[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 06 Mar 1824 - Westmorland Spring Assizes (5)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 06 Mar 1824   (p. 4, col. 1-6)

 

WESTMORLAND SPRING ASSIZES. 

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 2. 

 

[continued] 

 

Cross-examined by Mr. ARMSTRONG, for RAWSTHORN. By being a witness here against RAWSTHORN, I expect to get off. I went to school
with RICHARDSON: he was taken up on Christmas-eve, after I went to the constables. I was detained in Kendal House of Correction;
RICHARDSON was there also, and he was first examined before the magistrate, but had no communication with me. I did not enter the
dwelling-house. It was hungry work; we had two suppers that night: the first, a giblet pie,§ (a laugh) about seven. GUY's was a mile
from RAWSTHORN's. It was near eight when we got into the garden the first time. At that time the shutters were made ready for
breaking. I have known RICHARDSON for five years past; and have never been in trouble with him or by myself before. We had raised
pie for supper the second time. My object in skifting the plant, was to take it to John CARRADUS. I had no reason to believe that
CARRADUS knew of the affair before I told him about it. 

 

Re-examined by Mr. ALDERSON.—John DENT assisted me in skifting the plant, and I went with him to CARRADUS on Christmas-eve. I told
FAWCETT that evening where the plant was. RICHARDSON is near 20; I am near 19. 

 

John DENT, the cousin, called.—I live at Kendal Fell-side. On the Monday before Christmas-day, I went to Oxenholme wood, with cousin
John, and helped him to bear a bundle of clothes to Kendal; and he himself told me he took them to the Beacon. On Christmas-day I
saw the officers, and said to them I would tell them something of a young man if they would not harm him; and about half-past twelve
I took him with me to CARRADUS and FAWCETT. 

 

Cross examined by Mr. ARMSTRONG.—I did not tell my cousin what the officers wanted of him. 

 

James FAWCETT sworn.—In consequence of information received from last witness, I appointed a time to meet him at the Wool-pack, at
seven on Christmas-eve: afterwards, we thought it better to meet there at half-past twelve at noon. CARRADUS and I went to the
appointment; and the two John DENTS came to us; and John the accomplice gave us certain information connected with the robbery: this
was before either of the three were apprehended; he came of his own accord. In consequence of the information thus received, we went
to a plantation near the Beacon, and found there a variety of articles, which I and CARRADUS took away. I have them here. 

 

William LONG, the boy, (a mean-looking but bold little fellow,) was next examined.—I slept at RAWSTHORN's house one night—on a
Tuesday night; and there got my supper, and saw DENT and RICHARDSON there with RAWSTHORN: Betsy SIMPSON and RAWSTHORN's wife were
also present. We supped about eight o'clock or so; and then I went to bed, leaving them all in the house, as far as I can tell.
About one or two in the morning, I heard several persons talking in the house. We had giblet pie for supper. 

 

Cross-examined by Mr. ARMSTRONG.—I had been in Kendal one night before the time mentioned. I was taken up about some leather, tried
and convicted, and am now a prisoner in the house of correction. 

 

Peter MACDONALD sworn.—I am servant to a waller in Kendal. I went to RAWSTHORN's house on Saturday night, before the robbery, (Nov.
29th) for some stockings which they were knitting for me, and saw there RAWSTHORN, DENT, and RICHARDSON. On the Sunday night
following, I was again there, and saw RAWSTHORN and RICHARDSON. On the Tuesday night following, the night of the robbery, I once
more saw RAWSTHORN and RICHARDSON there, sitting by the fire-side. 

 

Cross-examined by Mr. ARMSTRONG.—The last time spoken of was between seven and eight. 

 

Re-examined.—I left the house within half an hour; and did not see them at supper. 

 

RICHARDSON said the witness was wrong altogether; the night that he was at RAWSTHORN's was the Tuesday before Christmas-eve, and the
robbery took place on the 2nd of December. 

 

MACDONALD examined by the Court.—I cannot tell what day of the month it was when I was last there; neither do I know if I had heard
of the robbery or not. I think it was within a week of Christmas, but I cannot be certain. 

 

Francis WEBSTER, Esq. Mayor of Kendal, sworn.—The town-clerk who takes depositions is Mr. W. BERRY; he is not here, and I know not
what he has done with the depositions in this case taken before me. He told me before I came away that he had sent all that was
necessary. 

 

The depositions were not forthcoming. 

 

Mr. ALDERSON said he did not examine SIMPSON, she being an accomplice, but his learned friend might ask her what he chose. 

 

SIMPSON was put into the box, for that purpose, but was not interrogated.‡ 

 

James FAWCETT recalled, produced the goods which he found in the plantation, and had not lost sight of them. Mrs. GUY minutely
examined and identified them. They consisted of pieces of flannel, gowns, shawls, piece of bombazeen, silk handkerchiefs, half of a
window curtain, trowsers, coats, black silk cloaks, cloth cloaks, &c. &c. &c. She had seen most of them only a short time
previously. 

 

This was the case for the prosecution. 

 

The lost deposition would have affected RICHARDSON. 

 

RAWSTHORN declined saying any thing further to the Jury than that he was not guilty.—RICHARDSON also declined saying any thing; and
neither called witnesses either to fact or character.

 

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§ This pie was made of the giblets of stolen poultry. When RAWSTHORN's house was searched, he had nearly a score of geese in pickle;
and the remains of fowls, ducks, &c. were discovered in abundance. 

 

‡ SIMPSON is now under sentence of six months' imprisonment in Kendal House of Correction, for receiving stolen property. She is a
loose character.

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[to be continued] 

 

 

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