Carlisle Patriot, 22 Oct 1825 - Cumberland Sessions (3)

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Saturday 22 Oct 1825   (p. 3, col. 2-3)

 

CUMBERLAND SESSIONS.

 

[continued]

 

JOS. BARNES, of the parish of Brigham, labourer, pleaded guilty to an indictment for stealing, on the 6th of Sept. a quantity of lead, the property of his master. He was employed in taking down an old house in which the metal was, and he took it away piece-meal and sold it—Sentence: Three months' imprisonment and hard labour.

 

JAMES CLARK, labourer, charged with stealing on on [sic] the 16th of Sept. a watch and a pair of trowsers, the property of James WALLACE, pleaded not guilty. Mr. AGLIONBY conducted the prosecution.

 

Dinah WALLACE.—My husband's name is James WALLACE, and we live in Caldewgate, Carlisle. On the 16th of last month, CLARK came into my house and sold me a pair of trowsers for 2s., and I laid them in a cupboard. He went away and came again next morning, sat awhile, and again went away. Sometime before dinner-time, he came once more, and asked me to boil him some potatoes; and having consented to do so, I also at his request went to get him a pint of beer, leaving him in the room with my husband, who was poorly in bed. When I returned, the prisoner had gone, and I immediately found that the watch had been taken from the wall where it hung; the trowsers that I bought of him had also disappeared from the cupboard where he saw me put them the day before. My husband rose instantly, and I went for the constable.

 

The prisoner, on being asked if he had any questions to put to the witness, declared, with much effrontery of manner, that he drank whiskey at the house the whole of the night with the woman and her husband, and that the latter was ill from the effects of the liquor only. The 2s. he asserted, were lent him on the trowsers, and he took them by consent, intending to repay the money.

 

Thomas MOUNT met the prisoner on the 17th, in Annetwell-street, between four and five; he was in liquor, and had a watch in his hand, and asked witness if he would buy a pair of trowsers which he took out of the crown of his hat, and asked 2s. for them. Witness refused to purchase.

 

James MORLEY, constable, received information of the robbery, about five o'clock in the evening of the 17th, and soon after apprehended the prisoner in a sort of lodging-house in Lowther-street. As they were going before a magistrate, MORLEY told prisoner the charge, but used neither threats nor promises. At first, said MORLEY, he denied about the watch; then he said if I would let him have an hour or two, he would either return the watch or its value. After we had been before the Magistrates, at the Globe Inn, he said he had paid for every wheel of the watch, and that he had sold it for drink. I found a pair of trowsers in his hat crown; but never got the watch.

 

Mrs. WALLACE identified the trowsers: she knew them well by some dirt which her child deposited upon them when her husband tried them on.

 

The prisoner had nothing to say to the Jury, nor any witnesses to speak to his character.

 

The Chairman thought the case was a very clear one.

 

Verdict: Guilty. In passing sentence, the Court told the prisoner that he was well known there, having before been tried for theft. The punishment awarded him would therefore be proportionable: namely, six months' imprisonment and hard labour in Carlisle gaol.

 

Prisoner—"Thank'ee, Sir!" (Impudently, and with a laugh.)

 

ROBERT CASSON and JOHN ISMAY, were charged with stealing, on the 12th of August, in Wigton, a pewter basin, value 10d. the property of Joseph PARKIN. CASSON pleaded not guilty. The question was then put to ISMAY, and he answered: "Yes, I plead guilty: we are both guilty." CASSON was tried.

 

Mr. AGLIONBY, in stating the case for the prosecution, said the pewter basin was only of small value, but this kind of petty larceny had become common with boys, like the prisoners, who tramped the country under pretence of distributing papers, collecting rags, hair, &c. The prisoners had been purposely charged with the minor offence.

 

Sarah ARMSTRONG, servant with Mr. PARKIN, proved that the prisoners came to buy hair, and after they had retired, the pewter basin was missed: a short time before, only, it was on a stone bench in the kitchen where the elder boy (CASSON) was, and the other stood at the door.

 

In answer to a question by CASSON, witness said ISMAY paid for the hair.

 

John SIMPSON, apprentice to Mr. ROOKE, ironmonger, &c. at Wigton, who buys old lead, proved purchasing the basin of the prisoners, on the 12th of August, and that he paid CASSON 9d. for it, ISMAY having present [sic].

 

CASSON—Did you give us 9d. for it, or 10d.?—Witness: I gave you 9d.—CASSON: Why it is valued at 10d. (laughter). The prisoner thought he had detected a flaw in the indictment.

 

The basin was produced, and Sarah ARMSTRONG knew it to be her master's property.

 

Verdict: Guilty. Each, two months' imprisonment in Carlisle gaol, and hard labour. They seemed very grateful for the leniency of the Court.