[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 14 Dec 1822 - Police Office (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 14 Dec 1822   (p. 3, col. 1-2)

 

POLICE OFFICE:-SATURDAY. 

 

[continued] 

 

An amazon, servant with Mr. LAMBERT, of Westlinton, answered to a charge of having violently assaulted Mr. John HOLLIDAY, by
striking him in the head, so as to cause a swelling as large as a pigeon's egg, on Wednesday last. This CRIBB in petticoats defended
herself with much energy of tongue as well as fist. She said HOLLIDAY came to her master's house, and drank whiskey with others
(obtained at neighbouring houses) till he was drunk, and called her most opprobrious names. "I own," said she, "that I gave him a
bat in the head with my fist, and that only; but he insulted me past bearing, by calling me --, and --. I want to know if a woman is
to be insulted for nothing?" Mr. HOLLIDAY said it was impossible for any woman's fist to make such an impression on his head; he
therefore called on the defendant to put her assertion to the proof by then making a second trial.-The Magistrates thought Mr.
HOLLIDAY's conduct culpable; but as his antagonist had acknowledged the assault, she was ordered to pay 1s. towards the expences,
and be discharged. 

 

Mr. DODGSON, of Bewcastle, complained of the conduct of certain young fellows of his neighbourhood (he did not name them) whom he
suspected of various inroads upon his domestic peace. He said they amused themselves by tying his doors during the night, so that
when he and his family got up in the morning, they found themselves prisoners. But worse than this. A young gentleman was on a visit
to him from London, from whose family when in town he had received the utmost kindness. This young gentleman they had thought proper
to make the object of their mischief in various ways. He lately went to a neighbouring farm-house on a visit, and while there they
contrived to smear the cart in which he returned with excrement; on another occasion, they way-laid him in the road, and pelted him
with mud, to the utter disfiguration of his gentility. Mr. DODGSON, however, had only the evidence of suspicion that the persons
alluded to were the offenders (though he had often seen them near his premises at improper times), and therefore, as a matter of
course, could obtain no summons. The Magistrates desired him to keep a sharp look out, for if he succeeded in identifying his
tormentors, punishment might soon follow their misdeeds. 

 

WEDNESDAY.-ATTEMPT AT MURDER. 

 

The Mayor and Dr. BLAMIRE proceeded from the office this day, to the house of Wm. MORLEY, innkeeper, in English-street, to record
his deposition relative to an occurrence which took place there on the night of the 4th inst. They found him sitting up in his
bed-room, severely wounded behind the ear, and in a dangerous state. He stated that when he came home to tea from Mr. CREIGHTON's
work-shop, where he was employed, he found his wife intoxicated; he remonstrated with her, and she abused him. On his return, after
leaving work, she was worse. He said nothing but employed himself till ten o'clock in repairing a back-door. Having finished his
job, he asked his wife to prepare some supper for him; she scolded and raised objections; but while he was gathering up his tools,
she had warmed some potatoes. Words arose, and on Mrs. MORLEY attempting to go out at the front door, her husband pulled her back,
when she fell from intoxication; she then attempted to get out at the back-door, he prevented her in this also; but while he was
securing that door, she went out at the front. Between twelve and one, she came back with her brother, (William ARMSTRONG, of
Shaddongate,) and was then still more intoxicated. MORLEY again took her to task, and, as before, received abundance of abuse; and
after considerable altercation, she left the house with her brother. Wishing to prevent her from exposing both him and herself, he
followed them down the street, after a short pause, and desired his wife to come home to bed, but she passed on without making any
answer. He went back to his house, with a determination to let her go where she pleased: his mind, however, soon changed, and he ran
down by the west-walls to the Irish-Gates, expecting to get before them, concluding they were on their way to Shaddongate. Not
meeting with them, he returned through the street, and on reaching his house, found the door barred, and his wife and her brother
within. As they refused him entrance, he forced open the door with his knee. More altercation followed, and being very much
provoked, he struck his wife a slight blow in the face with his open hand. This did not allay the storm: word followed word in quick
succession, and on MORLEY saying something which he supposes was displeasing to ARMSTRONG (though he does not recollect what), the
latter snatched up a hammer which lay on the settle, and struck his brother-in-law so violent a blow behind the ear, that he fell
senseless. How long he remained in this state he knew not; but when his senses returned, both his wife and her brother were gone.
His first effort was to attempt calling up a watch-maker in a yard behind; this, however, he found himself too weak and sick to
accomplish. With much difficulty, he proceeded so far as his mother's house in St. Cuthbert's Lane; his wife was knocking at the
door when he came, but she instantly ran away on seeing him. MORLEY called to his mother and brother that he was nearly murdered;
they hastened to his assistance; struck a light, and found him covered with blood. Besides the wound behind the ear, an inch in
length, and nearly as deep, he found that he had been stabbed in the thigh after he was down, apparently with a chisel; but although
his trowsers were cut through in three or four places, there was only one wound, and that not of a dangerous description. If the
wound in the head had been a very little higher up, it would have been instantly fatal: as it is, the danger is imminent, for the
state of his sight indicates serious injury to the brain. Mrs. MORLEY was committed. ARMSTRONG, her brother, has absconded. 

 

 

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