Carlisle Patriot, 16 Oct 1824 - Public-Office
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Saturday 16 Oct 1824 (p. 3, col. 4)
PUBLIC-OFFICE—TOWN HALL.
At this office, on Wednesday, Mary DORNER, a weaver, was committed to gaol for two calendar months, under the statute, having taken work from one master before finishing that of another, and secreted, and refused to account for, 2lb. 10oz. of weft, the property of Messrs. Peter DIXON and Sons, of Carlisle, her employers.
John SURGEON, (an old offender who was sentenced to imprisonment at the late assizes, and has only been out of gaol five weeks) was brought up in custody of BARNES, the Police-officer, under charge of stealing in a dwelling-house. BARNES deposed that on Saturday last, he was called upon by Stephen LATHERAM, of the parish of Alston, in this County, who informed him that his house had been robbed on the Thursday preceding, in the absence of the family in the harvest-fields, of a five pound Newcastle bank note, two £1 notes, and a silver hunting watch, carved on the case and numbered 1689. LATHERAM was accompanied by a constable; and the description which they gave of the presumed robber, led BARNES to the conclusion that SURGEON was the man. This was late on Saturday night. About seven on Sunday morning, BARNES and the constable went in search, and after beating up the haunts of suspected characters, found SURGEON in bed with his wife, (he having married since he got out of prison,) in a garret at Widow MYERS's, Ritson's Lane. On entering the room rather suddenly, BARNES observed the female snatch something from under the pillow, and endeavour to conceal it in her bosom; this he instantly seized, and found it to consist of an old pocket, containing four guinea notes and some silver. The prisoner immediately said that his wife knew nothing as to how he came by the money. BARNES handcuffed him to the constable, aware that he was a slippery fellow, and went down stairs with the wife, in order to search for the watch; and while below, SURGEON called out, that if they consented to take the handcuffs off, he would tell where the watch was. They did so; and he said the watch was hidden behind a rafter, wrapped in a piece of rag, in the house of his mother at Coathill. BARNES straightway proceeded thither and found it—it answered, in every particular, the description previously given of it by LATHERAM.—The prisoner acknowledged that he had committed the robbery, and either was or affected to be in great distress of mind; but he said, the prosecutor and the constables had all promised to procure him his liberation, if he would tell where he had concealed the watch.—BARNES said he could not tell what had passed between SURGEON and the constable during the short time he was down stairs; as far, however, as he was concerned no such promise had been made. The prisoner was committed. It appeared that he had changed the £5 note at Jane HOLLIDAY's, in Rickergate, on Saturday night, of whom he bought some wearing apparel. In the course of his tour eastward, he seems to have been very actively engaged. The following statement regarding him appeared in last Saturday's Journal, communicated by a correspondent; there are some inaccuracies in it; but the prisoner himself did not deny having stolen the tools:—
"On Sunday last, a person had entered into the shop of Mr. J. CARRUTHERS, joiner, Milton, and stole 7 saws, 4 plane irons, 5 spokeshaves, and different other tools; but they were not missed till Monday night, when Mr. C. began to make inquiries, and was informed that a person having on a fustain frock coat, and a pair of cord pantaloons and boots, was seen to come out of the shop about 12 o'clock in the day, with the tools in question, and on farther inquiry, was informed that a person carrying such tools had passed through Coalfell on Sunday evening. In consequence of this information, he set off in pursuit of the thief, and apprehended him in the neighbourhood of Slaggyford on Tuesday. After he was apprehended he informed Mr. CARRUTHERS and the constable, that after he went through Coalfell, he made a turn on Byers'-fell, went down the Tyne, crossed it at Fetherstone Bridge, came up the other side, crossed it again at the Eels-Bridge. On his journey, on Monday, he had broken into a house at Coanwood, whilst the people were out at the harvest, and had taken out of a desk, four silk handkerchiefs and a shawl, but had missed a pocket-book containing £7 in cash. On Tuesday, at the Eels, he had stolen a watch, that was hanging up in the house, while an old man was looking at him, and had disposed of nearly all Mr. C.'s tools. Mr. CARRUTHERS, the constable, and the prisoner, consequently retraced their way back to get the tools, but afterwards suffered the prisoner to escape at Fetherstone Bank Top."