[list-cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 13 Mar 1824 - Cumberland Spring Assizes (19)

Fri Jul 26 12:14:12 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] 

John BELL.—I am husband of the last witness. In July, 1822, a number of men, who were going to America, were at my house. I asked
MYERS if it was true that he was married to Isabella DIXON? He said it was true. He said we were to keep it secret, as his father
was expected to die soon, and might perhaps disinherit him, if he came to hear of it. He was quite sober then. I have conversed with
him since, on the subject; and he said he intended to come over and solemnize it in a public manner in my house, as his father was
then dead. 

Cross-examined by Mr. AGLIONBY.—I am not a friend to the DIXONs, though I have known them a dozen years or so. I knew but little of
MYERS. 

Margaret GRAHAM.—I am wife to George GRAHAM, sister to Isabella DIXON that was. In July, 1822, (on a Tuesday) I recollect that
Isabella came back from Annan; MYERS came on the Friday after to my house; Daniel HANDCLIFF and his wife Mary were there; and MYERS
desired Isabella to fetch out her lines to shew them to her to read. She did fetch out a paper. Mary HANDCLIFF asked if they were
the marriage lines: he said yes; and after they were read he desired to see them; and then he said that Isabella was his, and he did
not care for any body, for he had pleased himself. But he wanted the marriage to be kept a secret, as his father was not that far
gone but might cut him out with a shilling—and would not that be very hard, said he, as he helped to make it. He said they were both
tied; and nobody could separate them but death. Never mind, said he, keep up your heart, for I have not yet rued any thing I have
done. And then he desired her to go with him and let her father and mother see the lines; so they left the house together. She
returned that day, but he did not. He afterwards came, five or six different times, and slept with Isabella in my house—in the same
bed. They never did so before they were married. 

By Mr. ALDERSON.—I did not live in the house of my mother in law—I know nothing about her being a kind motherly woman; kind to young
people. MYERS and Isabella were acquainted long before the ceremonial part of the affair. I have heard MYERS say that he had a great
respect for her—other persons have a large respect for her too. I don't know that she is rather frolicksome. I have called her
Isabella MYERS—she was called sometimes one thing and sometimes another. I will not swear that I have heard any one call her MYERS
besides myself and sister. MYERS did not desire to have the thing kept secret after his father's death. Did he speak the words about
cutting off with a shilling, rueing, &c. out of a piece of paper, that he said them so exactly at all times? No, he did not.—What
was the reason why he wished to keep it secret after his father's death? Why, he always put it off; he said things would be made up
in time.—He was a very good match for my sister (having about £200 a year fixed property), but she was as good as he.—I will not
venture to say that he acknowledged her as his wife in the presence of any one but me. 

By the Bench.—Where did MYERS live after his father's death?—He lived at his step-mother's. Did you not ask what was the reason he
did not take home his wife of whom he was so fond that nothing but death could part them? He said he could not make it convenient. 

Charles M'KENZIE.—I saw Robert MYERS a few days after his father’s death—which took place, I think, about 8th Oct. 1822. Prisoner
asked me when I had word of my brother Harry; he said he had been setting George GRAHAM and others off to America. He had got into
the same club that I had, he said—he said he had got married to Bella DIXON—that it took place at Gretna. He took a paper out of his
pocket, but whether it was the marriage lines or not I cannot tell; he said he had made some kind of a cross. This was five or six
days after his father’s death. He told me, that if she did not look after him he would not look after her: and if she looked after
him he would marry her—that is, he would take to her and marry her; but now it was too soon after his father’s death. 

Cross-examined by Mr. AGLIONBY.—I am a painter by trade, and have known Geo. GRAHAM about 14 years; the DIXONs only a few years. I
can’t fix how many days after his father’s death it was when MYERS came to me; I was sitting in the market place selling fruit when
he came. I know the prisoner’s step-mother, Mrs. MYERS. I went to her house yesterday—where she was with a Mrs. GREEN.—Did you not
say that you were sorry for Robert, and that if she would give you a pint of whiskey, you would swear him clear, for he could do
either way?—No, I did not, nor to that effect. 

Re-examined.—She said she would give me ten glasses of rum if Robert came off clear, and would come down to the Court in a
harmonious chair, with flying colours. I asked her to give me a drink of water. She said she had a farthing in her pocket, and would
send out after a farthing's worth of beer; she did so, and I drank it. She did not ask me what I could swear. I have known the
prisoner 17 or 18 years. I was subpœned to come here. 

Ann DIXON.—I am wife of Robert DIXON, the brother of Isabella DIXON. At the latter end of 1822, MYERS and Isabella came to my house,
after prisoner's father's death, about eleven at night, and slept together there. They had some conservation [sic] between them, but
I know not what. MYERS, before they went to bed, took a pound note and some silver out of his pocket, and gave her, observing that
that would do for her until he saw about things; and if that did not do, he would satisfy her brother (my husband) for her stopping;
her father and her had some dispute, and MYERS brought her to our house that evening, about eleven o'clock: she was to go down to
her own house next morning, and if her father and her still disagreed, he would satisfy my husband, if the money he gave did not do.
Before he went away in the morning, he said to Isabella that he would come back in the evening, and see how she came on. I knew
nothing of an expedition to Gretna Green. I expected that they were married—I was informed so by her before they slept in our house.
She left next day, and went home. 

Cross-examined by Mr. ALDERSON.—MYERS is the only man I have seen giving Isabella money. I did not tell any one that they were
married; but I cannot give any reason why I did not mention it after the old man's death; why I had not remonstrated with her, and
why I called her by her maiden name—it is common enough for married females to be called by their maiden name. Isabella DIXON was
alive a few minutes ago. 

Thomas CALDWELL, parish clerk of St. Mary Carlisle. He produced the register of the marriage of Robert MYERS with Mary John JOHNSTON
[sic], by license, on the 2nd of November, 1823. The prisoner was the man. He was present. Both made their marks. 

By Mr. ALDERSON—I had no discussion whether he spells his name with an i or a y. 

This was the case for the prosecution.

[to be continued] 

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