[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 24 Aug 1816 - Cumberland Assizes (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 24 Aug 1816   (p. 2, col. 6 - p. 3, col. 5)

 

CUMBERLAND ASSIZES. 

 

[continued] 

  

CRIMINAL BAR.-MR. JUSTICE WOOD. 

  

CHARGE OF KILLING AND SLAYING. 

 

William RICHARDSON, aged 30, clock-maker, of Brampton, was put to the bar, charged by the Coroner's Inquest with killing and slaying
Hector GOODFELLOW, weaver, at Brampton on the night of the 13th of December last. 

 

Mr. LAMB briefly stated the circumstances of the case to the Jury, and proceeded to call evidence: 

 

Joseph BROWN sworn.-I am an innkeeper at Brampton, and know the prisoner at the bar. I remember that he came to my house on the 13th
of December last, between eight and nine o'clock in the evening, in company with several others. They had liquor, and amused
themselves by pitching on the table. They pitched with penny pieces for liquor; he who pitched nearest the mark set out counts one;
a certain number make the game. The prisoner at the bar was pitching with Wm. BELL. I knew Hector GOODFELLOW, the deceased; he came
in that evening after the others, and drank with BELL and the prisoner. After drinking some time they all asked for more spirits,
but I refused to let them have it. After this past off, part of the company went away, but Hector GOODFELLOW, the prisoner at the
bar, and two others remained; they did not pitch any more. Prisoner said something about the pitching to GOODFELLOW, who replied, he
would bet him a guinea that he would find a man to play with prisoner the next day for a guinea. Prisoner said he had not got a
guinea. Words rose between them, and they appeared to be vexed with one another. Prisoner and the deceased took hold of each other
as if they were going to wrestle; they clasped each other about the same time. They fell together on the floor, but prisoner was
uppermost. I took the prisoner off. GOODFELLOW got up and went out, and I never saw him after that. I observed them fall together,
but I did not see the prisoner kick or strike GOODFELLOW. 

 

Judge-Did you not say before the Coroner, that you saw the prisoner kick him? Witness-No, I did not. 

 

[Here the deposition before the Coroner's Jury was produced, but it did not appear that he had said so.] 

 

Judge-Did you hear GOODFELLOW moan in the passage? Witness-No, I did not. 

 

Judge-I hope the Magistrates will take notice of your house, since you let people come there gambling. 

 

Cross Examined-Cannot tell whose hand was lifted first; they clasped each other at the same moment; they did not struggle long; the
floor is stone. The moment they fell I sprung forward and parted them, and I did not see any blows struck either with the hands or
with the feet, though my eyes were fixed on them the whole time. I never saw any thing of GOODFELLOW after he went out. There was no
ill-will between them before the squabble took place. After GOODFELLOW went out the prisoner walked about the room, and rather
abused me; he finally walked home as quiet as any other guest. There was some conversation about a watch club [?] before any
disturbance took place, but I cannot say how long. When GOODFELLOW went out he did not say any thing about being hurt, nor was there
any appearance of the kind. 

 

John HILL examined.-I was in company with the prisoner at the bar on the 13th of December last. When I went in, both RICHARDSON and
GOODFELLOW were in the house. They were all sitting, very good company, and continued so till one o'clock in the morning. Prisoner
at the bar and Wm. BELL asked for some liquor about this time; the former made a proposal to pitch for more liquor. The deceased
then told the prisoner that he would bet him a guinea he would find a person who would pitch to-morrow with him (the prisoner) for a
guinea. RICHARDSON said he had not a guinea. High words then rose and RICHARDSON called the deceased a skyball. GOODFELLOW asked the
prisoner if he could make him one, when the latter replied, 'yes, very soon.' So they got to striking and struggling; RICHARDSON
knocked GOODFELLOW down, or he otherwise fell down, and RICHARDSON continued to strike him after he was on the ground; he struck him
with his fist about the body. The landlord then pulled the prisoner off, and I began to catechise RICHARDSON about using the young
man badly, so we had a scuffle, and in the meantime the deceased walked out; blows passed between us. When I went out I found the
deceased laying on the ground at the back door; I asked him if he would get up and go with me. He desired me to let him lye; he said
he had a violent pain in the lower part of his belly and could not go. I stopped a little with him and got him out of the house, and
went to a neighbour's door close by, where GOODFELLOW fell down. I got him up again and we came to a pair of stairs; he wished to
sit down there and make water, but he could not. At last I got him home and sat him on the top of the stairs, and saw him no more
for the night. I suppose he got into his own room, but I did not stop to see. When I went into the public house, GOODFELLOW appeared
in good health; when he went home he was very ill. 

 

Cross-Examined.-I did not join the party till ten o'clock; GOODFELLOW did not pitch; it was only the prisoner and Wm. BELL who did
so; the liquor won was drank among the company. 

 

Q. Did you think GOODFELLOW was dying when you left him on the stairs?-A. I cannot tell; he complained much. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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