PENRITH HERALD, October 24, 1874 / CUMBERLAND SESSIONS.......Part Two

[Barb Ontario Canada]

CUMBERLAND SESSIONS............Part Two

 

THE TRIALS.

 

ELLEN GILLAN (34), was charged with being an incorrigible rogue and vagabond.  She was a pest to the town of Whitehaven. Sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

 

JOHN MACKENZIE (56), joiner, for stealing a hand-saw at Maryport, on the 15th Sept., was acquitted. 

 

JOHN SMITH (17), draper’s assistant, was charged with stealing numerous pieces of tweed, wool shirtings, and trimmings, at Whitehaven, on the 21st July.  Sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

 

JOS. LOWTHER (23), and WM. WILSON (27), both hawkers, were charged with stealing a pony at Harrington.  LOWTHER was acquitted, and WILSON received six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.

 

BEN. MASON and WM. MASON charged with breaking into a shop at Hallbankgate, on the 2nd Oct., were acquitted.

 

LARCENCY AT PENRITH.

 

JAMES HAYTON (40), weaver, was charged with stealing the sum of one pound eight shillings in money, one shirt, and one pair of socks, the property of JOHN LANCASTER, at Penrith, on the 3rd of August, 1874.  MR. DAWSON prosecuted.  From the facts produced it appears that the prosecutor belongs to the Royal Cumberland Militia, which broke up on Saturday, the 1st August.  On Monday, the 3rd, he was in Penrith, and went to a public house in Castlegate, called the “Museum”, in company with the prisoner.  When they went into the public house, the prosecutor had 28s in gold and silver upon his person, and also with him a bundle which contained a shirt and a pair of socks marked “No. 155”, which he had got whilst up for the annual training.  After they had had something to drink, the prosecutor partly dozed over to sleep, but feeling something touching him, he roused up, and putting his hand in his pocket, he at once charged the prisoner with having robbed him, and offered to pay his fare to Kendal, and also to treat him with a gallon of ale, if he would give up the money.  Prisoner denied having got the money, and refused to give it up.  Prior to this, and on the same day, the prisoner, it would seem, had gone to MESSRS. METCALFE and BAINBRIDGE, drapers, Penrith, and bought a blue check “kytle” or jacket for 4s 8d, and asked for a penny back to get a glass of beer with.  He also asked the price of a muffler, which was 1s. but did not buy it, as he said he had no more money.  Shortly after the time of the robbery, however, he went back to MESSRS. METCALFE and BAINBRIDGE”s and bought the muffler, for which he tendered half a sovereign in payment, and received nine shilling pieces in change.  The same evening he was apprehended at his lodgings in Penrith, and on being searched, 15s 10d was found upon him in gold, silver, and copper;  and there was also found in his bundle the shirt and socks belonging to the prosecutor.  WITNESS in his defence, said he had been in the habit of leaving money in the Museum public house, and that it was with his own money he had bought the muffler.  THE CHAIRMAN having summed up the evidence, the jury found the prisoner Guilty. – Sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.

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Part Three will follow with THEFT OF BEEF AT PENRITH and THE COUNTY BUSINESS and THE WESTMORLAND SESSIONS...............

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Barb, Ontario, Canada.