Carlisle Patriot, 11 Mar 1826 - Cumberland Lent Assizes (23)

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Saturday 11 Mar 1826   (p. 2, col. 6 - p. 3, col. 6; and p. 4, col. 1-3)

 

CUMBERLAND LENT ASSIZES, 1926.

 

[continued]

 

STREET ROBBERY.

 

SARAH JEFFERSON, aged 40, wife of John JEFFERSON, was arraigned on a charge of stealing a basket, containing butter, eggs, and a great coat, the property of Thomas ROWLANDS.

 

The prisoner on being called on to plead, wept, and said she supposed she was guilty, but, she observed, "I have paid for the things." After some delay in coming to the point, she pleaded guilty.

 

His Lordship intimated that she would obtain no advantage from that plea, and told her she had better withdraw it.

 

The prisoner accordingly pleaded "Not Guilty."

 

Mr. DUNDAS conducted the prosecution. Having stated the nature of the offence in a manner which reflected much credit on him as a young practitioner at the bar, he called the prosecutor

 

Thomas ROWLANDS, who stated that he resides at Jarristown. On Saturday the 28th of Feb. he came to Carlisle market, in a cart, having with him a bushel of grain, and a basket of butter and eggs, with a great coat on the top of the basket: his son and daughter were also in the cart. On reaching the Oatmarket he missed the basket, though he had seen it only a few seconds before, as he passed the Town-Hall.

 

George PALMER, constable, Carlisle, sworn.—I went to the prisoner's house on Sunday the 12th, and saw the prisoner; made no promise nor threat; she said she knew nothing about the stockings—

 

This expression seemed to puzzle the Court.

 

It was intimated that he was applying to this case evidence belonging to another.

 

PALMER.—O, I beg your pardon: I thought it was the woman for stealing the stockings.

 

Mr. Baron HULLOCK.—So you have been telling us a different story all this time. You are a pretty fellow for a constable.

 

PALMER continued.—I went to this prisoner's house, near Dalston, the day after the robbery. I told her I had come to search the premises; she said I might, and I searched a little, but found nothing. I then told her that she was strongly blamed for the robbery, and that she must come down to Carlisle with me. She came. I took her to PEARS's, in St. Cuthbert's Lane. As we were on the road, she said she could get the things, and that she would rather pay for them than have any thing said about the matter. I told her if she would pay for the butter and eggs, and get the other things, she might go; so she paid 1s. a pound for the butter, and 9d. per dozen for the eggs, and went home. I saw her again the next day, before Dr. HEYSHAM. Afterwards I got the basket from her.

 

By the Judge.—I offered the money for the butter and eggs to the prosecutor, and he would not receive it; I was then ordered by the magistrates to take care of it for the present.

 

Mr. Baron HULLOCK.—This is not a case, I think, for a Jury.

 

Mrs. ROWLANDS was called.—She obtained the basket at—

 

Mr. Baron HULLOCK.—This evidence is by no means sufficient to warrant the conviction of the prisoner. Gentlemen of the Jury, you will acquit her.

 

She was Acquitted immediately.

 

The prisoner, through some persons standing near her, applied to the Judge to know if 4s. which she had paid for a warrant, and 5s. to the constable, should not be returned to her.

 

The Judge at first mistook the application to be for a return of the money paid for the butter and eggs, and observed: "It is too bad of you to want the eggs and butter for nothing."

 

This misapprehension was corrected; and it was also stated, that the warrant charged for, had never been issued, and the 5s. paid to the constable was for "serving" that which had no existence.

 

After a moment's consideration, the Learned Baron said: "I shall not interfere: the prisoner deserves to be made pay something; and she may think herself well off to escape so easily. Let her take more care in future."—She was discharged.

 

 

[to be continued]