[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 15 Feb 1823 - Public Office

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 15 Feb 1823   (p. 2, col. 6)

 

PUBLIC OFFICE. 

 

At this Office, on Wednesday, John DUNN, a public-house keeper in Castle-street, appeared to summons, information having been laid
against him for suffering boys to tipple and play at cards in his house. The case, as clearly and satisfactorily developed by the
evidence, was one of the worst of its kind. 

 

James LOWRY, aged 16, was sworn (after having been questioned respecting the nature of an oath, to which he returned rational
answers): he said he was in DUNN's house, about two months ago, in company with Alexander MANSELL, aged 17, Wm. STRONG, aged 12,
Edward SARGISON, aged 15, and Jos. ELLWOOD, aged 13, where they played with cards, at looe, and had two pints of ale; for which DUNN
himself took the money, and he looked on while they were playing. The cards, LOWRY further stated, were carried there by him, having
bought them of another boy for three-pence. 

 

DUNN said when he found they were playing, he objected; but his wife said they were only playing for a pint of ale. He never played
at cards himself, and had not a pack in the house. 

 

SARGISON sworn.—What LOWRY had stated was perfectly true. When they went to the house, DUNN opened the door himself, let them in,
and brought them a candle in a little room. Besides this, he talked indecently to them. (The words he made use of were repeated, but
we shall not insert them.) When they went into the house, DUNN himself, an officer's servant, and James HUTTON, who lives over-head,
were engaged at cards.—LOWRY corroborated these statements. 

 

DUNN again declared that he had not played at cards for several years. The boys, he said, would swear any thing; and if that were
the case, it was no use for him to attempt to defend himself. He had never played at cards since his late landlord died, with whom
he had a game now and then. 

 

Another Boy deposed, that DUNN did not only look on, but actually played his hand, as he was not yet a master at the art. 

 

LOWRY further stated that about Christmas, he, Alexander MANSELL, James HUTTON, and three other boys, were also at DUNN's house.
When they went in, he was sitting by the fire; they asked him to let them play a little; he said he had no objections, and they did
play at looe; they had only one pint of ale at that occasion; but DUNN saw them playing. 

 

DUNN, in general and unconnected terms, again denied the truth of this; he declared that LOWRY, and those he spoke of, were not at
his house, and again hinted at the impossibility of obtaining justice, if such evidence were believed. 

 

Here a new, and, on the part of the defendant, an unexpected witness was called in— 

 

Mrs. SARGISON, mother of the boy of that name, and the complainant, deposed, that at the latter end of November, she went with
another boy's mother to HUTTON's (who lives over DUNN) to seek her son. I called on my boy, said she, at the bottom of the stairs;
and immediately some one said in an adjoining room, "There's thy mother." On opening the door, there were several boys in DUNN's
parlour playing at cards, and he standing over them, looking on. I instantly ordered my son home; and told DUNN that he was a
good-for-nothing fellow, and ought to have his licence taken away. 

 

The Mayor—Well, Mr. DUNN, what do you say to that? 

 

He did not deny the fact. The Magistrates asked him what he thought of himself? He stood confounded. At last he said, the boys went
to other person's houses, and why should they not come to his likewise? They had never been there but twice. 

 

All the boys denied that they were ever at any other house for a similar purpose. 

 

DUNN.—They have many times told me that they have been at other houses. 

 

The Mayor.—If they have only been at your house but twice, how can they have told you many times that they have been at other
houses? 

 

No answer. 

 

In order to render the matter more clear, on account of DUNN's general denial at the commencement, and his hints about not having
justice, little STRONG (son of Mr. S. the chair-maker) had been sent for during the examination. He now came in; and completely
corroborated all that his companions had said. Further denial was useless; and the defendant was convicted in a penalty of £5, and
10s. 6d. costs. All the magistrates declared that they had never heard so bad a case of the kind. The boys were reprimanded. 

 

Several other boys were brought up (old offenders) for sabbath breaking. They once more promised amendment; but many of them are
perfectly incorrigible. The depravity developed in the examination of some of these youthful offenders, is quite astonishing. 

 

John ROBINSON was convicted in the mitigated penalty of £5 and costs, for illegally fishing in the river Eden, with rod and line, in
the parish of Ainstable, on the 31st of January last. 

 

 

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