[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 13 Mar 1824 - Cumberland Spring Assizes (17)

Tue Jul 23 10:26:51 UTC 2024

Saturday 13 Mar 1824   (p. 1, col. 5 - p. 4, col. 5, and p. 1, col. 4)

CUMBERLAND SPRING ASSIZES. 

CROWN CALENDAR. 

BIGAMY. 

[continued] 

Cross-examined by Mr. ALDERSON.-My mother's name was Mary GRAHAM; she is dead. She lived in Ritson's Lane, Carlisle, and her husband
when alive lived there. I have lived there. She had two rooms in the house; and my sister, Daniel HANDCLIFF's wife, had two above
her. I have seen young women there, and old ones too-and young men too, at the same time.-What was your duty, to keep order? No.-I
was there for my meat; but I had nothing to do with keeping order.-I have been in the army; afterwards into one of the regiments of
the line, remained there five years, except 18 days. I left the regiment on forlough, and did not join again; I stayed away without
leave. After that (having been lawfully discharged in consequence of surrendering under the Prince Regent's proclamation) I went
into the Cumberland militia, and I was not discharged when I went to America; I was never called on, but I had received the bounty.
The prisoner's father was a man of property; Isabella DIXON was a weaver by day; but I do not know that she followed any thing else
by night; that I swear to: she is my wife's sister: I know nothing more about her. I don't know her age; nor do I know my wife's
age; I can't swear whether she is 30 or 60. I have heard her say that she is 34. Eight years ago, Isabella was a girl, and then was
working upon the loom, as at this time; but I don't know how old she was.-Is she not 32 or 33 years of age. I don't know.-When MYERS
went to Gretna, he told us that he was going to Gen. DEARHAM's and Sir John MAXWELL's to sweep chimneys that day.-What, was this
love sick swain travelling with the implements of his profession? No, a boy, with the bag, was on before.-Oh,  then, I suppose he
designed to make a bit of a tour after marriage?-Gretna and Annan were both in the road to the chimneys. I was quite sober when at
Gretna, but not so when I left Carlisle. I don't know whether the other men were sober or not-they were quite steady on the road. I
only drank three glasses of rum before leaving Carlisle. Charles GREEN did not go with us-he went before with a cart. The 2s. worth
of liquor that we had at IRVING's was whiskey. I know Willie the boatman, over the ferry; we had no liquor at his house. I will
swear that we had not 6s. worth at IRVING's-only four noggins between nine of us. Did all take part? Yes.-What, Isabella and all?
Yes, she tasted it.-So Isabella takes whiskey.-The young man, WILSON, drives a coach. The house that we went to at Gretna was the
Turnpike-house; I don't know who keeps it. There was not one gill of whiskey drank before the ceremony began-but we had one brought
in before it began. The whole of the liquor was not consumed. I will swear that the Parson was not extremely drunk before the
ceremony began; he was able to write; and I will swear that I did not take the Parson out of the room before the ceremony commenced.
I will swear that I have had nothing to do in getting up this case, any further than giving evidence. The reason why we talked about
racing was, that John GRAHAM and Edw. RIDLEY were running him along the road; this was an hour or two after the marriage. It was the
next day that he talked about going out to sweep chimneys in America. I slept at the house of John BELL, publican, Annan, that
night; and MYERS slept with me.-Why, then, he had rued it?-There were not beds enough-four of us slept in one (a laugh). I know John
YOUNG, a hatter in Rickergate-l saw him in 1822, in Dumfries. I will swear that I did not say to him that we had knocked up a
wedding at Springfield between Robert MYERS and Isabella DIXON, but that it was only fun for we were all drunk-not any thing to that
effect. I said that we had had a wedding with Robert MYERS and Tibby DIXON at Gretna; and that was all I said to him. Before the
ceremony was performed, I saw D. HANDCLIFF take MYERS out of the room; for what purpose I know not. I will swear that when MYERS was
asked to sign the lines, he did not say that he thought the joke had gone far enough; nor any thing to that effect. I swear that I
sent WILSON to call the Parson. The landlord went backwards and forwards; he brought a pen and ink for LANG, and went out again
without sitting down. The marriage lines were partly printed and partly filled up. Isabella has lost them. 

Re-examined.-At Annan, Isabella DIXON slept at a house in Murray-street, with two young women, because there were no beds where we
were. 

