Carlisle Patriot, 22 Oct 1825 - Carlisle City Sessions (2)

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Saturday 22 Oct 1825   (p. 3, col. 1-2)

 

CARLISLE CITY SESSIONS.

 

[continued]

 

CHRISTOPHER INGLEBY and THOMAS DORRAN were indicted for having, on the 12th instant, stolen from the shop of John FITZGERALD, confectioner, of Annetwell-street, a quantity of copper coin, his property.

 

Mr. WANNOP, in stating the case to the Jury, as detailed in evidence, observed, that on account of the youth of the prisoners, they would not be proceeded against for the capital offence.

 

John FITZGERALD sworn.—I keep a confectioner's shop in Annetwell-street, which shop I secured on the night of the 11th instant, and left all safe when I went to bed. About six o'clock, the next morning, I was roused by my neighbours, who told me that my shop had been broken into. I then got up, and saw that the window had been forced open; and I observed some of the confectionary [sic] lying scattered about in the street, near Mr. MOUNSEY's house. A pane of glass, large enough to admit a small boy, had been taken out of the window; the shutter was much injured; and such violence had been used in wrenching off the bar, that the head of the bolt was nearly twisted off. In consequence of having seen some idle boys standing beneath the window on the preceding evening, I suspected them, and told the constable. Two tills were taken from the counter, containing copper to the amount of between 20s. and 30s. The till and some confectionary glasses were found concealed among the grass in a field, but the money was all gone.

 

James MORLEY, constable, examined.—In consequence of information from Mr. FITZGERALD, I went to search for the two boys. I went first to INGLEBY's father's shop; but his father said his son had not been in the shop. In coming out, I saw the boy standing in the street, near the head of Shaddongate; but as soon as he saw me, he ran away. I followed him, caught him, and brought him back to my house, where I locked him up, and left him in custody of my wife, whilst I went after DORRAN. I went to DORRAN's father, told him what had happened, and said I wanted his son. The father at first denied his son, and said the boy was innocent, as he had not been out of the house during the night. As soon as I got hold of DORRAN, he said I ought to get the others also; there were others there as well as him. DORRAN also told me that he had got none of the copper; LUSK and another had got his share of the money and drank it. When the two prisoners were together in my house, they commenced talking about the robbery, and one said to the other, "Don't deny it: you know LUSK got 1s. and we got 10d." I suppose they meant by this, that in dividing the copper, for every 10d. they got, LUSK took 1s., on account of his having taken a more active part in the business. There was a crowd of people about my door at the time, and several were in the house; but no promise of any kind was made to induce the prisoners to confess. INGLEBY said his money was in Denton Holme, and if I would go with him he would show me where it was. We went, and a crowd followed us. When we got there, he took me to a whin bush, from the root of which he lifted a small sod, cleared away some sand, and took out 2s. 4½d. in copper. We then went into a field adjoining the Holme, where he said he had another place; and he produced some more copper, which was also concealed under a sod.

 

In reply to a question from a juror, the witness said he had seen the pane which had been taken out of the window, and thought it was large enough to admit a boy the size of the prisoners.

 

The Mayor, having adverted to the evidence, told the jury that the prisoners had not been indicted for the capital offence, but only for stealing the copper, as there was little doubt of some stronger person having been connected with them.

 

The Jury instantly found both the prisoners guilty of stealing copper to the value of 10d.

 

Two persons, named John DONOGAN and David JOHNSON, weavers, who lived neighbours to the prisoners' parents, stood forward to speak in behalf of their character; but their testimony was by no means favourable.

 

The Mayor said he hoped this would be a warning to parents to look more strictly after their children. No fewer than four boys had been convicted, and there was little doubt some others, equally culpable, had escaped. It was quite alarming, and some example should be made. If the prisoners had been indicted for the burglary, their lives perhaps would have had to answer for the offence. The Court sentenced the prisoners each to 12 months' imprisonment in the House of Correction at Carlisle, and to be kept to hard labour.

 

These two boys did not seem so far gone in the walks of depravity as the two youthful culprits who were first placed at the bar. When they were brought before the Court, they hung down their heads, covered their faces with their hands, and wept bitterly during the trial. Both of them were young, scarcely in their teens; but apparently no novices in their profession. It is clear that there is a well-organized gang of juvenile depredators in this town, of which, no doubt, the above prisoners formed a part. There is scarcely a week passes over in which we do not hear of some petty theft. Last week, (besides the depredations for which these four prisoners have been tried,) about dusk, a boy snatched a bundle of brushes from the shop-door of Mr. RICHARDSON, ironmonger, and has, so far, escaped with impunity. The parents of these boys are certainly highly culpable; their proceedings cannot be unknown to them. The mothers of INGLEBY and DORRAN stood beside them at the bar, and shed tears during the trial; but we fear their tears were not shed so much for the offence the boys had committed, as for the situation in which it had placed them. What could the fathers of those boys think they were doing when they suffered them to remain from their homes all night? We trust this warning will not be lost.

 

A true Bill of Indictment was found against Elizabeth SESSFORD, widow, of the parish of Saint Cuthbert, for a nuisance—in other words, for keeping a house of ill-fame.