Carlisle Patriot, 16 Jul 1825 - Carlisle City Sessions (1)

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Saturday 16 Jul 1825   (p. 4, col. 2-3)

 

CARLISLE CITY SESSIONS.

 

The Midsummer Quarter Sessions for the City of Carlisle and its Liberties, came on at the Town Hall, on Monday last, before the Mayor and a full Bench of Aldermen. Mr. ATKINSON of English-street was foreman of the grand jury.

 

There was more business than usual.

 

John HARDCASTLE, farrier in a troop of the Third Light Dragoons at present quartered in this City, and Sarah DRAPER, a girl of the town, were indicted for stealing from the person of James MORRISON, in Ritson's Lane, Carlisle, on the 27th of May, a five pound bank note, and a one pound note, the property of the said MORRISON. They pleaded not guilty.

 

Mr. W. N. HODGSON, attorney, conducted the prosecution. Having stated a brief outline of the evidence to the Court and Jury, he proceeded to call his witnesses.

 

James MORRISON sworn.—On the morning of the 27th of May, I met with the prisoner HARDCASTLE at the Highland Laddie public house, had something to drink with him there, and then went out for a walk with him. He knew that I had money about me, and advised me to put it into my stocking in order to take care of it, and I did so. We then went to a house in a lane near the bridge (Ritson's Lane), and had some whiskey. DRAPER was there; and with her I went into a private room. I am certain that I had the notes in my stocking at that time, but before I came out I missed them, among them one of the Commercial Bank for £5, and another of the Leith Bank, I believe, for £1. I said I had been robbed. Several persons were present, including HARDCASTLE, but DRAPER was not there. I afterwards applied to a constable; but I first saw DRAPER, who confessed having stolen the notes and said—

 

The witness was not permitted to state what DRAPER told him in reference to her fellow prisoner.

 

MORRISON was cleverly cross-examined by Mr. WANNOP, who defended the soldier. He admitted that he was very drunk when he went into the room, and that he had previously been there with another woman, before DRAPER came into the house. There were a great many persons present, he said; and he acknowledged that he sought HARDCASTLE's company, and asked him to go to Ritson's Lane, having been thither the night before.

 

By the Court.—HARDCASTLE saw me put the notes into the stocking, but DRAPER was not present.

 

By Mr. WANNOP.—After I had lost the money, HARDCASTLE told me that DRAPER was off to Manchester: he had nothing to do with taking the money from me; and I said I would give any of them something handsome if they would get the money back.

 

James DILLON, private in the Third Dragoons, called. I was at the house in Ritson's Lane at the time spoken of; HARDCASTLE and DRAPER were there drinking. MORRISON and DRAPER went into another room. DRAPER came out first, pulled some notes out of her bosom, and HARDCASTLE said that the money belonged to MORRISON, and he made a grab at it, and took two of the notes, which he said he would keep for the owner. He looked at them, and said they were a five pound note and a one pound note, and then he put them into his pocket. When MORRISON came out, he said he had been robbed; HARDCASTLE did not tell him that he had the money; but he afterwards told MORRISON to make himself easy, as he should have his money again.

 

By Mr. WANNOP.—The parties were all very drunk at the time. Ten or twelve persons were present. I don't know that HARDCASTLE heard MORRISON say he had been robbed. I afterwards went to look for MORRISON at the Highland Laddie, and told the landlord that HARDCASTLE had six pounds of the prosecutor's money. HARDCASTLE was very drunk.

 

By the Court.—I was examined on oath before the Magistrate, and said then what I have now stated: I said that HARDCASTLE did tell MORRISON that he had the notes.

 

By Mr. W. N. HODGSON:—When before the Mayor, I stated to him that HARDCASTLE offered to give up the money.

 

The Mayor said he could not of course give evidence of what DILLON said, but if he could he should find it necessary to say something.

 

(The truth is, that DILLON told a different story before the Mayor, as is shewn by his examination.)

 

John GORE sworn:—I was at Ritson's Lane on the 27th of May—about a dozen persons were present, and the prisoners among them. DRAPER came out of a closet, and I saw some notes in her hand. She handed them to me to look at; one was a £5 note of the Commercial Bank; one, a Leith pound note; another a Carlisle guinea note of Messrs. FORSTER's Bank; and there was also a Stirling pound or guinea note. She gave two to HARDCASTLE, and retained the remainder. He demanded them to keep for MORRISON, who was in the closet. When he came out, he said he had been robbed; but HARDCASTLE did not tell him that he had the money. MORRISON shewed them his stocking where it had been cut to take the money out.

 

By Mr. WANNOP.—HARDCASTLE might have told him he had the money without my hearing it. He said he would keep the notes for MORRISON, aloud, in the presence of several. I believe HARDCASTLE only concealed the money for fun.

 

John Lowry MULLENDER, constable, examined:—I apprehended the prisoners at the bar. HARDCASTLE, in being charged with getting the money from a woman in Ritson's Lane, denied all knowledge of any such thing, but confessed that he had been there that day. I searched him and found nothing; but after he had been before the Magistrate, he gave the money up. In his way to the Gaol, he said to DRAPER, "D—n you, what made you split." He was drunk, but very well knew what he was about.

 

Mr. R. IRVING, clerk in the Town Clerk's Office, produced the notes which HARDCASTLE surrendered, and also the voluntary examinations of the prisoners taken in writing, after both had been cautioned against criminating themselves.

 

 

[to be continued]

 

 

[sarahre...@gmail.com]

If those fellas had known their drunken antics would be on the internet 200 years later for the world and possibly their descendants to see, I wonder if they would have stopped drinking?

Dr. P we need to put signs up in bars to remind other drunks that Dr. P and her descendants will be watching!

 

 

Saturday 16 Jul 1825   (p. 4, col. 2-3)

 

By Mr. WANNOP.—The parties were all very drunk at the time.