By the Court.-There were no other women in company. 

Richard Johnston PRINCE.-I was in company with a number of persons, on the 29th of July, 1822, at Gretna-Daniel HANDCLIFF, John
GRAHAM, Geo. GRAHAM, Edward RIDLEY, Isabella DIXON, and Robert MYERS. I heard Geo. GRAHAM speak to one WILSON there, when the
prisoner MYERS was near enough to hear him say there was going to be a wedding. WILSON asked him with whom? Geo. GRAHAM said, with
Robert MYERS and Isabella DIXON. MYERS seemed to laugh. George GRAHAM desired him to go and bring the priest. I went into the
public-house, about ten minutes after the other company; and then found there those with whom I had come-WILSON, the coach-driver,
and Mr. LANG. They were all sitting round; and I heard LANG ask which were the two that were going to be married; and Geo. GRAHAM
having pointed to Robert MYERS and Isabella DIXON, the priest asked if they were single persons. They said, yes. He also asked which
parish they belonged to; and they said, "St. Mary's, Carlisle." He likewise asked their ages; they told him; and he set it down on a
piece of paper. He asked MYERS if he was willing to take Isabella as his wife; he replied, "Yes." He then asked Isabella if she
would have Robert MYERS for her husband, and she said, "Yes." Then he asked MYERS if he would take her for better and for worse, for
richer and poorer. He answered "Yes." He desired MYERS to repeat what he said, and MYERS did so,-both repeated after him. LANG next
said the Lord's Prayer, and gave the lines to Daniel HANDCLIFF to sign, who signed first; then George GRAHAM signed, and handed the
pen over to Robert MYERS, and he appeared to me to write, or make a mark. Geo. GRAHAM signed Isabella's name, she making her mark.
Mr. LANG called Isabella to him, and told her that he generally got something when he delivered the lines; and Geo. GRAHAM lent her
a shilling, which she gave to LANG, who said "All the laws of England cannot break the marriage." At the time MYERS was about to
sign, I asked him if he spelt his name with an e or a y. An e or a y?-An i or a y, or something.-He said with a y. I believe MYERS
can write a little. We had about 5s. worth of liquor at his house; mostly after the ceremony; very little before. We had 2s. worth
at the cast-iron bridge. MYERS did not appear to be in liquor. RIDLEY and me came back to Carlisle; the others went onwards to
Annan. In the April before, I heard MYERS say that he had a great respect for Isabella, and intended to marry her; but his father's
sickness prevented him from doing so, as he was afraid he would be offended. After the ceremony was performed, Daniel HANDCLIFF said
that the marriage was to be kept secret. 

Cross-examined by Mr. AGLIONBY.-George GRAHAM was the person who asked MYERS to marry. We met prisoner at the cast-iron bridge,
where he appeared to be waiting for us; I knew that he was to be there; George GRAHAM told me so. I will not swear that we had not
three half-pints of spirts at the iron-bridge-we had not four. There were eight of us; and every one subscribed a shilling for
drink, except Isabella: but the whole was not drank at that place; HANDCLIFF put the remainder into his pocket. When I was at
Gretna, I was capable of knowing what I was about. George GRAHAM was also capable of walking, and knew what he was about; he was in
liquor when he left Carlisle, but he turned better on the road. I went that morning with my uncle, Daniel HANDCLIFF, who wished to
see Gretna Green. There was no singing in the house at Springfield, till after the ceremony; but we had whiskey before the ceremony
began. We left LANG in the house, with nearly half a pint of liquor; he appeared to be a little taken hold of. I have known Isabella
a good few years-she gave her age when the parson asked; perhaps it is about 23 at this time. Isabella was a weaver before
this-nothing else that I know of. I have seen her at Geo. GRAHAM's mother's (called Mother GRAHAM's) many times. I swear that I do
not know that MYERS knew of her evil habits; nor did I ever hear of them till after the occurrence of which I speak. Mrs. GRAHAM's
house, where I have seen her, was "a house of call for gentlemen." 

Re-examined-I never saw her at Mrs. GRAHAM's house, but with her sister. Robert MYERS mostly lived next door to Geo. GRAHAM's
mother-that is where his father resided till he died. MYERS, at the time of the ceremony, was sober. 

[to be continued] 

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