducted her to her place of confinement.

 

The prosecutor is still minus nearly twenty pounds—part of the notes, and all of the gold and silver.

 

 

[to be continued]

 

 

[sarahre...@gmail.com]

First time I’ve seen that expression. I’m assuming that was Australia. There was a Sarah Reaveley convicted and transported beyond seas in 1849. One of these days I’ll see if we’re connected. 😉

 

Verdict: Guilty.

The learned Judge resumed.—She was one of that class of persons by which the public were deeply preyed upon; and, taking her crime into due consideration, the sentence of the Court was, that she be transported beyond seas for a period of fourteen years.

.

[petra.mi...@doctors.org.uk]

Originally these criminals were transported to America (and quite a few of them managed to sneak back across the Atlantic!). This of course was no longer possible after the United States gained their independence, so the UK had to find somewhere else to offload their criminals, and most of them were shipped to Australia, some to New Zealand as well.

 

Petra