[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 27 Aug 1814 - Cumberland Assizes (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 27 Aug 1814   (p. 4, col. 1-5)

 

CUMBERLAND ASSIZES. 

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On Saturday afternoon, the High Sheriff of the County, Thos. BENSON, Esq. after partaking of an elegant cold collation at the Crown
and Mitre Tavern, with a large party of gentlemen, proceeded with them, escorted by javelin-men, without the liberties of the city,
where they met the Justice of Assize, Sir John BAYLEY, Knt. (Mr. Serjeant MARSHALL, who has acted on the circuit in the room of Mr.
Justice WOOD, who is indisposed, not arriving until the next day), whom they attended to the Court-house, where His Majesty's
commission was read. 

 

His Lordship attended divine service on Sunday at the Cathedral church of St. Mary, where a very appropriate discourse was delivered
by the Rev. Edward STANLEY, of Plumbland, from 1st Peter, iii. 13. 

 

CROWN END.—MONDAY, AUG. 22. 

 

The Court being met this morning, the following gentlemen were appointed of the Grand Jury: 

 

Rt. Hon. Viscount LOWTHER,        Whitehaven Castle 

Sir James GRAHAM,                        Netherby, Bart. 

Sir Fred. FLETCHER VANE,          Armathwaite, Bart. 

Sir James GRAHAM,                        Edmond Castle, Bart. 

Sir Wastel BRISCO,                          Crofton Place, Bart. 

Sir Joseph SENHOUSE,                   Hensingham House, Knight 

John LOWTHER,                              Whitehaven, Esq. 

Thomas WYBERGH,                        Brayton Hall, Esq. 

Jos. Dykes Ballantine DYKES,         Dovenby Hall, Esq. 

John CHRISTIAN,                            Unerigg Hall, Esq. 

Edward HASELL,                            Dalemain, Esq. 

Henry FAWCETT,                            Coldale Hall, Esq. 

William BROWN,                             Tallentire Hall, Esq. 

John SPEDDING,                             Mire House, Esq. 

Thomas IRWIN,                                Justice Town, Esq. 

James Clark SATTERTHWAITE,     Cockermouth, Esq. 

Milham HARTLEY,                          Rose Hill, Esq. 

C. S. FEATHERSTONHAUGH,     Kirkoswald, Esq. 

William CALVERT,                          Green Bank, Esq. 

Geo. Stephenson MOUNSEY,          Gilsland, Esq. 

John DE WHELPDALE,                  Penrith, Esq. 

John CONNELL,                              Carlisle, Esq. 

Thomas SALKELD,                          Holme Hill. Esq. 

 

Mr. Serjeant MARSHALL, in his charge to the Grand Jury, alluded to the small number of crimes stated in the calendar to have been
committed—a circumstance which reflected no small honour upon the county. He then specified the nature of those crimes and their
legal designation, and concluded by expressing his conviction, that the conduct of the Grand Jury, on this occasion, would not less
reflect credit upon themselves than advantage upon their county. 

 

COW STEALING. 

 

James JOHNSTON (aged 68), a very infirm old man, was indicted for stealing a cow, the property of Mr. J. GILKERSON, of
Warwick-bridge.—The facts, as stated in evidence, are as follow:— 

 

Mr. GILKERSON, who is a farmer at Warwick-bridge, in the September of last year bought a lot of cows at Rudd fair, which he marked,
and put into a field at Harraby, near Carlisle, where he saw them on the evening of the 2d October. On the evening of Tuesday the
5th of same month, whilst returning from Brampton market, in company with Thomas WALTON, he observed the prisoner driving a
red-spotted cow before him, which he recognized as his property. He accordingly went up to him, and asked where he had got the cow:
the prisoner replied first, that he had bought her of one James BELL, of Westmorland, and, afterwards, of one John BELL, of that
county—that the cow was of the Ayrshire breed, and that he was going to sell her. Whereupon witness seized the prisoner, and charged
him with the felony—at the same time intimating to him that he feared he had stolen the other cows likewise, as the one with which
he was detected was the worst of the whole lot, and he deemed it very improbable that he should take that individual one, and leave
the rest; but prisoner, very politely, and with great sang froid, begged that he would make himself perfectly easy on that score, as
he had carefully shut the gate when he came out.—The animal was worth more than £10. 

 

The evidence was corroborated by that of Mr. WALTON. 

 

John ARMSTRONG, the constable who apprehended JOHNSTON, stated that he (prisoner) had acknowledged to him his having taken the cow
on the 5th October, the day on which he was taken into custody. 

 

In his defence the prisoner merely said that he did not steal the cow.—He was found Guilty, and sentence of DEATH passed upon him. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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